Healing Spaces / Healing Gardens



 
There is a lot out there on healing spaces....

When architects and sociologists and others look at what it takes to create healing environments (what I term 'Hospital Makeovers') they end up describing a garden. Not really in those words, of course....

Actually they call it 'Healthcare without the Institution'

Photo: Blender Nation - Espoo Hospital, Finland

It is an exciting development to see architects list the physical criteria required for healing spaces and it sure sounds like a garden to me.

Jack Lenor Larsen's Long House Reserve

In a pdf of a slide show given to public health architects, (Public Health Group of the International Union of Architects, November 2009) Zdravko Trivic & Dr Ruzica Bozovic‐Stamenovic & Dr Limin Hee say hospitals should look to shopping centers for inspiration...(click below to see slide show)

 
but after looking at the slide show (click above) I say they should skip the shopping mall model and go directly to the Serenity Garden model. It certainly fits their stated maxim which is:

 'Space is inseparable from people, and vice versa.'

Here is the physical attribute list necessary for healing spaces that they list in the show - I added my photos...

ô€€—Colors
 
Yellow Coreopsis

ô€€—Textures and Touch

Chicago City Hall green roof

 
ô€€—Nature and Vistas

One of my projects - Johnsen Landscapes & Pools

ô€€—Quality of Lighting


ô€€—Sounds and Music

Making Headway Foundation Party for Kids afflicted with brain and spinal cord tumors


ô€€—Aromas


ô€€—Art
 
Art Piece in one of my landscapes - Johnsen Landscapes & Pools
 
So when you put these Together you get a wonderful Healing Environment which is also a Serenity Garden!

 Serenity Gardens for Health, Well Being and Long Life

Comments

  1. GinnyJune 24, 2010 at 9:52 AM

    The one element I would add to your list would be water. Water could be included under nature and vistas, but I would list it specifically. Unfortunately, I don't have a water feature in my garden. One day I'd like to add a small pond or a fountain, but either would be too much of an expense now. Nevertheless, it is a healing place and working in it is the best therapy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. allanbecker-gardenguruJune 24, 2010 at 12:25 PM

    Great posting!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan JohnsenJune 24, 2010 at 1:59 PM

    Thanks so much! and Ginny - you are so right - what happened to water? why didn't they put water in their list? add WATER to above...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Beverly SeatonJune 24, 2010 at 8:38 PM

    Water, yes--alas, after just planting a tub garden with water plants after years of nagging from a friend with a city garden, I found it destroyed this morning. Raccoons, large families of them, feeding at our bird feeders. They do not add to the serenity of our garden. But speaking of art, we do have a breed of skunks that have unusual and interesting patterns in their fur--tonight I saw one with a black pinstripe in his/her white stole.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jan JohnsenJune 25, 2010 at 7:07 AM

    perhaps we should SKUNKS to the list...not

    ReplyDelete
  6. ZakiaJanuary 8, 2015 at 10:05 AM

    Hi JJ, I come from Indonesia.
    And i really love your blogs. You give more idea to served my client here.
    Keep writing JJ :)
    My site: Jasa Desain Interior

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jan JohnsenJanuary 9, 2015 at 4:06 PM

      Thank you Zakia! and how did you know they call me JJ?

      Delete

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