A study of restorative potential in window views adopting Kaplan’s attention restoration theory and urban visual preferences defined by Lynch
Abstract
Window views can enable restorativeness. Previous studies define characteristics of natural environment that trigger restorativeness, but fewer studies are dealing with restorative characteristics of urban environment. The purpose of this study is to identify qualities that enable restorativeness in natural and urban window views. Using a questionnaire survey as a method for obtaining the research data, responses of architectural students are analysed. To identify restorative potential in window views evaluation method according to Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory (ART) is used. Additional evaluation method for urban views is applied using Lynch’s theory of designing urban space that people can enjoy. Our findings show that urban views can be analysed according to Lynch’s visual qualities to identify the restorative potential of urban environments. Our findings also show that Lynch’s criteria may coincide with Kaplan’s criteria for assessing restorativeness. To define restorative potential in urban views in an early design phase, new evaluation methods are needed to transcend the renowned Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory into more approachable design mechanisms for designers and decision makers. Well-being of the inhabitants in a future dense urban environment will only be provided with an adequate window view.
Keyword : restorativeness, well-being, window view, natural view, urban view, visual qualities, Kaplan, Lynch
How to Cite
Koprivec, L., Zbašnik-Senegačnik, M., & Kristl, Živa. (2022). A study of restorative potential in window views adopting Kaplan’s attention restoration theory and urban visual preferences defined by Lynch. Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 46(2), 148–159. https://doi.org/10.3846/jau.2022.16158
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
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Spano, G., D’Este, M., Giannico, V., Elia, M., Cassibba, R., Lafortezza, R., & Sanesi, G. (2021). Association between indoor-outdoor green features and psychological health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: A cross-sectional nationwidee study. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127156
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Tenngart Ivarsson, C., & Hagerhall, C. M. (2008). The perceived restorativeness of gardens – Assessing the restorativeness of a mixed built and natural scene type. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 7, 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2008.01.001
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Tyrväinen, L., Ojala, A., Korpela, K., Lanki, T., Tsunetsugu, Y., & Kagawa, T. (2014). The influence of urban green environments on stress relief measures: A field experiment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.12.005
Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11, 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7
van den Berg, A. E., Joye, Y., & Koole, S. L. (2016). Why viewing nature is more fascinating and restorative than viewing buildings: A closer look at perceived complexity. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 20, 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.10.011
van Esch, E., Minjock, R., Colarelli. S. M., & Hirsch, S. (2019). Office window views: View features trump nature in predicting employee well-being. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 64, 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.05.006
Vratanar, H. (2021). Prebivalstvo v primežu pandemije covida-19. RS Statistični urad. https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/News/Index/9566
Zhou, X., & Wang, Y.-C. (2011). Spatial–temporal dynamics of urban green space in response to rapid urbanization and greening policies. Landscape and Urban Planning, 100, 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.12.013
Aries, M. B. C., Veitch, J. A., & Newsham, G. R. (2010). Windows, view, and office characteristics predict physical and psychological discomfort. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 30(4), 533–541. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2009.12.004
Bell, J., & Burt, W. (1995). Designing buildings for daylight. Construction Research Communications Ltd.
Brown, D. K., Barton, J. L., & Gladwell, V. F. (2013). Viewing nature scenes positively affects recovery of autonomic function following acute-mental stress. Environmental Science & Technology, 47(11), 5562–5569. https://doi.org/10.1021/es305019p
Cawte, J. E. (1967). Flight into the wilderness as a psychiatric syndromet. Psychiatry, 30(2), 149–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/00332747.1967.11023503
Collins, B. L. (1976). Review of the psychological reaction to windows. Lighting Research & Technology, 8(2), 80–88. https://doi.org/10.1177/14771535760080020601
Grinde, B., & Patil, G. G. (2009). Biophilia: Does visual contact with nature impact onhealth and well-being? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 6(9), 2332–2343. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph6092332
Hartig, T., Evans, G. W., Jamner, L. D., Davis, D. S., & Garling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23, 109–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(02)00109-3
Honold, J., Lakes, T., Beyer, R., & van der Meer, E. (2016). Restoration in urban spaces: nature views from home, greenways, and public parks. Environment and Behavior, 48(6), 796–825. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916514568556
Kaplan, R. (2001). The nature of the view from home: Psychological benefits. Environment and Behavior, 33(4), 507–542. https://doi.org/10.1177/00139160121973115
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature: A psychological perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Kaplan, S. (1995). The urban forest as a source of psychological well-being. In G. A. Bradley (Ed.), Urban forest landscapes: Integrating multidisciplinary perspectives (pp. 100–108). University of Washington Press.
Kent, M., & Schiavon, S. (2020). Evaluation of the effect of landscape distance seen in window views on visual satisfaction. Building and Environment, 183, 107160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107160
Kim, J., Cha, S. H., Koo, C., & Tang, S. (2018). The effects of indoor plants and artificial windows in an underground. Building and Environment, 138, 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.04.029
Ko, W. H., Brager, G., Schiavon, S., & Selkowitz, S. (2017). Building envelope impact on human performance and well‐being: Experimental study on view clarity. Center for the Built Environment, University of California. http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/0gj8h384
Korpela, K., Ylen, M., Tyrvainen, L., & Silvennoinen, H. (2010). Favorite green, waterside and urban environments, restorative experiences and perceived health in Finland. Health Promotion International, 25(2), 200–209. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daq007
Li, D., & Sullivan, W. C. (2016). Impact of views to school landscapes on recovery from stress and mental fatigue. Landscape and Urban Planning, 148, 149–158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2015.12.015
Littlefair, P. J. (1996). Designing with innovative daylighting. IHS BRE Press.
Liu, Q., Zhu, Z., Zhuo, Z., Huang, S., Zhang, C., Shen, X., van den Bosch, C. C. K., Huang, Q., & Lan, S. (2021). Relationships between residents’ ratings of place attachment and the restorative potential of natural and urban park settings. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127188. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127188
Logar, V., Kristl, Ž., & Škrjanc, I. (2014). Using a fuzzy black-box model to estimate the indoor illuminance in buildings. Energy and buildings, 70, 343–351. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2013.11.082
Lynch, K. (1960). The image of the city. MIT Press.
Martens, D., Gutscher, H., & Bauer, N. (2011). Walking in “wild” and “tended” urban forests: The impact on psychological well-being. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 31(1), 36–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2010.11.001
Menatti, L., Subiza-Pérez, M., Villalpando-Flores, A., Vozmediano, L., & San Juan, C. (2019). Place attachment and identification as predictors of expected landscape restorativeness. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 63, 36–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.03.005
Ojala, A., Korpela, K., Tyrvainen, L., Tiittanen, P., & Lanki, T. (2019). Restorative effects of urban green environments and the role of urban-nature orientedness and noise sensitivity: A field experiment. Health and Place, 55, 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2018.11.004
Peron, E., Berto, R., & Purcell, T. (2002). Restorativeness, preference and the perceived naturalness of places. Medio Ambiente y Comportamiento Humano, 3(1), 19–34.
Slovenian Institute for Standardization. (2019). Daylight of buildings (SIST EN 17037). https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/6fd9e65f-c3ba-4cda-a69c-dcbd8b7dce8d/sist-en-17037-2019
Sommer, R. (1974). Tight spaces; hard architecture and how to humanize it. Prentice-Hall.
Sonntag-Öström, E., Nordin, M., Lundell, Y., Dolling, A., Wiklund, U., Karlsson, M., Carlberg, B., & Slunga Järvholm, L. (2014). Restorative effects of visits to urban and forest environments in patients with exhaustion disorder. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 13, 344–354. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2013.12.007
Spano, G., D’Este, M., Giannico, V., Elia, M., Cassibba, R., Lafortezza, R., & Sanesi, G. (2021). Association between indoor-outdoor green features and psychological health during the COVID-19 lockdown in Italy: A cross-sectional nationwidee study. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 62, 127156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127156
Subiza-Pérez, M., Korpela, K., & Pasanen, T. (2021). Still not that bad for the grey city: A field study on the restorative effects of built open urban places. Cities, 111, 103081. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2020.103081
Tenngart Ivarsson, C., & Hagerhall, C. M. (2008). The perceived restorativeness of gardens – Assessing the restorativeness of a mixed built and natural scene type. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 7, 107–118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2008.01.001
Twedt, E., Rainey, R. M., & Proffitt, D. R. (2019). Beyond nature: The roles of visual appeal and individual differences in perceived restorative potential. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 65, 101322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.101322
Tyrväinen, L., Ojala, A., Korpela, K., Lanki, T., Tsunetsugu, Y., & Kagawa, T. (2014). The influence of urban green environments on stress relief measures: A field experiment. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 38, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2013.12.005
Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11, 201–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-4944(05)80184-7
van den Berg, A. E., Joye, Y., & Koole, S. L. (2016). Why viewing nature is more fascinating and restorative than viewing buildings: A closer look at perceived complexity. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 20, 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.10.011
van Esch, E., Minjock, R., Colarelli. S. M., & Hirsch, S. (2019). Office window views: View features trump nature in predicting employee well-being. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 64, 56–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2019.05.006
Vratanar, H. (2021). Prebivalstvo v primežu pandemije covida-19. RS Statistični urad. https://www.stat.si/StatWeb/News/Index/9566
Zhou, X., & Wang, Y.-C. (2011). Spatial–temporal dynamics of urban green space in response to rapid urbanization and greening policies. Landscape and Urban Planning, 100, 268–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.12.013