Restorative Environments
Places that help reduce mental fatigue
and enhance wellness
Attention Restoration Theory (ART)
• Attention can be fatigued by overuse – leads
to stress, irritability
• Some environments are better than others
for restoring our ability to pay attention
• Benefits of such environments:
– Attentional recovery
– Reflection
Types of attention
–Directed
–Involuntary
Directed Attention
• Required to complete an assigned paper
• Required to drive in heavy traffic
• Required to hold up your end of
conversation during a bad date
Prolonged focus on something required, or of little
interest. Result may be directed attention fatigue.
Involuntary Attention
• Baby exploring hanging toy in a crib
• Video game
• Conversation on a good date
Attention held without difficulty, the mind is easily
engaged. Can help reduce directed attention fatigue.
Reflection
• Personal issues, problems
• The bigger goals or questions in life
– “Soft fascination” found in more natural
environments allows for reflection
– Places that are less intense and still mentally
interesting afford this more than
places/situations that are more intense (sporting
event, video game, bar, concert)
Natural Environments
Enhance potential for involuntary attention
– Quiet fascination
– Wandering and exploring
– Separation from distraction
– Colors, textures
– Views
Quiet fascination: wildlife
Quiet fascination: wildlife
Quiet fascination: color, form,
seasons
Wandering in small spaces: extent
Extent: Feel of extended time and space
Even small spaces can seem big if feeling of
“extent” is present
Japanese garden
Separation from distraction
Separation: Design features can mask or
buffer noise (Paley Park)
Moving water can create auditory
separation
Separation: Sense of enclosure
(Greenacre Park)
Auditory: Moving water
Visual: Vegetative buffer
Degree of enclosure is
important to success of space
Tree canopy creates separation
Awnings and arbors can
create outdoor rooms
Separation may also be achieved
at larger scale (Sheep Meadow)
Materials: Wood, stone, old
Don’t want materials to detract
Wood & Stone
Natural and fabricated stone and
steel in a playground
Mixed surfaces
old/rustic
Views – chance to visually explore
Views can be grand
Framing focuses the attention
View from a window
Marriot, Hilton Head SC
A view from the front porch
Children’s Hospitaledge of Hagley Park
Goal is to enhance restorative qualities
of environments with every day nature
• Places that are quiet and offer some complexity (fascination)
• Places that offer exploration & extent
• Places that are separate from distraction
• Places that include subdued color and textures (wood, stone, and old)
• Places that provide an interesting view (from a window, balcony or porch)