Exploring the Links Between Biophilic and Restorative Qualities of Exterior and Interior Spaces in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico

Abstract

The interactive role of the ecological, architectural, biophilic, and sensory qualities of outdoor and indoor spaces in the restorative experiences of urban inhabitants is little known. We analyzed the restorative influence on mood states and situational stress related to exposure to vegetation proportion, spatial extension, landmark salience, biophilic architecture, people density, street visual access, olfactory pleasantness, and noise of 65 public spaces in a Mexican city. The environmental qualities of these places were analyzed with multidimensional scaling (MDS), leading to eight space categories (e.g., historic squares with biophilic architecture, large parks, street scenes, and interiors with non-biophilic architecture). Ratings of the restorative potential, mood states, situational stress, olfactory pleasantness, and noise annoyance were evaluated on such places and modeled through a structural equation modeling (SEM). The model shows that the restorative influence of the environmental qualities on moods and stress was related to a decrease in experiences of negative moods and perceived stress, and an increase of positive mood states. Based on our findings, we discuss design guidelines, emphasizing the relevance of including vegetation and built elements with biophilic qualities to create restorative environments.

Impact of the perceived sensory dimensions of an atypical environment on perceived environmental restorativeness ( Impacto de las dimensiones sensoriales percibidas de un ambiente atípico sobre la percepción de restauración ambiental )

“…The restorative potential of each image was evaluated on the basis of the scale average for each dimension of the EPRA-R scale (Martínez-Soto et al, 2014). Likewise, the Overall Restorative Potential (ORP) resulting from the average of the 23 items was obtained (Martínez-Soto et al, 2014, 2021). The approximate application time was 35 minutes.…”

“…Predictores eficientes del PRG de un lugar abarcan, además del grado de naturalidad de un lugar, la diversidad de la vegetación y la densidad de la cobertura arbórea, también la extensión, los puntos de referencia, las facilidades que ofrece el entorno para desplazarse, la permeabilidad y su significado histórico (Martínez-Soto et al, 2021), lo que sugiere que el aprovechamiento salutogénico de las áreas verdes urbanas supera la relación de oposición entre lo urbano/construido y lo natural.…”

“…La evaluación del potencial restaurador de cada imagen se realizó mediante la obtención del promedio escalar por cada dimensión de la EPRA-R (Martínez-Soto et al, 2014). Asimismo, se obtuvo un Potencial Restaurativo Global (PRG) resultante del promedio de los 23 ítems (Martínez-Soto et al, 2021, 2014. El tiempo aproximado de aplicación fue de 35 minutos.…”

“…These are auxiliary components in the promotion of psychological restoration and allude to the phenomenon of perceived environmental restorativeness (Hartig et al, 1997). Analytically, an assessment of the perceived restorativeness of a place can be obtained by characterizing its restorative qualities, considering the dimensions of the Perceived Restorativeness Scale, or by generating the scale average by adding together these dimensions, giving rise to the Overall Restorative Potential (ORP) of the environment (Martínez-Soto et al, 2021, 2014.…”

“…In addition to the naturalness of a place, efficient predictors of its ORP include the diversity of vegetation and the density of tree cover, as well as the expanse of area covered, the landmarks, the walkability, permeability and its historical significance (Martínez-Soto et al, 2021), which suggests that the salutogenic use of urban green areas overcomes the opposition between urban/built and natural.…”