Toward a Convergent Evidence-Based Urban Design Approach

Urban designers do not typically include research or evidence in practice, though the need for an evidence-based approach is becoming increasingly apparent. The way our built environment is constructed affects our health, well-being, and sense of place, as prior research has uncovered. Historically, urban design practice has negatively affected the well-being of urban residents by reinforcing inequitable social and power structures through the design of public space. Some theorists and designers have proposed evidence-based approaches as a response to these concerns. However, the emerging approaches can be disjointed. Tensions arise when deciding between the many types of evidence urban designers can use, and the different ethics they represent. In this thesis, I analyze three existing approaches to evidence-based urban design, including their benefits and their concerns, and ultimately argue that a convergent method is necessary. The conceptual framework I develop is one that responds to concerns of equity and accountability in the built environment, while also maintaining the significance of good design and acknowledging the inevitable integration of technology into society today.