Healing gardens

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR HEALING GARDENS

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

HEALING GARDENS

• A healing garden is an outdoor garden space that has been specifically designed to meet the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of the people using the garden as well as their caregivers, family members and friends.

• They combine nature, design and materials to create a calming and therapeutic environment

• Healing spaces act as a catalyst for helping people to move towards healing within their living spaces

• The study focus on designing considerations to be given in healing gardens which aids in reducing the negative effects on human beings

GOAL OF HEALING SPACES

• The goal of healing spaces is to engage people in the process of healing and recovery

• Eliminate enviornmental stresses such as noise, lack of privacy, poor air quality

• Encourage opportunities for social interaction

• Providing a platform in connecting to the nature by portraying an enviornment of leisure and recreation

NEED FOR HEALING GARDENS

• The world is rapidly urbanizing. Around 60% of the population lives in cities.

• By 2050, the number will further increase by 20%. City life has made people remain shut up inside homes-enclosed by walls, concrete slabs, and roofs.

• People are already living more in the virtual world than experiencing reality. Large cities and large societies mean increased levels of stress, pollution, poverty, etc.

• Major factors that have contributed to mental illness, stress levels, and feelings of discomfort are the advancement of technology, busy work schedules, a decrease in physical activities, diminishing human-nature relationships, etc.

• Healing environments are physical settings that support the process of recoveryThe creation and management of therapeutic gardens in a city setting is extremely limited.

• This not only opens up new possibilities, but it also creates a structure in which human can learn more about the significance and benefits of these gardens.

The research aims at analyzing the design considerations for healing gardens which can support the physical health of human lives

OBJECTIVES

To study about how architectural designs can influence in therapeutic gardens.

To look into the physical and social benefits that healing gardens can have on individuals

To look at the basic connection between nature and human spirituality.

To provide a recreation enviornment and promote interaction

SCOPE AND LIMITATION

Implementing therapeutic gardens in health care facilities can help to open ourselves up to a wide range of possibilities

Benefits of blending nature as an element of healing, as it allows us to recuperate and recover more quickly

Changing the conventional methods of medical treatment and healing from hospitals to own houses

Healing gardens can be identified as a topic that has an impact on psychological aspects of human life.

In this research paper, however, I will concentrate on the physical and design aspects

In-depth technical, construction, and farming level analysis on different climates are also absent.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How are Healing Gardens designed to affect the Well being

METHODOLOGY

• The research paper's primary goal is to study the design considerations of therapeutic gardens in improving one’s health condition.

• The paper provides definitions from various research scholars, as well as concepts cited in various research papers, to provide a general understanding of the subject.

AIM AND OBJECTIVES

BACKGROUND STUDY

NEED AND IMPORTANCE

CONCEPTS OF HEALING GARDENS

DATA COLLECTION

CASE STUDIES

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALING GARDENS DESIGNING ELEMENTS

1. PANCHATATVA HEALING GARDEN, HYDERABAD

2. HEALING GARDEN AT KERNAN HOSPITAL, MARYLAND, USA

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

CHAPTER 2

HEALING GARDENS

HISTORY OF HEALING GARDENS

Horticulture has been soothing man's senses as early as 2000 BC in Mesopotamia. In the 5th century AD, gardens were generally perceived to contribute to the improvement of health and have been used as a place of respite from travels, to serve as a place to recover.

Gardens located within Christian hospices in the Middle Ages emphasized charity and hospitality.

Monasteries ministering to the sick and the insane incorporated an arcaded courtyard where they could find the some shelter, sun, or shade in a human-scale, enclosed setting.

In the 18th to the 19th century, the increased need for hygiene during treatment led to the acceptable uses of "sanitary reforms" such as cross-ventilation, access to sunlight and gardens.

The 20th century ushered in the discovery of germ theory, advances in medical science theories, the biomedical model, and improved technology in the medical sciences

1

TYPES OF HEALING GARDENS

Enabling Gardens allow participants of all ages and abilities to fully participate and enjoy the gardening experience

2

Meditative gardens are intimate spaces created for unwinding and reflecting, away from the noise and clutter of daily routines. .

3

Rehabilitative gardens are located near therapeutic areas and should include features help people feel comfortable .

4

Restorative garden is a place where people can go rejuvenate and feel better and involves seating and water features .

ENABLING GARDENS

MEDITATIVE GARDENS

REHABILITATIVE GARDENS

RESTORATIVE GARDENS

CLASSIFICATION OF PLANTS IN HEALING GARDEN

1. Fragrant Plants

Plants with scented plants and foliage provide opportunities for customers to interact while exploring their sense of smell. In fact, our olfactory sense is inextricably linked to the parts of our intelligence that are associated with memory and emotion.

2. Edible Plants

Plants valued for their culinary uses give consumers the opportunity to be a part of the entire life cycle of these flowers – from sowing seed to growing them in the garden, harvesting, and eating.

3. Seasonal Plants

Incorporating annuals provides a seasonal continuity of activities for clients to do in the garden.

4. Ornamental Grass

Ornamental grasses respond gracefully to the breeze and frequently add a soft texture and sound to gardens.

NATURAL SCENTS

Fragrances can not only make you smell good, but certain scents also have incredible healing powers. Exposure to smells of certain herbs or spices can have more benefits

1. Peppermint: Research shows that breathing in peppermint can help decrease the body’s cortisol level which is a stress hormone. Sniffing the oil also helps reduce fatigue

2. Orange: Research shows that the smell of orange will help you calm down under pressure. The smell can help deal with stress hormones and elevate your mood

3. Rosemary: Breathing in rosemary can improve your speed and accuracy when you do mental tasks. The fragrance of rosemary can leave you feeling refreshed and mentally stimulated

4. Lavender: Lavender can promote relaxation and even ease pre-menstrual symptoms. The scent of lavender can also help decrease anxiety and insomnia

5. Cinnamon: Smelling cinnamon can make you more alert. Research shows that breathing in the scent of cinnamon oil will help you be more focused and less flustered

BENEFITS OF HEALING GARDEN

PHYSICAL

Gardens offer a break from the surrounding environment and improves cognitive ability and memory

SOCIAL

Social support enhances immune functions, promotes better moods, and produces better treatment compliance.

PSYCHOLOGICAL

Contact with nature has been shown to improve concentration, reduce intellectual fatigue, and improve mood state.

ECONOMICAL

Economic health benefits from nature include the creation of parks and other types of natural features to increase people's productivity

CHAPTER 3 CASE STUDY

PANCHATATVA GARDENS, HYDERABAD

• Panchatatva is an outdoor garden that has been specially designed to suit people’s physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs.

• Developed in an area of one acre, the panchatatva garden has features like panchatatva acupressure concept walk, infinity walk which controls diabetes, crisscross walking, navagraha vanam, raasi vanam, herbal garden and water cascades.

• Panchatatva garden with walkway is developed on five elements of the nature (Panchabhutas) — earth, water, fire, air and sky.

• It enhances hand-eye coordination and physical balance, as well as provides relief from headaches, digestive issues, thyroid issues, obesity, and constipation. It also controls blood flow and aids in the management of diabetes.

PANCHATATVA GARDENS, HYDERABAD

1. EARTH

• The earthy essence of the bountiful, boundless hills

• High contours of the surrounding, scenic hillside, a life lifted high above the urban chaos, yet earthily rooted to all the essentials.

2. WATER

• Water is one of the prime elements responsible for life on earth.

• Water circulates through the land just as it does through the human body

3. FIRE

• The illuminating, liberating energy of the sun, to replenish your soul unobstructed views, plenty of ventilation and natural light entry, more room for physical comfort and mental peace enable you to experience the goodness of living.

PANCHATATVA GARDENS, HYDERABAD

4. AIR

• Good health depends on several things.

• Fresh air and sunlight are very important for our health. Fresh air helps us to improve our immune system and overall health.

5. SKY

• Experience a whole new level of wellbeing, by making the sky your only limit with striking nature surrounding you

• Trees and plants are the key factors to strike a balance in the eco-system.

HEALING GARDEN AT KERNAN HOSPITAL, USA

• Kernan Hospital’s Healing Garden was designed as a therapeutic and rehabilitative tool for teaching patients to maneuver on different types of terrain.

• This prepares them for safe return to their home and community. The garden was made possible by the local staff and community volunteers and associations.

• Features include benches, water with fish, a sensory garden, a medicinal herb garden, and secluded activity areas.

• Every aspect of Kernan's Healing Therapeutic Garden was designed to aid patients' recovery, from flowerbed heights to plant colors and scents to pathway angles and materials.

HEALING GARDEN AT KERNAN HOSPITAL, USA

DESIGN ELEMENTS

1. BACKYARD

• Creating a backyard like this necessitated adhering to strict format guidelines. Rehabilitation equipment designed to return people to their lives is built into the beauty

2. NATURAL ELEMENTS

• A lily pond and bridge are also part of the design. This not only adds to the beauty of the garden, but it also provides a therapeutic experience with the presence of a natural element.

3. UNIVERSAL ACCESS

• The garden serves as an educational experience for those who are wheelchair-bound.

OLSON’S FAMILY GARDEN, ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL, USA

• Olson’s Family garden at St. Louis Children’s Hospital have a unique setting to enjoy time with nature, a nature walk

• The Olson Famil garden is provided through the generousity of donors to the St. Louis Hospital Foundation

• The 8000 squarefoot garden has an intercative rooftop oasis designed expressly for children and families who want a place for privacy, healing and solace

• The combination of non-public spaces, lush planting, and the sound of moving water creates a sense of refuge, which aids in the healing process.

• The lawn provides a multipurpose open space as well as an inexperienced focal point for the garden.

OLSON’S FAMILY GARDEN, ST. LOUIS HOSPITAL, USA

• The healing garden at Olson’s Family garden has been designed to incorporate nurturing break from illness and the often sterile medical institution environment for young patients and their families.

• The combination of non-public spaces, lush planting, and the sound of moving water creates a sense of refuge, which aids in the healing process. The lawn provides a multipurpose open space as well as an inexperienced focal point for the garden.

• The plan also makes use of display screen plantings to create a contemplative area off to one side of the garden, where children and parents can find solitude or enjoy private time as a family.

• Plants with interesting characteristics and growth habits, colors, smells, and textures are used to pique children's interest and provide a year-round effect.

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

PANCHATATVA GARDENS, HYDERABAD

• Developed in an area of one acre, the panchatatva garden has features like panchatatva acupressure concept walk, infinity walk which controls diabetes, crisscross walking, navagraha vanam, raasi vanam, herbal garden and water cascades

• The Panchatatva walk is a circular track that can be walked over using eight components to walk over this track. The components include 20mm stone, 10mm stone, 6mm chips, river stone, rough sand, tree bark, black soil (Tank silt) and water.

• The walking is done from a very painful surface to a smooth and relaxing component, which improves blood circulation in the body and cures a variety of ailments

• Encourages the use of all motor skills, including walking, reaching, bending, and planting seeds and cuttings.

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

OLSON FAMILY GARDEN, ST. LOUIS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, USA

• The path is smooth and designed to avoid hazards along the way. The main goal was to consider how people in wheelchairs and crutches moved.

• Plants used include lilac, forget-me-not, beech, rose, and Michigan woodland. They are used because their fragrant and colorful flowers can stimulate the senses. They are also medicinal in nature.

• The lawn is the focal point of the garden, with a beech tree in the center. People sitting near the pathway benefit from the beech tree's filtering of the sun's rays and wind.

• They have set up a meditation center for the people so that they can be at peace and spend time alone and in private.

• Pathways for walking exercise, raised planter beds for planting, a meditation center for meditation, and the presence of a children's playground where the kids can interact are among the main activities carried out.

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

THERAPEUTIC GARDEN AT KERNAN HOSPITAL

• The pathway's terrain is made up of grass, stone, and pavers. The pathway is designed to be easily accessible by wheelchair and crutches.

• Skimma, Black Eyed Susan, Leyland Cypress, and Arrow Wood are among the most commonly used plants. They all have medicinal properties, and the colorful flowers attract butterflies and birds.

• A butterfly garden is provided in the center, with pathways circling it. The plants that surround the garden are all brightly colored flowering plants that attract butterflies.

• They have created an intimate gathering space surrounded by a garden. The area serves as a place where people can be relaxed and unbothered by outside influences.

• Walking through pathways, planting in raised planter beds, and gathering areas where everyone can relax and be at peace are all activities.

ANALYSIS

• The paths that surround the garden should always be non-slip and wheelchair accessible.

• Plants used in the garden should be able to stimulate a person's senses.

• Go for natural fragrances that have the Power To Heal

• Always provide a variety of activities for people to participate in, thereby encouraging social interaction.

• Provide enough resting areas throughout the design with the appropriate amount of color.

• The planter beds should be raised and wheelchair accessible

• Using less water-demanding flowers and houseplants that grow more easily in a particular setting would simplify care and cut expenditures.

• Solar lighting and water features that use recovered rainwater can also contribute to cost effectiveness and sustainability.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HEALING GARDEN

ACCESSIBILITY

It is critical to ensure that all people, regardless of age or ability, can use the equipment safely and comfortably

PATHWAYS

Use a naturally-styled pathway, hedge, steps, or fence to make entering the sanctuary feel special.

ENTRANCE

The entry shall allow them to see and even learn about plants, touch or smell them, and discover the lush backyard boom in their own way

RESTING SPACES

The garden should be designed to provide a space for people to connect with nature

INTERACTIVE WATER FEATURES

A water feature can evoke a relaxing feel while provides pleasing sounds and visual appeal

LIGHTING

Lighting should be incorporated into the design to make it usable both day and night

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The following design considerations are studied for designing healing gardens

1. SITE SELECTION

2. SITE PLANNING

3. LAYOUT

4. GARDEN STRUCTURES

5. AMENITIES

6. PLANTING AND COMPOSITION

7. SIGNAGE

8. MATERIALS

CONCLUSION

• Providing proper design constraints and facilties can enhance the functioning of healing gardens with the aim of recover and rejuvenate more quickly

• Understanding the effects of greenery and related therapies on people's

• mental and physical health is critical. There has been little interest in investing in recovery gardens in recent decades, and no funds have been allocated to this cause.

• The use of Healing gardens is no longer restricted to hospitals and healthcare organizations. It may be constructed in a number of locations so that individuals who are not confined to a health facility or healthcare institution can benefit from their therapeutic powers.

• Architecture can play a major role in creating such spaces which can innumerate in the physical well being of persons

• Colors, Light, Pathways, Water, Plants, Views and Vistas play a significant role in the design of Healing Gardens