How carefully crafted spaces can improve our quality of life.

Experiencing green spaces and natural environments is known to improve our mood but is there a real link between designed landscapes and quantifiable user benefits? Gayle Souter-Brown looks at the social, economic and environmental benefits of developing greenspace for health and well-being. The book explores the evidence behind the positive effects of designed landscapes, and explains the methods and approaches which can be put into practice by those wishing to reduce cost and increase value when creating unique outdoor spaces.

Using principles from sensory, therapeutic and healing gardens, Souter-Brown focuses on landscape's ability to affect health, education and economic outcomes. Already valued within the healthcare sector, these design guidelines for public and private spaces extend the benefits throughout our towns and cities. With more people living in urban environments than ever before, this book deeply resonates with the growing need for creative spaces that have the profound ability to inspire and rejuvenate.

Covering design for school grounds to public parks, public housing to gardens for stressed executives, this richly illustrated text builds the case to justify inclusion of a designed outdoor area in project budgets. With case studies from the US, UK, Africa, Asia, Australasia and Europe, it is an international, inspirational and valuable tool for those interested in landscapes that provide real benefits to their users.

"Concepts of architecture, design, sustainability and well-being are blended with whole of life costing approaches to make the case for a supportive urban environment in which individuals, families, communities and business can thrive." - Teena Hale Pennington, CEO New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA)

Gayle Souter-Brown is Founder and Director of Greenstone Design UK Ltd, salutogenic landscape and urban design consultants. Her research interests in design for health and well-being follow years working with disabled adults and children. With 25 years of international experience she lectures, writes and designs from UK and New Zealand.

More information:
"Landscape and Urban Design for Health and Well-Being." http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415843522/?utm_source=CISION&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=SBU3_CTH_2PR_7pr_2LAN

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