The Impact of Urban Landscapes and Natural Environments on Mental Health: A Review

Maryam Noroozi¹ Reza Farhadi² Majid Aghazadeh³ Amir Rahsaz⁴

1) Department of Environmental Design Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
2) Department of Urban Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Lecturer, Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Hormozgan, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
3) Lecturer, Department of Interior Architecture, University of Pars, Tehran, Iran.
4) Master of Arts, Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, Okanagan campus, British Columbia University, Canada.

Publication : 2nd International Conference on Recent Advances in Engineering, Innovation and Technology - Belgium(eitconf.com)
Abstract :
This study review explores the restorative qualities of urban landscapes and natural environments based on studies conducted between 1997 and 2023. The research examined preferences and design considerations in urban landscapes, the impact of proximity to forests and gardens on children s performance, physiological and psychological effects of urban forest landscape viewing, the relationship between tree coverage and stress reduction considering gender differences, and perceptions of designed natural spaces. The findings showcase the importance of tranquil environments, such as gardens and forests, in promoting Relaxation, fostering physical and social abilities in children, and inducing calming effects through exposure to nature. This comparative review study examined the quality of urban spaces compared to natural environments such as parks, urban forests and designed natural spaces such as formal and informal gardens. The results showed that walking in a forest positively impacts individuals morale, while walking in urban environments has no effect. Additionally, observing, walking, and even experiencing virtual reality in forest environments is essential in reducing stress. Moreover, visual and olfactory stimuli, both simultaneously and visual and auditory stimuli simultaneously, increase the quality of environmental tranquillity. Ultimately, it is suggested that to improve the mental health of natural and forest environments, factors such as designing spaces to promote exercise and physical activity and the presence of natural elements and bird-attracting plants should be used in space design.
Keywords : urban landscapes natural environments psychological effects stress reduction