Community Landscape Lab

Research on Healing Landscapes

In recent years, an increasing body of research has been compiled highlighting the healing benefits of the outdoors.

Interaction with nature and social engagement have both been proven to play a role in physical and mental well-being. Landscapes help to foster these benefits by serving as the setting for interactions between humans and nature.

Plants such as lavender make great additions to a sensory landscape that can aid in healing. A good mix of colors, aromas, and textures in these spaces can lead to stress reduction and improved mood.
Image Source: https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2018/07/01/17/23/lavender-3509953_960_720.jpg

Healing through Nature

Greenscapes and natural scenery, especially in urban environments, have been shown to have a number of physiological and psychological benefits. These environments engage our senses and elicit biophilic responses that can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and increase overall happiness (Browning, Ryan and Clancy 2014). Other studies have shown that even just the passive viewing of these spaces can be enough to aid in relaxation and improve mood (Tsunetsugu et. al. 2013). Overall, these healing aspects have been shown to aid in patient recovery from both physical ailments and mental crisis (Ottosson 2007). Sometimes a dose of green is the best medicine!

The use of natural materials such as boulders and logs in children's playgrounds can lead to open-ended play opportunities that exercise both mind and body.
Image Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/4499/37340919670_40808380ce_b.jpg

Healing through Physical Activity

Active engagement in the landscape can also lead to numerous health benefits. Early exposure to nature play in children has been noted to improve creativity and critical thinking, reduce stress, and improve self-esteem (Moore 1996). Studies have also shown that exercise in green scenery can lead to a synergistic effect that can reduce blood pressure and elevate mood more than exercising in other settings (Pretty et. al. 2006). Whether it is an intense workout or a simple walk through the park, the combination of exercise and the outdoors can be powerful in healing both mind and body.

Landscapes serve as centers of engagement for many communities. Whether it is organized events or impromptu gatherings, these social interactions help to strengthen community spirit and can be powerful agents of healing for people in times of need.
Image Source: https://media.blogto.com/articles/1756-2015627-parks.jpg?w=2048&cmd=resize_then_crop&height=1365&quality=70

Healing through Social Interaction

Social interaction is key during the healing process, and landscapes can play an important role in facilitating this engagement. Gardens designed for horticultural therapy have been shown to increase sociability and feelings of inclusion (Burls 2005), and numerous case studies have documented the health value of bringing communities together through placemaking (Project for Public Spaces 2016). Even the simplest interventions such as the addition of color and greenery in the urban environment have been shown to increase neighborhood trust, stewardship, and general happiness (Negami 2018). Shared experiences and community support can go a long way in helping people cope during times of need.

Sources:

Acar, Habibe. 2013. “Landscape design for children and their environment in urban context” in Advances in Landscape Architecture. InTech. doi: 10.5772/55751

Allcock, A (2019) ESSS Outline: Healing environments for children who have experienced trauma. Iriss. https://doi.org/10.31583/esss.20190506

Browning, William, Catherine Ryan and Joseph Clancy. 2014. 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health & Well-Being in the Built Environment. New York: Terrapin Bright Green llc.

Burls, Ambra. 2005. “New Landscapes for Mental Health.” The Mental Health Review 10 (1): 26-29.

Connellan, Kathleen, Mads Gaardboe, Damien Riggs, Clemence Due, Amanda Reinschmidt, and Lauren Mustillo. 2013. “Stressed Spaces: Mental Health and Architecture.” Health Environments Research & Design Journal (HERD) (Vendome Group LLC) 6 (4): 127–68. doi:10.1177/193758671300600408.

Eli Paddle, and Jason Gilliland. 2016. “Orange Is the New Green: Exploring the Restorative Capacity of Seasonal Foliage in Schoolyard Trees.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 13 (5): 497. doi:10.3390/ijerph13050497.

Kent, Jennifer L. 2015. “Therapeutic Landscapes : An Evidence-Based Approach to Designing Healing Gardens and Restorative Outdoor Spaces, by Clare Cooper Marcus and Naomi A. Sachs.” Australian Planner, no. 3 (September): 242–43.

Moore, Robin C. 1996. “Compact Nature: The Role of Playing and Learning Gardens on Children's Lives.” Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture 8: 72-82. http://www.jstor.com/stable/44025358.

Moore, Robin C., and Herbert H. Wong. 2000. Natural Learning : The Life History of an Environmental Schoolyard : Creating Environments for Rediscovering Nature’s Way of Teaching. MIG Communications.

Moore, Robin C. 2002. “Healing Gardens for Children” in Healing gardens: therapeutic benefits and design recommendations, edited by Clare Cooper Marcus and Marni Barnes. John Wiley and Sons.

Negami, Hanna R., Robin Mazumder, Mitchell Reardon, and Colin G. Ellard. 2018. “Field Analysis of Psychological Effects of Urban Design: a Case Study in Vancouver.” Cities & Health 2 (2): 106–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/23748834.2018.1548257

Ottosson, Johan. 2007. “The Importance of Nature in Coping.” Doctoral thesis, Landscape Planning, Horticulture and Agricultural Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.

Pretty, Jules et. al. 2005. “The mental and physical health outcomes of green exercise.” International Journal of Environmental Health Research 15 (5): 319-337. doi: 10.1080/09603120500155963

Project for Public Spaces. 2016. The Case for Healthy Places: Improving Health Outcomes Through Placemaking.

Raver, Anne. “The Doctor Is Out (and So Are the Patients).” New York Times, January 13, 2005. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/13/garden/the-doctor-is-out-and-so-are-the-patients.html.

Reed Hilderbrand. “Institute for Child and Adolescent Development Therapeutic Garden.” Accessed August 31, 2020. https://www.reedhilderbrand.com/works/institute_for_child_and_adolescent_development.

Rogers Behavioral Health Foundation. “Garden Therapy.” Accessed September 1, 2020. https://www.rogersbhfoundation.org/what-we-do/capital-projects/garden-therapy

St. Thomas, Bruce, and Paul Johnson. 2007. Empowering Children Through Art and Expression : Culturally Sensitive Ways of Healing Trauma and Grief. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Tsunetsugu, Yuko et. al. 2013. “Physiological and psychological effects of viewing urban forest landscapes assessed by multiple measurements.” Landscape and Urban Planning 113: 90-93. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.01.014

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse