Designing spaces for a variety of user groups creates environments that cater to diverse needs, preferences, and activities, and is critical when creating a healing landscape.

 Designing healing gardens for a variety of user groups is important. 

Several design considerations will aid in designing for all user groups.

1. Safety: Designing for the safety of all individuals utilizing the space - patients, visitors, and staff is a primary concern. By generating feelings of comfort and familiarity, safety needs are met.  Safety and security are reflected in the overall design, details, and materials selection (Wagenfeld, Sotelo, Kemp, 2019). The design considerations in regard to safety will vary based on the type of healthcare facility or healing landscape.

2. Variety of Spaces: Creating a variety of specific areas (i.e. one area just for seclusion and meditation, and another for physical activity) will allow users to choose the environment that suits their emotional state at the moment, and will add to the overall health of the user. "Psychological and social [aspects] such as peacefulness, [an] opportunity to retire to secluded places, [and an] opportunity [for interaction] with others are considered important design recommendations" (Cooper Marcus & Barnes, 1995, 1999; Whitehouse et al., 2001). 

3. Accessibility: Ensuring that the landscape is accessible to people of all ages and abilities by incorporating ramps, pathways, and hardscape materials that are easy for people to navigate with mobility challenges. The paths should have a smooth, firm surface without loose gravel so that patients using wheelchairs do not get stuck (Kovary, 1999; Moore, 1999).  More on designing healing landscapes for accessibility can be found here.

4. Flexibility: Creating adaptable spaces that accommodate a range of activities and users such as including moveable furniture, diversity of seating, and multipurpose areas (for yoga, group therapy, or individual reflection), allows for inclusivity. Offering choices regarding seating in the garden is mentioned as being important and therefore at least some seats should be moveable (Cooper Marcus & Barnes, 1999; Davis, 2011; Tyson, 1998). For more on designing flexible spaces click here.

Human-centered design puts the overall health and well-being first of individuals. By creating safe, secure, accessible, and flexible spaces and designing with the user in mind, one can feel restored. 

Creating spaces that are flexible allows for different activities and uses. As needs change, spaces can be molded to fit the user.

 Programming public spaces can protect a space and its users. While flexibility and designing for a variety of user groups is important, designing specific spaces for intended uses, such as socializing, walking in nature, eating, therapy in the garden, etc., is beneficial to the health and well-being of a user. Social activities such as horticulture therapy, performances, and seasonal events have been found to increase the awareness, use, and enjoyment of therapeutic landscapes (Sachs, 2017). 

Some programming ideas for a restorative landscape might include:

1. Outdoor Yoga or fitness class

2. Meditation

3. Running

4. Walks in Nature

5. Gardening / Horticulture Therapy

6. Reading

7. Sitting

8. Sketching the Landscape

9. Socializing with Others

10. Crafting (therapy group sessions)

11. Cooking / Grilling

12. Having a Meal / Eating Outside

13. Talking on the phone

Programming activities can engage a user in a space and evoke positive emotions which can improve the mental health and well-being of a user.  

The relationship between space and human experience has a direct impact on human health and well-being. Creating a sense of place can help one form a deeper connection to the landscape.

 Placemaking is about developing places that are engaging and memorable, increasing the value of the place by contributing to its physical, cultural, and social identities. Place is "constituted through reiterative social practice, [and is] made and re-made on a daily basis through place-making activities" (Cresswell, 2004).  Placemaking "belongs to everyone" and is focused on creating destinations that are sociable, inclusive, adaptable, and community-driven (Project for Public Spaces, 2007).

One of the ways placemaking can be implemented is through creating sensory-oriented areas within a design. Establishing sensory experiences in a place has been found to contribute to the overall healing process (Foley, 2011). These areas specifically within healing landscapes have been coined as "therapeutic sensescapes." (Wang et al., 2018)

Design considerations of what one could include within a sensory-oriented landscape are listed below:

Vision:

1. Having bright-colored vegetation (i.e. coneflower, hydrangea) with different seasons of interest (deciduous versus evergreen) so that there is appealing color year-round.

2. Varying hardscape materials for visual interest. 

3. Use plants that attract insects and birds (visual and auditory appeal).

Smell:

1. Using plants with an aroma (i.e. lavender) can transport one to another world mentally and promote relaxation. 

Taste:

1. Establishing an edible garden (i.e. blueberries, tomatoes, chives, sage) can provide one not only with an activity and generate a sense of ownership, but can also make someone more present in a space.

Touch:

1. Utilizing plants with a variety of textures (i.e. grasses like muhly grass, versus something more soft and fuzzy like Lamb's Ear) will make one feel a higher sense of belonging in a healing landscape.

2. Choosing hardscape materials with a variety of textures would add to the tactile experience.

Auditory Processing:

1. Through the use of water features, architectural walls to block unwanted noises, and even specific types of plant material or even something more man-made like wind chimes, can help promote a calming landscape. 

This is by no means an all-encompassing list, many design considerations of healing landscapes, specifically those that contribute to establishing a sense of place are not included.

 Establishing a sense of place by providing sensory stimuli allows one to immerse oneself fully in a landscape, establishes a sense of comfort, and creates a sense of belonging.

Universal design principles advocate for the creation of environments that are accessible and user-friendly for individuals of all abilities

When applied to the landscape design of Advantage Behavioural Health Systems," universal design should go beyond physical accessibility. It expands its focus to encompass emotional well-being and comfort, recognizing users' unique needs in a mental health context.

The significance of universal design lies in encouraging a sense of inclusivity, a crucial element in mental health settings where individuals often bring diverse needs and sensitivities (Steinfeld, E., & Maisel, J. 2012). By incorporating universal design features like thoughtfully designed pathways and comfortable seating options, the outdoor space becomes an inviting haven for all. This approach effectively minimizes potential sources of stress or discomfort, creating a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere (Goldsmith, S. 2007).

Ensuring the landscape's accessibility to individuals with varying physical and cognitive challenges, Advantage Behavioural Health Systems communicates a powerful message of respect, dignity, and care. This message of inclusiveness can have a positive impact on the emotional experiences not only of patients but also of staff members who navigate these spaces.

In this context, universal design is a testament to the organization's commitment to providing a safe and nurturing environment‌ (Jones, M., Rice, L., & Meraz, F. 2019).

The influence of thermal comfort and adequate ventilation on outdoor spaces cannot be understated when considering their impact on mental well-being.

Research has consistently demonstrated the link between exposure to natural ventilation, comfortable temperatures, and fresh air with improved mood and reduced stress levels (Brown, R. D., & Gillespie, T. J. 1995). The landscape design of Advantage Behavioural Health Systems should prioritize these factors to create outdoor spaces that promote relaxation and emotional well-being.

Incorporating features such as comfortable seating arrangements, shaded areas, and well-designed outdoor structures enhance the overall experience within the landscape (Parsons, K. (2014). These design elements empower individuals to engage in therapeutic activities, relaxation, and outdoor therapy sessions without concerns about discomfort due to extreme temperatures

The result is an environment that encourages spending time outdoors and provides a serene backdrop for mental health support and healing. 

Flexibility in the design of outdoor spaces within the landscape is a crucial consideration for mental health.

This adaptability recognizes that individuals within mental health settings have growing needs and preferences. By creating spaces that can be easily transformed to accommodate different activities – from group therapy sessions to solitary reflection or even recreational purposes – the landscape caters to its users' dynamic emotional states and therapeutic goals‌ (Donovan, J. 2013).

The inherent value of flexible spaces lies in empowering individuals with agency and control over their surroundings. This empowerment positively influences their emotional experiences and supports their engagement with the mental health center's offerings‌ (Donovan, J. 2013). Such spaces promote social interaction, self-directed activities, and a sense of ownership over the environment. 

By adapting to users' changing needs, the landscape design contributes to an environment that fosters well-being, connection, and personal growth..