DESIGN FOR WELL-BEING AND HABITAT

Rationale

As part of the civic landscape system, design for well-being and habitat refers to landscape design which can promote human health, both physically and mentally, as well as restore the habitat for wildlife. Successful designs are the ones where you can have positive emotions, such as reducing your stress, getting healthy food or socializing with others. Design for well-being and habitat is an essential part of civic landscape design.

“Outdoor spaces for reducing my pressure in my childhood was rooftop of my house. The rooftop was not a pretty garden, but I remember there are some planters and water reservoir. I liked that place because I could feel fresh air and breeze there.”

Seungwon Song

Main Take Aways

The readings for this theme provides us the evidence that show the green spaces and natural spaces are important to human beings as well as wildlife.

Urban green spaces have the potential to improve mental wellness. Evidence suggests that city trees or gardens can provide restorative benefits, reduce stress, contribute to positive emotions, and promote socializing.1 Natural spaces afford opportunities and benefits of physical exercise by people of all ages.2 And a study of children having ADHD found that they could focus more easily after taking walks in settings with nature than different kinds of contexts.3

1 Wolf, Kathleen. 2015. Urban Green Space for Mental Wellness: Reflect, Restore, and Heal. CITYGREEN, 2015, Vol.01(11), P.152-159

2 University of Washington Urban Forestry/Urban Greening Research Green Cities: Good Health “Mental Health & Function” http://depts. washington.edu/hhwb/Thm_Mental.html

3 A ‘Dose of Nature’ for Attention Problems. http://well.blogs.nytimes. com/2008/10/17/a-dose-of-nature-for-attention-problems/

“In my current neighborhood, I like the big tree which provide shelter and habitat, I like to enjoy the green there.”

Jiaxi Guo

“As a kid, I like to explore the backyard in our community. It has all kinds of insects, flowers and shrubs...I feel free inside.”

Jiaxi Guo

Reflection

This reflection addressed aspects of our current and childhood landscape that contribute to a sense of well being.

In the neighborhood we currently live in, the aspects that work for our own mental wellness and health are the spaces with nature inside the urban context, like the riverside in a city, the big tree in a yard between buildings, and some urban structure that can attract wildlife.

Childhood experiences we shared to reduce pressure are mainly related to nature, such as natural backyards, parks, wildlife and vegetation, as well as the space for recreation, such as rooftops or playgrounds. We all feel how dramatically life changes, and how our current fast-speed life takes away our childhood habitat places. Creating open spaces in an urban context is essential for our mental wellness and health.

“Elements exist that benefit my mental health. The sound of the starlings that have recently migrated to Rome for the Winter plus the sound of running water from neighborhood fountains is pervasive. As a kid, I would take a magnifying glass wherever I went outside so that I could observe the complexities of natural objects.”

Will Shrader

The Licton Springs-Haller Lake Neighborhood has several natural resources like wetlands and parks. However, most of them lack connections to each other or are in need of restoration. Green spaces are also needed in urban center areas. It is essential for us to create more green spaces to promote human health and improve wildlife habitat.

“My favorite place to reduce my pressure in childhood is the National park with beautiful scenery and great views looking down to Taipei City. Now, I enjoy crossing the bridge with excellent views and the sunset.