Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Outdoor environment is one of the most important factors in a person‘s physical, mental and
emotional development. This thesis concerns the opportunities within landscape architecture to
promote the development of the outdoors as a resource for health and well-being in healthcare
settings.
The overall aim is to describe the main principles of providing a restorative outdoor
environment around healthcare settings. Natural environments (Natural elements in outdoor
environments) meet these criteria for a successful restorative environment. As such, benefits of
integrating natural elements within healthcare settings to improve user experience and promote
patient well-being.
This is a theoretical review based on literature studies including research done by professionals
in various fields, and interviews with persons, who have done research in these specific fieldsrestorative environments around healthcare settings.
The results reflect the patient contact with the outdoors and the activities and characteristics the
outdoors can and should provide, reflecting a variety of universal needs and opportunities in
relation to the outdoor environment in healthcare settings
This paper concludes with general quality principles as well as key qualities essential when
successful restorative environments around healthcare settings are based on the user‘s actual needs
and preferences.