ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we argue that the design and use of parking lots does not need to be formulaic and utilitarian but can in fact nudge human and planetary health. From community sites for concerts, markets, play, exercise, and social connection, to purposefully sustainable landscapes, materials and structures that celebrate nature, conserve water, or generate energy, our proposition is that parking lots have the potential to transition from unremarkable spaces to remarkable community assets. In terms of sustainable design, this chapter describes impactful global projects from green environmental-friendly parking lots to bioswales within parking lots designed for flood-mitigation. Parking lots can also nudge health, providing the perfect places for active games, such as basketball, soccer, hopscotch, tennis, and street hockey, and can be prime sites of playable design interventions that get people moving.
