People in rehabilitation have been found to be motivated to be physically active by accessible and attractive outdoor environments, both vicinity of healthcare facilities and in the larger neighbor-hood. Nevertheless, even when available, outside space is not always optimally used. We aim to gain insight into how the outdoor environment of a rehabilitation center, on and beyond its prem-ises, hampers or supports patients to be physically active. We conducted a qualitative ethnograph-ic study informed by quantitative physical activity data. Semi-structured and walking interviews with 16 patients from one rehabilitation center were supported by output from activity trackers. Two focus-group interviews with four nurses and a physio- and an ergo-therapist provided extra perspectives. All data were inductively analyzed guided by a grounded-theory based approach. An analysis of sensory information, affordances and meaning making showed a wide variety in the roles the outdoor environment plays in patients’ physical activity, both inside and outside the building, ranging from patients travelling to near villages to others staying inside all day but en-joying the view when walking to the end of the hallway. Concrete destinations motivate patients to go outside and be physically active, but also smaller interventions like avoiding even the smallest physical boundaries, facilitating visual control, and providing psychological support have a positive impact. If a rehabilitation center is to encourage physical activity amongst pa-tients, inside and outside, it is important that inside and outside spaces are connected physically, visually, and psychologically.

The present research project focus on health and building design parameters for the development of outdoor environments at residential care facilities (RCF) for older adults. An objective of the project is to develop an evidence-based guideline and method för design, planning and evaluation. The starting point for the project is that outdoor environments at RCF often are difficult to reach from the indoor environment and not adapted for outdoor rehabilitation and outdoor stays. Most often, rehabilitation activities for older persons at RCF are performed indoors and older persons at RCF do not have the legal right to daily outdoor stays. Pending a development of outdoor rehabili-tation as well as changes in the regulations regarding access to daily outdoor stays, it is important to examine health promoting qualities in the outdoor environment. It is also important to focus on the older adult’s possibilities to move between indoor and outdoor environments to reduce the risk of feeling locked in. The present paper describes and discusses a mixed method approach that builds up the five sub-studies in the project.

The built environment influences health. The Healthy Cities Movement focuses on creating healthier and more sustainable cities, which also includes healthy urban design. In an age of climate change, urban density and inequality, planners, developers, and communities have a special responsibility to design healthy places for people. There are multiple assessment tools for healthy and sustainable cities and buildings design. However, it is unclear which health perspectives are incorporated or overlooked in these tools. This paper (1) maps existing assessment tools relating to urban design and health, (2) examines which health-related outcomes are incorporated, in order to (3) propose criteria for an assessment tool for healthy cities. This study includes a review of recent assessment tools, a questionnaire, and semi-structured interviews with three healthy urban design experts, and resulted in the conceptualization of healthy design criteria. The identified criteria additionally 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 holistic perspectives on health may be able to reflect upon urban health and contribute to healthy communities.