Science Forums 2

[Michaelangelica]

Alexandra de Blas: Imagine city skyscrapers, covered in greenery that you can walk up like mountains. Green facades, instead of granite, and rows of apartments concealed by shrubbery and mounds of earth. Well that�s happening, and Emillio Ambnasz is one of the leaders in the field. He�s been designing buildings like this for three decades. An Argentinian by birth, his New York based firm creates radical buildings that put green over grey across the globe.

Emillio Ambasz: I believe that land belongs to all and a building that occupies a piece of land should give back the land to the community and should give it back in the form of gardens, which are accessible to everybody.
Second, I think that the emotional needs that people have for decoration, for ornament, are provided certainly by plants.
People like plants and feel peaceful close to plants, and serenity with plants. Also there are a number of very practical advantages if the building is covered with plants or with earth or with flowers or anything of that sort, it can reduce the amount of heat that goes into the building, so it becomes much cheaper to maintain the building because it doesn�t require so much heating or cooling. It purifies the air outside. It is a situation where every party wins.

Flowers & Plants Improve Workplace Productivity


Research: Biophilia

"The indoor trees must provide the same sensations that I am feeling now [in Planterra's greenhouses]: relaxed, breathing fresh air and enjoying the sights of natural green sculpture," says Purd'homme.

"The earth made these trees, not a factory" he continues, suggesting that if he wanted a fourteen-foot sculpture or furniture piece it would cost a whole lot more than a tree. He adds, "That's the financial bottom line. We must rediscover how to responsibly enjoy nature's gifts."

Health Benefits of Gardens in Hospitals
TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY, Dr. Roger S. Ulrich

Prompted by soaring hospital construction cost, the College of Architecture and Medicine at Texas A&M University conducted a joint study on the influences of plants in hospitals and healthcare facilities. The study found that the presence of plants in hospitals improves client and staff satisfaction. Dr. Ulrich discovered that simply viewing nature and green garden scenes can relive stress in 5 minutes or less.

For more information read, Dr. Ulrich Symposium

Curative Benefits
Therapeutic gardens are spaces created to benefit a specific user, such as residences in cancer center. The gardens are designed for both mental and physical relaxation.

According to the American Horticultural Therapy Association, the benefits of therapeutic garden environments have been understood since ancient times.

In the 19th century, Dr, Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and considered the "Father of American Psychiatry," asserted that garden settings hold curative effects for people with mental illness. Some benefits include reduced stress, lower blood pressure and exposure to vitamin D from the sun.

Many hospital spokespeople say gardens are an escape for patients to reclaim their dignity, noting that nature provides universal familiarity and comfort.

Research: Biophilia

Sache echoes these kinds of consideration for patients based on the medical oath, "Do no harm." The landscape must be safe for the population "the more plants the better," she says. The lusher the garden, the more likely patients will be able to mentally escape.

Flexibly and water are the next suggestion on Carman and Sachs' list. The garden should be able to evolve and adapt to the needs of the users. Carman acknowledges that some facilities have budgeted for changes better than others, and having good donors can certainly help.

Based on "our primordial relationship" with water, Sachs suggests adding a water feature. Even adding a small fountain in the waiting room can calm patients by helping to mask the unpleasant sounds sometimes associated with medical facilities.

lots of info at this site
Planterra - Interior Landscapes