Therapeutic Landscapes: an Integrative Approach in the Design of Urban Green Spaces

Abstract

Numerous theories have been used to present Biophilia Hypothesis in order to clarify the great interest and gratification about natural environments. The concept of Biophilia points out that there must be a biological connection with nature at the physical, spirutal and social levels. Hence, our personal well-being, productivity and social relations are positively influenced when our urban environment incorporates natural components. It has been well known ever since the middle-ages that healing gardens affect psychological and physical health of humans. The concept of therapeutic gardens has been generated in the scope of the healing functions of green areas in the face of negative effects of rapid urbanization by considering the recent effects of green areas on human life. In this study, building of therapeutic gardens in the historical process and their effects on human life were scrutinized. Moreover, general urban green area uses were investigated and they were assessed in the scope of therapeutic garden improvement. Improvement types of therapeutic gardens, design criteria, place arrangement and plant material use were studied. Consequently, it is a scientifically accepted reality to consider the decisions "an integrated approach" in planning studies for determining the therapeutic and curative (physical, spiritual) roles of green systems for urban residents in urban areas.