This graduate thesis (1) maps existing assessment tools relating to urban design and health and (2) examines which health-related outcomes are incorporated (3) to propose criteria for an assessment tool of healthy cities. The built environment influences health. For example, some hospitals are designed to accelerate a patient‘s recovery process through lighting, air quality and access to nature. The Healthy Cities movement focuses on improving cities regarding health and sustainable communities. This process includes the urban design of these cities, and there are multiple assessment tools for such healthy and sustainable cities and buildings. However, it is unclear what health dimensions are incorporated or overlooked in these tools. The analysis includes a review of recent assessment tools, a questionnaire combined with semi-structured interviews with three experts and conceptualising of the criteria. The identified criteria show issues for action in urban development regarding sustainable, healthy cities. The outcome can be considered an approach to develop tools for healthier cities. Assessment tools that include health can objectively capture the monitoring of urban health and its residents. In an age of climate change, urban density and inequality, planners, developers and communities have a special responsibility to design healthy places for people.

KEYWORDS
healthy city, health-promotive design, assessment tool, resilience, urban planning