This document aims to propose basic yet assertive principles that can serve as a guide for the design of restorative outdoor spaces in social and healthcare settings, with the goal of facilitating the recovery of individuals undergoing any type of treatment.

The choice of the topic arises from the assessment of two fundamental premises. Firstly, the constant and rising growth of mental health diseases and disorders globally, emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO)[1]. Secondly, it is based on a historical analysis conducted by Cooper Marcus in “Healing Gardens in Hospitals” (2007)[2], which reveals that between 1950 and 1990, the therapeutic value of the connection with nature was lost in most hospitals in Western countries. The construction focused exclusively on interior architecture designed to be “efficient,” negatively affecting patients, families, and staff.

Using Roger Ulrich’s Stress Reduction Theory (SRT) (1984, 1999)[3] and other scientific evidence[4] [5], the aim is to highlight the positive impact that therapeutic gardens bring to socio-health contexts and how they can be addressed. For this purpose, the renovation project of the Benito Menni Complex in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Spain, founded in 1854 specifically to treat mental health disorders, is taken as a reference model. It is used as an analytical tool for a deeper understanding.

The focus is also on how, through this architectural approach, certain thought patterns and stigmas that try to “cover up what happens behind the wall” can be broken. Thus, by merging and connecting interior and exterior spaces, a natural connection is materialized between the parts and all stakeholders involved.

To achieve this, the use of a substantial garden is proposed, acting as a central organizing axis, through the placement of elements positioned technically and strategically to promote a specific therapeutic goal. This space, in addition to allowing direct engagement with the natural environment and connecting different surrounding buildings, emphasizes the promotion of rehabilitation, education, and stimulation, as well as the physical, psychological, and socio-emotional development of individuals. Sensory, climatic, and geographical factors, along with elements of human physiology such as sounds and scents, play a fundamental role in this approach.

If you would like to continue reading, we invite you to click on the following link to access the full article: AHEAD PSP_ Jardines terapéuticos para el bienestar de las personas

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References

[1] World Health Organization. WHO highlights urgent need to transform mental health and mental health care. Online article.

[2] Marcus, C. C. (2007). Healing gardens in hospitals. Interdisciplinary design and research e-Journal, 1(1), 1-27.

[3] Ulrich, R. S. (1999). Theory and Research. Healing gardens: Therapeutic benefits and design recommendations, 4, 27.

[4] Jung, D., Kim, D. I., & Kim, N. (2023). Bringing nature into hospital architecture: Machine learning-based EEG analysis of the biophilia effect in virtual reality. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 89, 102033.

[5] Marcus, C. C., & Barnes, M. (Eds.). (1999). Healing gardens: Therapeutic benefits and design recommendations (Vol. 4). John Wiley & Sons.