Articles
WHEN GREEN BECAME HEALTHY
Article number
1093_18
Pages
161 – 168
Language
English
Abstract
Gardens and horticulture, particularly within built-up areas, can have a verifiable therapeutic effect.
Whilst this has been demonstrated in various studies and for different therapeutic situations, reasons are still to be understood and can be best described in psychological terms.
Urban green and horticulture are commonly accepted as meaningful, thus creating significance or identity.
This paper argues that this can be ascribed to the transition to and historical development throughout modern times.
Arcadian landscapes became known as a metaphor for a peaceful and meaningful life with nature, in contrast to the industrialised life that was increasingly seen as against nature.
The profound transformation that societies had to face at the time has since then and until today engendered counter movements from sun-worshipping to vegetarian¬ism.
Garden design has consequently often been an attempt to transport pieces of idyllic country life into urbanised areas, to heal living conditions that are thought to be unhealthy.
Criticism of urbanisation is however not a philosophical problem only: The basics of todays belief in the healthy outdoors can be traced back to two different political programmes: the conservative romanticism that would heal societal problems through nature (traditionalistic approach) and the programme of social reform that wants fair access to resources for the underprivileged masses (progressive approach). Whilst the first uses urban green and nature as metaphors, the latter looks for more tangible outcomes and discusses the actual utilisation of green spaces and gardens.
Both positions get mingled in the course of time until today when they can be hardly distinguished in current discussions about Green and Health.
Whilst this has been demonstrated in various studies and for different therapeutic situations, reasons are still to be understood and can be best described in psychological terms.
Urban green and horticulture are commonly accepted as meaningful, thus creating significance or identity.
This paper argues that this can be ascribed to the transition to and historical development throughout modern times.
Arcadian landscapes became known as a metaphor for a peaceful and meaningful life with nature, in contrast to the industrialised life that was increasingly seen as against nature.
The profound transformation that societies had to face at the time has since then and until today engendered counter movements from sun-worshipping to vegetarian¬ism.
Garden design has consequently often been an attempt to transport pieces of idyllic country life into urbanised areas, to heal living conditions that are thought to be unhealthy.
Criticism of urbanisation is however not a philosophical problem only: The basics of todays belief in the healthy outdoors can be traced back to two different political programmes: the conservative romanticism that would heal societal problems through nature (traditionalistic approach) and the programme of social reform that wants fair access to resources for the underprivileged masses (progressive approach). Whilst the first uses urban green and nature as metaphors, the latter looks for more tangible outcomes and discusses the actual utilisation of green spaces and gardens.
Both positions get mingled in the course of time until today when they can be hardly distinguished in current discussions about Green and Health.
Authors
N.J. Huxmann
Keywords
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