Workplaces landscape and human health
Journal Artical
Differentiating mental health promotion effects of various bluespaces: An electroencephalography study
Journal of environmental psychology, 2023, IF= 7.649
A growing body of literature suggests that visual contact with bluespace may benefit people’s mental health. However, whether these benefits vary with the type of bluespace and length of contact duration is unclear. We addressed this critical knowledge gap by conducting a photograph-based experimental study to examine individual mental responses (n = 30) to three types of bluespace (Falling, Flowing, and Static bluespaces) and one control condition (Streetspaces).
The participants were assigned to view four conditions in a random sequence in a laboratory. The effect of each condition on mental health was primarily measured through a portable electroencephalogram (EEG) device that continuously recorded brainwaves throughout each contact. We then administered the Restorative Components Scale (RCS) questionnaire as a secondary measure to the participants, who reported psychological states immediately after each contact.
We have four main findings. First, visual contact with all three bluespaces yielded significantly greater mental health promotion effects than visual contact with streetspace. Second, the promotion effects of bluespaces varied, and the Falling bluespace was found to be the most beneficial type, as contact with it yielded the highest level of alpha brainwaves, the lowest level of beta brainwaves, and the highest score on the RCS questionnaire. Third, the type of environment appears to be the main factor, and contact duration appears to be the minor factor in explaining the differences in the mental health promotion effects. Finally, a 3-min contact with bluespaces is sufficient to promote mental health. We provide suggestions for future research into bluespaces and how bluespaces can be used to promote urban residents’ mental health and well-being.
Revitalization of the Waterfront Park Based on Industrial Heritage Using Post-Occupancy Evaluation—A Case Study of Shanghai (China)
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, IF=4.614
With the rapid development of urban construction, the waterfront industrial heritage park
has played an active role in shaping the city’s image, regional economic development and environmental improvement, and the continuation of the city’s waterfront history. The waterfront park based on industrial heritage using post-occupancy evaluation will help improve the sustainable management, maintenance, and design level of the project in the future. However, there is insufficient research on the waterfront industrial heritage park using post-occupancy evaluation. This paper takes Shanghai Houtan Park and Xuhui Binjiang Park, the representative industrial heritage parks in China, as the research objects. Through field investigation and nearly 200 questionnaires and interviews regarding user behavior, the importance of design elements (place characteristics, natural environmental characteristics, usability characteristics, and administrative characteristics) and the correlation of satisfaction help us to understand the use of the two parks and analyze and organize the survey data, carrying out the analysis of the questionnaire results using frequency analysis, IPA analysis, t-test, variance analysis, and multiple regression analysis. The research results include: (1) Both parks are mainly used by people in their twenties and forties, and the trail received the highest utilization rate as the main facility, while the visitor center in charge of guiding
functions had the lowest utilization rate. (2) While Houtan Park received high satisfaction with natural environmental characteristics, it was found that Xu Hui Binjiang Park had relatively high satisfaction with the place and usability characteristics. (3) The natural environmental characteristics of Houtan Park have a positive impact on overall satisfaction and return visit satisfaction. Site characteristics and utilization characteristics of Xuhui Binjiang Industrial Park have a positive impact on overall satisfaction, while usability characteristics have a positive impact on return visit satisfaction. Finally, according to the questions and suggestions raised by users, an optimization strategy is proposed for the renewal of the park, and it is hoped that it can provide suggestions for the reconstruction and design of similar Chinese waterfront industrial heritage parks.
Investigating the Urban Central Waterfront Space from the Perspective of Healthy City: Theoretical Mechanisms, Scientific Evidence, and Critical Characteristics
Shanghai Urban Planning Review, 2020
Urban central waterfront space is a transitional area where the land meets the water, with a mixture of diverse landscape resources and urban functions. It is an essential type of space to accommodate and stimulate public life, so its quality has multiple significant and lasting influences on human health and wellbeing. The existing literature has provided scattered evidence that a variety of environmental characteristics of urban waterfront space might significantly influence human health and wellbeing. However, few studies have provided a systematic review and evaluation of those characteristics from the perspective of Healthy City. To address this knowledge gap, we analyzed three aspects of the urban waterfront: the theoretical mechanisms, scientific evidence, and critical characteristics. Then we proposed a series of planning, design, and administrative suggestions on creating healthy waterfront spaces. This research aims to provide scientific evidence and practical suggestions for the development of healthy cities and healthy waterfront spaces.
Report
Investigating the Urban Central Waterfront Space from the Perspective of Healthy City: Theoretical Mechanisms, Scientific Evidence, and Critical Strategies
Consultant Client: Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Bureau of Jiangbei District, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province
In the past decades, waterfront public spaces have been built in major cities in China. However, many of them cannot meet the needs of current users to promote public health and well-being. This research aimed to redefine and optimize the central waterfront space in the city by analyzing the relevant literature on the theoretical mechanism, scientific evidence and key element characteristics of healthy waterfront space, and investigating the impacts of the environmental elements on users’ behaviors. We used literature review, behavioral observation, photo analysis, and intervews as research method. Based on the findings, we proposed a series of guidelines on urban governance, spatial planning, landscape design, public participation to promote building healthy central waterfront spaces in the cities.