Healing landscape: How healing parameters in different special organization could affect user’s mental health?

Abstract

Studies on the relationship between landscape and health show that the inher-ent attraction of humans to nature and presence in these spaces causes mental peace and improves mental and physical health. Thus, the therapeutic landscape approach could be useful in healing. Healing landscapes reduce stress and im-prove people’s mental health. So, applying healing design parameters in open urban landscapes strengthens the quality and livability of urban space and enhances the tendency to make optimal use of nature. The study was carried out in urban parks and the Persian Garden. The therapeutic landscape approach with empha-sized on differences between these two cases did use. This study aims to evaluate the parameters affecting the quality of the healing landscape in two urban landscapes with different spatial structures (Persian Garden and Urban Park) in Iran. Therefore, landscape healing quality factors collected and classified in emotion-al, cognitive, behavioral, and social effects. The research method consists of both quantitative and qualitative techniques. Data collected through questionnaires, interviews, and field observation. Results indicate that the cognitive parameters in the Persian Garden and the behavioral and social parameters in the urban park affected the healing quality of these landscapes. Geometric design pattern, visual communication, using water, and vegetation increase connection with nature; ad-ditionally, psychological safety through night lighting and clarity of the space can be efficient in promoting the healing of the environment. In social and behavioral parameters, quality of public spaces, appropriate furniture, legibility, and a variety of activities are valuable in the quality of healing.