Quantifying the Restorative Effects of Green–Water–Hardscape Ratios: Evidence from a Simulated Landscape Experiment in Chiang Mai
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Abstract
Modern life presents significant stressors that negatively impact mental well-being. While the importance of mental health is increasingly recognized, effective stress management strategies are still crucial. This study explores the potential of landscape perception as a natural intervention to enhance proximal restorative outcomes. By investigating the physiological and psychological responses of individuals to diverse landscape stimuli, we aim to understand how specific combinations of landscape elements (e.g., green spaces, water features) can promote psychological restoration. The study design intended to collect psychological and physiological (heart rate and blood pressure) responses, measured before and after stress-inducing tests and landscape exposure. Scores from self-reported questionnaires were collected from 140 participants (n = 140) exposed to seven virtual landscape scenarios with varying proportions of green (G: vegetation), water (W: blue infrastructure), and hardscape (H: pathways, seating, shelters) elements. Results revealed that balanced landscapes (e.g., MMM: 0.33/0.33/0.33) and nature-dominated landscapes with low hardscape (MML: 0.45/0.45/0.1) elicited the strongest positive responses across all psychological dimensions (aesthetic preference, comfort, concentration, and behavioral preference). In contrast, hardscape-dominated landscapes (LLH: 0.1/0.1/0.8) consistently performed the poorest. While physiological measures showed general stress reduction across all scenarios, no statistically significant differences were found between GWH compositions. This study investigates how the relative proportions of landscape elements significantly affects perceived restoration and preference, although short-term physiological differences are negligible. These results could guide the development of evidence-based interventions and design strategies utilizing the sustainable way to improve restorative experiences for individuals and communities.
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