Shaping Spaces: How Design Can Promote an Active Lifestyle

Why is it important to design communities that support active lifestyles?

“There are many health benefits to leading a physically active life, regardless of your level of activity. It has long been established that physical activity improves our overall wellbeing, both physically and mentally. We become healthier, live longer and it has a positive effect on our brain function, reducing the risk of depression and improving concentration.

In addition to its effects on our health, sport and physical activity offer significant social benefits. Being active together fosters new connections between people, encouraging interactions across age and background. Sport gives many people a more meaningful daily life and can serve as an alternative to less desirable activities.“

What does sports participation look like in Sweden today?

“The organised sports sector remains strong, but we have seen a decline in traditional club sports in recent decades. At the same time, spontaneous and self-organised sport is on the rise. This includes individual training on running tracks or in gyms, as well as groups of friends who decide to meet and exercise together.

This shift reflects the fact that sports participation, like society as a whole, is constantly evolving. Trends come and go, influenced by new lifestyles and the way we live, work and socialise. Therefore, the places where we participate in sport and physical activity must evolve to meet these new needs.“

In what way?

“We need to create spaces for sport and physical activity that fit into modern life and respond to the ongoing changes in our society. These spaces should meet the needs of organised sport as well as the more spontaneous, everyday demands for physical activity.

We need facilities and halls that can be booked, as well as open spaces for unorganised sport. It’s important to have places where spontaneous and organised activities can coexist, to the benefit of all concerned.“

Sedentary behaviour is increasing, but are there differences in the population?

“Never in history have we been as inactive as we are today. This is particularly true for children and adolescents, as very few reach the recommended levels of physical activity, resulting in significant sedentary behaviour. Young people today are less fit than previous generations in terms of endurance, muscle strength and motor skills. In addition, girls are generally less physically active than boys at all ages.

Physical activity is also linked to socio-economic status, with the less educated being both less active and in poorer health.“

How can we encourage more people to get active?

“We need spaces that are more inclusive, inviting those who know how things work as well as those who are there for the first or second time. We should use the inclusive power of sport to bring people together and encourage more people to participate.

We need places where carers can come and try something new. It’s important to create safe environments where people feel comfortable and want to be, while also contributing to the safety of the area through presence and community. We need to design new spaces for sport and physical activity that meet these needs, but we also need to develop and enhance what we already have. With simple measures we can make significant improvements.“

What else can we do?

“There are many different ways to be physically active. These range from general physical activity through everyday routines such as cycling to school or work, outdoor interests and related habits, to more structured sports and exercise. We therefore need to plan our cities more effectively for active lifestyles.

This means providing space for buildings and facilities in areas where we move around in our daily lives, and ensuring that the journey itself is conducive to active living. We should also incorporate movement and activity in more places that do not require large facilities, such as schoolyards, residential areas, parks and public squares.“