On the other hand, nature elements are proven to restore attentional fatigue and contribute both psychological and physiological benefits (Hartig et al., 2003; Ulrich & Simons, 1986; Ulrich et al., 1991). R. Kaplan and Kaplan (1989) proposed a restorative environment requires four features: being away, extent, fascination and compatibility to promote recovery from attentional fatigue. In natural environment, urban dwellers can obtain a sense of freedom from daily routine and projects that require massive mental efforts (being away). Nature usually has abundant and coherent landscape structures. It encompasses trails for exploration (extent), and many attractive elements, such as: animals, trees or plants, water features (fascination), and it …show more content…
With more needs for nature experience and sustainable development in urban areas, increasing importance has been attached to urban open spaces since they play a crucial role to support the ecology system and form a natural network in the cities (Chiesura, 2004; Tzoulas et al., 2007). Urban open spaces include plazas, parks, campus, greenways and other green spaces. They serve as islands of nature, enriching urban landscapes, adjusting the microclimate, promoting biodiversity and providing habitats for other species (Chiesura, 2004; Do, Kim, Kim, & Joo, 2014; Morimoto, 2011). Apart from these benefits, they also show a great impact on urban dwellers’ health, since open spaces offer places for outdoor activities and opportunities for contact with nature (Chiesura, 2004). Tyrväinen et al. (2014) indicated that even short-term visits to urban green spaces have positive psychological and physiological effects on perceived stress relief. People were attracted to urban open spaces for physical activities, social interactions, and a relief from daily life, which benefit their mental and physical health (Thwaites, Helleur, & Simkins, 2005). A large epidemiological study in Britain looked at mortality and morbidity among three income levels in relation to urban residents’ access to green open space (Mitchell & Popham, …show more content…
(R. Kaplan, 2001; R. Kaplan & Kaplan, 1989; Purcell & Lamb, 1984; Ulrich, 1986). It means that the larger proportion of natural patch area may promote environmental preference in urban settings (van Den Berg, Hartig, & Staats, 2007). Additionally, significant positive correlations are found between landscape preferences and landscape heterogeneity and diversity (Dramstad et al., 2006; Franco, Franco, Mannino, & Zanetto, 2003; Lee et al., 2008; Palmer, 2004). Their findings suggested that the landscapes which function ecologically (e.g. less fragmented and more heterogeneous) are more attractive (Forman, 1995; Lee et al., 2008). For instance, urban residents are more likely to be satisfied with their neighborhood environments when these environments contain large connected tree patches which are considered function better ecologically (Lee et al., 2008). However, some researchers held the opposing opinions referring to the relationships between ecological landscape and human preference (Gobster, 1994; Steinitz, 1990). Parsons (1995) suggested that ecologically sustainable environments are perceived to be less attractive. Steinitz (1990) has conducted a study in a U.S. national park and observed significant conflicts between visual preference and landscape sustainability. However, little empirical work has been reported the similar findings for urban green spaces or
In chapter eight of Drunk Tank Pink, Adam Alter talks about locations and how the environment affected people’s daily lives. The chapter began by describing experiments involving people who grew up in different environments and how the different environments affected their behavior to certain situations. Those experiments had results proposing the idea that living in crowded areas would inhibit generosity and living in noisy places would hinder intellectual growth, and vice versa. Chapter eight also included experiments that were affiliated with nature; the researchers observed that people’s stress levels decreased and their health improved when some form of nature such as trees and grass were present. Some experiments focused on how the legibility
Frank Lloyd Wright is one of America’s most influential architects that has left a legacy of structures that are collaged with Nature (Mead, 2014, February). Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture, has left a legacy of tranquil spaces hidden within parks that are known for their “picturesque” qualities (Mead, 2014, January). These two men are completely different with the designs that they’ve created simply because they are using different mediums, but ultimately there aren’t a lot of contrasting elements to their designs. The similarities are evident when you begin to look at their main priority when designing; mental health and wellness. With health and wellness as a mutual focus it is easy to find that they had complementary design influences, theories, and design principles. To create a design that successfully helps to soothe the mind they both found that Nature is the best tool to use. This tool is now their unique contribution to design history, and as a result it stands out as something that today’s designers want to mimmic when focusing on mental health and wellness.
There is this feeling we all experience when we step away from the chaos of rushing cars, infrastructure, and artificial lights, and we step into nature. Some describe it as bliss, comfort, excitement, pleasure or just pure happiness. This is the answer to the question Paul Bloom asks “Why should we care about nature?” in his article “Natural Happiness.” Paul goes through this process in which he uncovers the fact that “real natural habitats provide significant sources of pleasure for modern humans”, regardless of our need for food, clean water, and air. There are 3 main arguments that Paul makes in this article that I find particularly interesting, they include: “Our hunger for the natural is everywhere. In many regards our species has already kissed nature goodbye, and we are better off for it. There is a considerable mismatch between
Prior to taking it, I was unaware that the greatest difference in life expectancy observed between counties in the U.S. was 15 years. I was amazed that simply being born in a different zip code could affect life expectancy so greatly. This profoundly supports the conclusion environment affects health. Health expert Michael Marmot realized that a subway ride from an impoverished African American neighborhood to an affluent white suburb in Washington D.C. saw an average increased life expectancy of a year and a half for every mile traveled, totaling up to twenty years. We cannot control the neighborhood we are born into, and to see that such an uncontrollable factor can affect longevity so greatly in an industrialized nation, like the U.S., is astonishing (“Health equity quiz”, 2008). I was particularly amazed that in west Los Angeles, white neighborhoods have nearly 19 times as much green space as Black and Latino neighborhoods. The white neighborhoods have nearly 31.8 acres of park space for every 1,000 people, while the minority neighborhoods only have 1.7 acres of park space (“Health equity quiz”, 2008). Traveling in Las Vegas, parks can be found in nearly every area. Although there are probably more parks in wealthier areas, we do not see such a great discrepancy in our numbers-- or so it appears. To see that such a heavily populated city, like Los Angeles, treats residents so disproportionately was
Have you at any point delighted in climbing or strolling in normal urban ?. Have you at any point imagined that could be advantageous for your brain or your body ?. The article named "How nature can make you kinder, more joyful and more imaginative" which is composed by Jill Suttie discussed how being in nature has a great deal of mental advantages and can enhance individuals inventiveness. Her article was distributed by GreaterGood at the second of walk of the year 2016. The creator is attempting to influence individuals to trust that characteristic scenes is useful for everybody life.
Richard Louv, the author of, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from nature deficit-disorder,” talks about nature and its benefits to a healthy development. Time Experiencing with nature allows people to have healthy development since it promotes creativity and imagination. It does not take more than a couple of steps outside to see nature. It is all around us. It can even be right outside our window. Leaving the blinds open can bring peace of mind, just by viewing it. As people experience time with nature, no matter the age, they develop greater creativity and imagination. It is like people today fear nature.
Granted, being able to engage with nature is one of the best ways One of these benefits is being able to relieve stress. Some evidence Williams provides to support this is when she writes, “Those living on blocks with more trees showed a boost in heart and metabolic health equivalent to what one would experience from a $20,000 gain in income. Lower mortality and fewer stress hormones circulating in the blood have also been connected to living close to green space” (57). When Williams states this in her article, she demonstrates the positive effects that nature has on the mind just by being around it! An effect so great that it’s equivalent to a “20,000 gain in income”, which a majority of people would be ecstatic about.
Growing up in the Bay Area next to San Francisco ha slead me to become fascinated by the complexity of the cities of the world and how they affect so many people. I love the idea that these cities were all planned and thought up of by individuals working together for a larger goal. The planning of cities affects all its inhabitants in ways that they probably do not even realize which makes these plans and the planning process even more compelling. I am also interested in what makes cities unique. Cities are all made up of roughly the same things: blocks, big buildings, parks, cars, and people. Even though the basic elements of cities are the same they all still have there own unique character. I think one of the most distinguishing factors of cities is how they were designed to accommodate certain needs of their inhabitants outside of where they live or work. Cities can easily be overwhelming or a harsh place to live, which is why certain areas need to be set aside to offer some kind of escape. In addition to being a place to withdraw, parks and recreational areas can be a distinguishing characteristic of a city. In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Park, Union square, the Presidio, the wharfs and many other areas set it apart from all of the other cities of the United States and the world. How the planners of San Francisco thought about the areas that the inhabitants needed outside of work and home helps give it its individuality as a major city. Just like how someone must plan all cities, people planned all the parks and recreational areas of cities that have such a widespread effect. By looking at Fredrick Law Olmsted and the Urban Design and Social Context approach he represents, one can learn more about landscape architecture in...
The perception of the areas we live in, are of major importance to the well being of humans because the areas we choose to live in may very well affect our lifestyle. There are pros and cons to living anywhere in the United States and the most prominent factors are suburban and urban areas. Suburban areas contain more open land, and forests which are crucial factors in our environment, whereas urban areas contain more job opportunities and opportunities for investments, which result in higher payments. The factors associated with urbanization are buildings, factories, and huge amounts of pollution, whereas suburban areas contain more farms, plantations, and crops. Researchers are still debating whether urban
However, within the past few decades science has begun further exploring this concept. Research has proven there is a direct link between spending time in nature and improvements in mental and physical health. A 2013 study (Biel and Hanes, 2013) found that spending even just 20 minutes in a natural environment significantly reduced cortisol levels, a hormone linked to stress. Another mental health study, found elderly adults who engaged in outdoor activities were less prone to depression (Christensen, Holt, and Wilson, 2013). In terms of physical health, spending time outdoors has been proven to reduce blood pressure levels and lower heart rates (Richardson, 2013). The scientific research offers an explanation as to why Strayed, Thoreau, and Emerson had such positive mental health experiences after spending time in
How to create an environment suitable for human living when resources are limited is a challenging problem for modern society. My strong interest in photography and art has compelled me to become especially observant toward the relationship between human beings and the environment. I have come to realize that the environment we live in has suffered much damage from pollution and lacks competent planning, making it difficult to find beautiful scenery to photograph or sketch. I began to think that I could make use of my artistic gift, concern about, and interest in the environment by entering the field of landscape design and putting my effort into beautifying our surroundings. Therefore, after graduating from high school, I entered the Department of Landscape Architecture at ABC University.
Again, this section will give a working definition of the “urban question’. To fully compare the political economy and ecological perspectives a description of the “urban question” allows the reader to better understand the divergent schools of thought. For Social Science scholars, from a variety of disciplines, the “urban question” asks how space and the urban or city are related (The City Reader, 2009). The perspective that guides the ecological and the social spatial-dialect schools of thought asks the “urban question” in separate distinct terminology. Respected scholars from the ecological mode of thinking, like Burgess, Wirth and others view society and space from the rationale that geographical scope determines society (The City Reader, 2009). The “urban question” that results from the ecological paradigm sees the relationship between the city (space) as influencing the behaviors of individuals or society in the city. On the other hand...
Grahna P, Stigsdotter U K (2010): The relation between perceived sensory dimensions of urban green space and stress restoration. Landscape and Urban Planning 94: 264–275.
2010). The robotic lifestyle that urbanization harbors takes a bigger toll on us than we realize. Along with having a repetitive schedule every day that usually includes a cycle between work, school and sleep with other responsibilities thrown in the mix we can get mentally exhausted. Needing to get away from it all is a big reason why people travel and explore different parts of the world all the time. Taking a “break” from the typical urban lifestyle is not the only reason we feel a sense of relaxation being outdoors. On a biological level, that good feeling that we get from being outside and taking a fresh breath of air stems from the fact that our great ancestors survived off the land and that we still carry that instinct (Ryan et al. 2010). Many people even have wallpapers of natural landscapes that bring them a relaxing feeling when they look at it. Fortunately, some of the most beautiful places in these photos such as Niagara Falls are under heavy environmental protection as they are a huge tourist attraction for a reason. Additionally, most of the food we eat comes from farms and it just proves that urban cities are reliant on rural areas for their food production. With the current issues of erosion, pollution and urbanization of rural areas… how would human happiness would be affected by these changes in the
If there are more people, more, density, and a good mixture of uses, it will be a safer city... You cannot find a single city that does not wish to make the city center more vibrant or livelier.” This quote from Jan Gehl, the principal of Gehl Architects, illustrates the importance of having a sustainable city. The Central Park project has showcased to the world on how the landscape we design or occupy, can affect our daily activities and surrounding neighborhood. It sets an example of how design must be appreciated as a crucial factor in sustainability and emphasized on the fact the connection of people and nature should not be ignored. All in all, landscape architects are the ones to determine the physical characteristics of the public realm environment, to decide whether a city is attractive to people and whether people will choose to live in the city in the long