Wellness Architecture and

Urban Design

Wellness is a contemporary concept with deep ancient roots promoting preven‑

tative and holistic activities, lifestyle choices, and salient architecture and urban
design practices. Wellness Architecture and Urban Design presents definitions, an
analysis of the wellness literature, and a brief history of the wellness movement.
Specific planning and design strategies are presented citing examples worldwide
and emphasizing the importance of wellness considerations at all scales of the
built environment from rooms to cities. Both case studies offer fully integrated and
comprehensive wellness design approaches creating resilient and life‑enhancing
wellness through each of the architecture and urban design scales. The book will
be of interest to practitioners and students working in urban design, landscape
architecture, architecture, planning, and affiliated fields.
“The authors have written a groundbreaking book addressing the emerging trend
of designing for wellness, not only in health care settings, but also in places for liv‑
ing, work, learning, play, and worship. This book speaks not only to architecture and
urban planning, but also strongly emphasizes the benefit of designed and built envi‑
ronments that enhance the full continuum of wellness supporting the body, mind,
and spirit. There is a pragmatic flavor to the book offering a wealth of examples,
serving as a useful reference for those who develop, plan, design, and build human
places. I strongly recommend this book to students, faculty, health professionals,
planning and design professionals, and the public at large.”
Ronald L. Skaggs, FAIA, FACHA, FHFI, LEED AP, Chairman Emeritus,
HKS, Inc., Former President, American Institute of Architects,
Chancellor AIA College of Fellows, USA

“Wellness Architecture and Urban Design is a clarion call for reimagining our
future – a future where design is empathetic, inclusive, and sustainable. It offers an
enlightening journey through the principles and practices of biophilic and wellness
design, making it an essential read for anyone interested in the future of urban living
and environmental stewardship. The book offers a groundbreaking exploration of
the profound relationship between our physical spaces and well‑being. This work is
a rich tapestry, weaving together historical insights, current challenges, and vision‑
ary solutions in the realm of design and architecture. It delves deep into the human
condition, highlighting how environmental factors and human activities shape our
health and happiness. Drawing on years of extensive research and diverse global
perspectives, this book is not merely academic; it is a practical guide to transform‑
ing our living environments into catalysts for holistic wellness.”
Jennifer Walsh, Founder and Creative Director, AIKR Lab and Institute, USA

“Wellness Architecture and Urban Design is a transformative journey that redefines

our understanding of the spaces we inhabit. This book beautifully encapsulates how
intentional architecture and placemaking can catalyze wellness on many levels.
It’s about fostering communities, nurturing the spirit, and inspiring a ripple effect
of health and happiness. As Phillip Tabb and Lahra Tatriele share their extensive
knowledge, they provide a vision that compels us to rethink our environments and
their potential to elevate our lives. Having recently moved from the incessant buzz
of New York City to the tranquil hamlet of Mado in Serenbe, my family and I have
experienced firsthand the profound impact that connection to nature and thoughtful
design can have on well‑being. We’ve become calmer, more balanced, and deeply
connected, realizing the stark contrast between our past and present living envi‑
ronments. I am grateful for the insights this book offers and believe them to be an
indispensable guide for anyone yearning to create spaces that resonate with our
deepest need for connection, wellness, and harmony.”
Noa Hecht, Creative Placemaking Consultant, USA

“Fivelements Retreat Bali was decades ahead in its quest to incorporate biophilic
design principles that nurture the relationships between humans and nature –
­relationships that heal and sustain life itself. The Fivelements philosophy became
the definition of a new eco‑luxury experience that positively impacts all seven
dimensions of wellness. The founders of Fivelements Retreat understood that
true wellness is inseparable from nature, and this shows in every aspect of the
resort. From the moment guests enter this awe‑inspiring sanctuary, located along
Bali’s sacred Ayung River, they will experience a holistic approach to wellness, from
impeccably designed rooms to exquisite cuisine to unique connections with local
healers. I cannot think of a better place to experience the true meaning of wellness
design or to understand why it is vital to our industry.”
Susie Ellis, Chair and CEO, The Global Wellness Institute, USA
Wellness Architecture and
Urban Design

Phillip James Tabb and

Lahra Tatriele
Designed cover: Photos by Simon Flint (top) and
Serenbe Development (bottom).
First published 2025
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2025 Phillip James Tabb and Lahra Tatriele
The right of Phillip James Tabb and Lahra Tatriele to be identified as
authors of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections 77
and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced
or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means,
now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording,
or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Names: Tabb, Phillip, author. | Tatriele, Lahra, author.
Title: Wellness architecture and urban design / Phillip James Tabb and
Lahra Tatriele.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2025. | Includes bibliographical
references and index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2024014302 (print) | LCCN 2024014303 (ebook) |
ISBN 9781032752037 (hardback) | ISBN 9781032752013 (paperback) |
ISBN 9781003472902 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: City planning—Psychological aspects. | City and town
life—Psychological aspects. | Environmental psychology. | Mental health
planning. | Mental health policy. | Urban policy.
Classification: LCC HT166 .T32 2025 (print) | LCC HT166 (ebook) |
DDC 711/.4—dc23/eng/20240615
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024014302
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2024014303
ISBN: 9781032752037 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781032752013 (pbk)
ISBN: 9781003472902 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902
Typeset in Univers
by codeMantra
 This work is dedicated to future
generations in the pursuit of transformational
wellness for themselves, their families,
their greater communities, and the planet
Contents

List of Figures xiii

List of Tables xviii
Foreword xix
About the Authors xxiii
Preface xxv
Acknowledgments xxix

1 Wellness Definitions and Overview 1

Introduction1
Health and wellness definitions 1
Wellness history 3
Wellness continuum 8
Wellness benefit pillars 9
High‑level wellness 10
Wellness scales of application 12
Wellness design challenges 13
Summary16
Notes16

2 Wellness Architecture and Urban Design Benefits 20

Introduction20
Wellness behaviors 20
Connections to everyday life 22
Dimensions or pillars of wellness benefits 22
1. Physical wellness 24
2. Mental/cognitive wellness 28
3. Emotional wellness 32
4. Social wellness 35
5. Financial wellness 39
6. Environmental wellness 42
7. Spiritual wellness 47
Summary of wellness benefits51

ix ◻
◼ CONTENTS

Benefit tables 54
Notes64

3 Wellness Urban Design Strategies 70

Introduction 70
Wellness benefits 72
Wellness strategies 73
Scales of application 74
Urban design scale strategies 76
1. Mitigating natural disasters and climate change 76
2. Renewable infrastructure 79
3. Land use diversity 81
4. Growth by multiplication 84
5. Mobility and pedestrianization 86
6. Livable communities 89
7. Parks, greenspaces and streetscapes 91
8. Urban agriculture 94
9. Rural-urban transect 95
Planning and urban design scale summary97
Planning scale strategies 98
Strategy table 98
Notes100

4 Wellness Architecture Strategies 103

Architecture scale strategies 103

1. Climate responsive architectural form 103
2. Building envelope and smart façades 106
3. Building systems 107
4. Indoor‑outdoor access to nature 109
5. Nudge design and choice architecture 111
6. Healing water 113
7. Passive survivability 114
8. Spiritual dimensions of architecture 116
9. Wayfinding 119
Architecture scale summary121
Architecture scale strategies 121
Strategy table 121
Notes123

5 Wellness Interior Strategies 125

Interior scale strategies 125

1. Incorporating nature within 125
2. Daylighting strategies 127
3. Natural ventilation strategies 130
4. Prospect and refuge strategies 132

x ◻
 CONTENTS ◼

5. Wellness‑oriented materiality 134

6. Living color 137
7. Workplace innovation and wellness strategies 139
8. Thin places and sanctuary spaces 141
9. Spatial variety and quality 142
Interior scale summary145
Interior scale strategies 145
Strategy table 146
Notes148

6 Wellness Landscape Strategies 151

Landscape scale strategies 151

1. Green spaces and parks 152
2. Blue spaces 154
3. Waterway restorations 155
4. Edible landscapes and foodscapes 157
5. Healing gardens 158
6. Forest bathing 160
7. Reforestation, afforestation, and carbon sequestering 162
8. Incorporating land art installations 163
9. Soundscapes 165
Landscape scale summary167
Landscape scale strategies 168
Strategy table 168
Notes170

7 Case Study 1 – Mado Neighborhood 173

Mado wellness neighborhood at Serenbe, Georgia, USA 173

Serenbe community 173
Neighborhood themes 179
1. Mado wellness neighborhood 184
2. Mado wellness planning and design strategies 187
3. Mado wellness goods and services 192
4. Mado testimonials and podcasts 202
Mado summary 206
Case study table 209
Notes210

8 Case Study 2 – Fivelements Retreat Bali 213

Fivelements Retreat Bali 213

Project background and description 213
Planning inspiration from local wisdom 215
Planning and designing for the Head or Utama 215
1. The entrance and Banyan Tree meeting place – love all,
serve all 217

xi ◻
◼ CONTENTS

2. The main reception 217

3. Balinese temples: their significance and orientation 218
Planning and designing for the Body or Madya219
1. Multi‑purpose buildings 220
2. Sakti Dining Room 221
3. The gymnasium 223
4. Healing Village and Wellness Sanctuary 223
Planning and designing for the Feet or Nista 225
1. Sleeping Suites 225
Fivelements testimonials 225
Wellness planning and design strategies 227
Fivelements summary 228
Case study table 231
Notes232

Summary 233
Suggested Reading 235
Index 237

xii ◻
Figures

0.1 Lifestyles and Health and Wellness Continuum

(Source: Phillip Tabb)xxvii
1.1 Wellness History Timeline (Source: Phillip Tabb)7
1.2 Wellness Continuum (Source: Phillip Tabb)9
1.3 Planetary Wellness (Source: NASA)15
2.1 Wellness Benefits a) From Illness, b) To Wellness, c) From
Air Pollution from Industrial Plant, d) To Clean Cityscape
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock)21
2.2 Wellness Benefit Pillars (Source: Phillip Tabb)24
2.3 Physical Wellness a) Joggers Along a Beach, b) Cortona, Italy
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)28
2.4 Mental Wellness a) Focused Attention and Concentration,
b) Creative Problem Solving (Source: Wikimedia Commons)31
2.5 Emotional Benefits a) Processing Grief, b) Experiencing
Happiness (Source: Wikimedia Commons)35
2.6 Social Wellness a) Family Outdoor Dining, b) Friends
Gathering Party (Source: Wikimedia Commons)38
2.7 Financial Wellness a) Six Senses Hotel Douro Valley, Portugal,
b) Google Mountainview Headquarters (Source: Shutterstock)42
2.8 Environmental Benefits a) California Beach, b) Boulder
Pedestrian Mall (Source: Wikimedia Commons)46
2.9 Spiritual Wellness a) Quiet Moment in a Healing Water,
b) Prayers at the Temple of the Golden Mount, Thailand
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)51
3.1 Wellness Strategies a) Singapore Aerial Photograph,
b) Bullitt Center (Sources: Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons)71
3.2 Ecological Communities a) Tromso, Norway, b) Hedesunda
Housing Cluster, c) Santorini, Greece, d) Zarqa, Jordan
(Sources: Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons)79
3.3 Renewable Infrastructure a) New York High Line Park,
b) Medellin Gondola System, c) Helsinge Haveby Village,
Netherlands, d) Helsinge Haveby Infrastructure Plan
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia, and Phillip Tabb)81
3.4 Land Use Diversity a) Seaside, Florida, b) Titchfield Village,
UK in 1985, c) Titchfield, UK in 1840 (Sources: Shutterstock and
Phillip Tabb)83

xiii ◻
◼ FIGURES

3.5 Growth by Multiplication a) Biking in the Neighborhood,

b) Walking to School, c) Growth By Multiplication and the
15‑Minute Cities Diagram (Sources: Shutterstock and Phillip Tabb)85
3.6 Pedestrianization a) Pontevedra City Center, Spain, b) London
Millennium Footbridge, c) Nevada City, California Cohousing
(Sources: Alamy, Wikimedia Commons, and Charles R. Durrett)88
3.7 Livable Neighborhoods a) Mapleton Hill Neighborhood,
Boulder, Colorado, b) Mapleton Avenue, c) Trilith Openspace,
d) Trilith Overview (Sources: Wikimedia Common, Lew Oliver,
and David Cannon Photography)90
3.8 Parks and Openspaces a) Central Park, Manhattan,
b) Savannah, Georgia Park Plans, c) Forsyth Park,
Savannah, Georgia, d) Lancaster, California Streetscape
(Sources: Shutterstock, Phillip Tabb, and Wikimedia Commons)93
3.9 Urban Agriculture a) Urban Allotments in Long Island,
NY, b) Rooftop Farming, c) Vertical Farming in Singapore
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock)95
3.10 Rural-Urban Transect a) Natural Transect, b) Lasowice
Village, Poland Transect c) Rural‑to‑Urban Transect
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Shutterstock, and Phillip Tabb)97
4.1 Climate Responsive Wellness Strategies a) Borgafjall Hotel
Cold Climate, b) Tjibaou Cultural Center Hot‑Humid Climate,
c) The 8‑House Temperate Climate (Source: Wikimedia
Commons and Shutterstock)105
4.2 Building Envelope and Smart Façades Strategies a) Bosco
Verticale, Italy, b) Futurium, Germany, c) Interface Building,
Atlanta (Sources: Wikimedia Commons and Phillip Tabb)107
4.3 Healthy Building Systems Strategies a) Solar System,
b) Shutters, c) Kendeda Building, (Sources: Shutterstock and
Phillip Tabb)109
4.4 Indoor‑Outdoor Access to Nature Strategies a) Church on the
Water, b) Outdoor Room, c) Serenbe Farm‑to‑Table Luncheon
(Sources: Shutterstock and Serenbe Community)111
4.5 Architectural Nudging Strategies a) Neighborhood Roundabout
Traffic Calming, b) One Mado Building Stair, Serenbe, Georgia
(Sources: Shutterstock and Phillip Tabb)112
4.6 Healing Water Strategies a) Therme Vals Outside, b) Therme
Vals Inside Pool, c) 911 Memorial Pool, d) Glastonbury
Chalice Well (Sources: Shutterstock and Phillip Tabb)114
4.7 Passive Survivability a) Hurricane Katrina, b) Disaster
Mitigating Design, c) Off‑Grid Cottage (Sources: Shutterstock
and Wikimedia Commons)116
4.8 Spiritual Dimensions of Wellness Strategies a) Outdoor
Meditation, b) Indoor Meditation, c) Vidar Clinic Maypole
Celebration, d) Vidar Clinic Courtyard Bridge, e) StarHouse

xiv ◻
 FIGURES ◼

Photograph (Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Shutterstock,

Gary Coates, and Phillip Tabb)118
4.9 Wayfinding Strategies a) Wayfinding Cues b) Physical
Distancing (Source: Shutterstock)120
5.1 Incorporating Nature‑Within Strategies a) The Eden
Project Exterior, b) The Eden Project Interior, c) Tabb
Residence Aerial View, d) Tabb Residence Walled‑in Garden
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Shutterstock, and Phillip Tabb)127
5.2 Daylighting Strategies a) Nelson‑Atkins Museum Exterior,
b) Nelson‑Atkins Museum Interior, c) Main Dining Corridor
at the Vidar Clinic, d) Oculus Exterior, e) Oculus Interior
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Gary Coates, and Phillip Tabb)129
5.3 Natural Ventilation Strategies a) Marika Alderson House,
b) Operable Window, c) Traditional Wind Towers, d) Modern
Exhaust Fans (Sources: Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock)131
5.4 Prospect and Refuge a) East African Savanna, b) Santorini
Prospect, c) Santorini Refuge (Source: Shutterstock)134
5.5 Wellness Oriented Material Strategies a) Thorncrown Chapel,
b) Log Cabin, c) Scarpa Wood Structure, d) Clay Tile Roof
(Source: Wikimedia Commons)136
5.6 Living Color Strategies a) St. Gabriel’s Parish Church,
b) Burano Colorful Canal Street, c) Vidar Clinic Recovery Room,
d) Vidar Clinic Auditorium (Sources: Phillip Tabb,
Wikimedia Commons, and Gary Coates)138
5.7 Google Workplace Wellness Strategies a) Google Gymnasium,
b) Google Workstation (Source: Shutterstock)140
5.8 Thin Place Sanctuary Space Strategies a) Treehouse, b) Solar
Egg Sauna, c) Dingle Sanctuary Dome, d) Dingle Home
Sanctuary Space (Sources: Wikimedia Commons, Oisin Havery
and Triona Butler Havery)143
5.9 Spatial Variety and Quality a) Charles Jencks Residence
Interior b) Chartres Cathedral Interior Space (Sources: Alamy
Stock and Wikimedia Commons)144
6.1 Nature and Greenspaces a) Singapore Garden
Networks, b) Parks of Savannah, Georgia, c) Tiny Forest
(Sources: Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons)153
6.2 Blue Spaces a) Glastonbury Vesica Pools, UK, b) Salk Institute
Blue Space (Source: Wikimedia Commons)155
6.3 Waterway Restoration a) San Antonio, Texas Riverwalk,
b) Los Angeles River Revitalization (Source: Wikimedia Commons)156
6.4 Edible Landscapes a) Edible Gardens, b) Apple Orchards,
c) Picking Apples (Source: Wikimedia Commons)158
6.5 Healing Gardens a) Maggie Centre, Manchester, UK,
b) Desert Healing Garden in San Marion, California
(Sources: Shutterstock and Wikimedia Commons)160

xv ◻
◼ FIGURES

6.6 Forest Bathing a) Walking in the Forest (Active Experience),

b) Placebound Forest Bathing (Passive Experience)
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons and Shutterstock)161
6.7 Reforestation a) Deforestation in Lacanja, Mexico,
b) Forest in Estonia (Source: Wikimedia Commons)162
6.8 Land Art Experiences a) Burning Man, Nevada b) Spiral Jetty,
Utah (Source: Wikimedia Commons)165
6.9 Soundscape Environments a) Idaho Falls, Idaho Sounds of
Waterfalls, b) Robin Singing (Source: Wikimedia Commons)167
7.1 Serenbe Community Masterplan 2021 (Source: Phillip Tabb)174
7.2 Serenbe Concept a) Constellation of Neighborhoods,
b) Omega Form Language, c) Growth by Multiplication
(Source: Phillip Tabb)177
7.3 Selborne Thorburn Transect a) Transect Diagram,
b) Selborne Omega Leg (Source: Phillip Tabb)178
7.4 Serenbe Neighborhoods a) Selborne Neighborhood,
b) Grange Neighborhood, c) Mado Neighborhood,
d) Spela Neighborhood and Overlook Pocket Neighborhood
(Sources: Serenbe Development and Phillip Tabb)180
7.5 Affordable Housing Neighborhood Concept a) Affordable
Neighborhood Concept Plan, b) Neighborhood Circulation Plan
c) Neighborhood Block Module (Source: Phillip Tabb)182
7.6 Serenbe Amenities a) Serenbe Stables, b) Labyrinth
(Source: Phillip Tabb)183
7.7 Serenbe Amenities a) Serenbe Farms, b) Farmer’s Market
c) Farmette H Site Plan, d) Serenbe Pasture Estate
(Sources: Phillip Tabb and Jessica Ashley)184
7.8 Mado Masterplan 2023 (Source: Serenbe Development)186
7.9 Access to Wellness Functions a) Distribution of Wellness
Functions, b) Automobile and Pedestrian Networks
(Source: Phillip Tabb)190
7.10 Cross Access Circulation a) Cross Path Plan b) Night Lighted
Pathway, c) Between Dwellings Path, d) Anders Court at the
Top of the Axis, e) Arched Axis to Yoga Field and Folly,
f) Meeting Place Along the Way (Source: Phillip Tabb)191
7.11 One Mado Building a) Street Façade, b) Serenbe Fitness
Center, c) Halsa Restaurant (Source: Phillip Tabb)192
7.12 Mado Live‑Work Units a) Chai Vegan Spa, b) Studio 13,
c) Collier Animal Hospital, d) Bamboo, e) Creek Retreat,
f) The HearingSmiths, g) Residential Entrance (Source: Phillip Tabb) 193
7.13 Serenbe Swim Club (Source: Phillip Tabb)194
7.14 Acton Academy Toddler Building a) Parent Gathering
at Preschool, b) Tesla Roof, c) Bioinspired Columns
(Sources: Jessica Ashley and Phillip Tabb)195

xvi ◻
 FIGURES ◼

7.15 Terra School at Serenbe Elementary School a) Elementary

School Plan, b) School Treehouses (under construction)
(c) School Playground (Source: Phillip Tabb)196
7.16 Aging‑in‑Place a) Serenbe Aging in Place Wellness
Campus Plan b) Age Diversity (Sources: Phillip Tabb and
Serenbe Development)198
7.17 Mado Residential Dwelling Types a) Anders Court
Townhomes, b) Attached Courtyard Houses, c) Shotgun
Homes, d) Detached Cottage, e) Contemporary, f) Cottage
with Solar Array (Sources: Serenbe Development and Phillip Tabb)199
7.18 Wellness Greenspaces a) Food Forest and Healing Garden Plan,
b) View from the West (Sources: Alfred Vick and Phillip Tabb)200
7.19 Wellness Activities a) Serenbe Trail Race, b) Large Waterfalls,
c) Students at Small Waterfalls, d) Pedestrian Stairs, e) Mado
Central Pond, f) Land Art in Omega Center (Sources: Serenbe
Development, Jessica Ashley, and Phillip Tabb)201
7.20 Free‑Range Kids a) Kids in the Woods, b) Kids Walking Along
Path, c) Kids on Pony Rides (Sources: Serenbe Development
and Phillip Tabb)202
7.21 Mado Shared Moments a) Mado Park Fire Pit, b) Kids Hanging
Out at Trampoline Hill, c) Jumping Children (Source: Phillip Tabb)203
7.22 Sunset Point (Source: Phillip Tabb)205
8.1 Fivelements Retreat Bali a) Site Overview, b) Pool, c) Double
Suite (Source: Fivelements)213
8.2 Fivelements Retreat Bali Masterplans a) Concept Sketch Plan,
b) Masterplan Drawing (Sources: Fivelements, Ketut Arthona,
and Phillip Tabb)216
8.3 Fivelements Retreat Bali Main Reception a) Sketch,
b) Entrance Area (Sources: Fivelements and Ketut Arthana)217
8.4 Fivelements Balinese Temples a) Padmasana, b) Sacred Space,
c) Agni Hotra (Source: Fivelements)219
8.5 Fivelements Multi‑Purpose Building a) Mandala Sketch,
b) Mandala Exterior, c) Mandala Interior, d) Bamboo Ceiling
(Source: Fivelements and Ketut Arthana)221
8.6 Fivelements Sakti Dining Room a) Restaurant Sketch,
b) Restaurant, c) Wave, d) Black Bamboon Ceiling, e) Terrace
(Source: Fivelements)222
8.7 Fivelements Gymnasium (Source: Fivelements)223
8.8 Fivelements Wellness Reception, Boutique & Laboratory
a) Wellness Reception, b) Healing Village, c) Balinese Healer,
d) Healing Bath (Source: Fivelements)224
8.9 Fivelements Sleeping Suites a) Pool Suite, b) Riverfront Suite,
c) Suite Interior, d) Ensuite (Source: Fivelements)226
8.10 Fivelements Retreat Bali River Site (Source: Fivelements)228

xvii ◻
Tables

2.1 Physical Benefits 55

2.2 Cognitive Benefits 57
2.3 Emotional Benefits 58
2.4 Social Benefits 60
2.5 Financial Benefits 61
2.6 Environmental Benefits 62
2.7 Spiritual Benefits 64
3.1 Planning and Urban Design Scale Strategies 100
4.1 Architectural Scale Strategies 123
5.1 Interior Scale Strategies 148
6.1 Wellness Landscape Scale Strategies 170
7.1 Mado Neighborhood Wellness Design Strategies 210
8.1 Fivelements Retreat Wellness Design Strategies 231

xviii ◻
Foreword

It is increasingly clear that humankind is in the midst of an ever‑deepening ecology

of crises, both personal and planetary. Largely as the result of our own actions, we
are presently experiencing the Sixth Great Species Extinction, as well as the desta‑
bilization of all the major ecosystems of land and sea. Megadroughts and spreading
deserts, catastrophic floods, uncontrollable wildfires, and other weather‑related
disasters have now become common around the world. Climate‑driven famines
and mass migrations are fueling violent conflicts as increasing numbers of people
struggle to find food, water, shelter, and the bare necessities of life. Sea levels con‑
tinue to rise, threatening in this century to flood many of the world’s great coastal
cities. All of these biophysical crises have already disrupted the fossil‑fueled global
economy upon which our present way of life depends. The possibilities of societal
collapse are no longer the dystopian nightmares of science fiction: they are realities
being played out in the daily news.
Unsurprisingly, at a personal level, there is a spreading sense of hopelessness
about the future, especially among younger generations. Feelings of powerlessness
in the face of these crises afflict rich and poor alike, eroding our personal and col‑
lective sense of well‑being in the face of what appear to be intractable problems
for which there are no viable or even possible solutions. It is within the background
of this global context that the authors of this timely book offer us a vision of a way
to live together that is capable of addressing all of these issues, if only we choose
to design forms of architecture and patterns of settlement that nurture both peo‑
ple and planet. Rather than falling prey to a sense of despair the authors not only
provide a vision of the more beautiful world it is in our power to create, but they
provide detailed accounts of how communities and groups around the world are
already creating ecologically‑based communities that reconnect us to each other
and the natural world.
Wellness Architecture and Urban Design is not just a book, it is a wholistic new
design paradigm for creating resilient and life‑enhancing communities of place that
is based on two simple but powerful principles: 1) that wellness for humankind can‑
not be achieved apart from the wellness of the earthworld upon which we depend
for life itself, and 2) the foundational idea that the basic unit of sustainability is the
mixed use, humanly scaled cooperative community. Given the transdisciplinary
scope of this encyclopedic text, the authors have structured the book in a way that
leads the reader systematically from definitions of wellness, spiced with inspiring

xix ◻
◼ FOREWORD

examples of what is already being done around the world, to the final two chapters
which provide detailed case studies, one in the United States and the other in Bali,
that convincingly demonstrate the global relevance of the Wellness Design para‑
digm. Each chapter is introduced with an abstract, which gives the reader a concise
overview of the scope and focus of the chapter. The main points are helpfully sum‑
marized in color‑coded tables and exhaustive endnotes which allow the interested
reader to follow up with primary sources for each theme covered. This is especially
important since the book cuts across so many separate silos of knowledge.
What is unique in the design literature on both wellness and sustainable design
is the authors’ “Seven Pillars of Wellness” framework, which integrates disciplines
which are rarely mentioned in the same breath, but must be integrated in any
approach to wellness‑based design at any scale of environment. These pillars are: 1)
Physical; 2) Mental; 3) Emotional; 4) Spiritual; 5) Social; 6) Financial; and 7) Environ‑
mental. Of particular importance is the inclusion of Spiritual Wellness and Financial
Wellness, making this transdisciplinary design paradigm the most wholistic and
inclusive approach to regenerative, sustainable, and resilient design yet proposed.
The authors also persuasively argue that any truly life‑enhancing human ecol‑
ogy must be modular and multi‑scalar, ranging from the bioregional and urban plan‑
ning level to the landscape, architectural, and interior levels of design. Once again,
this idea is as obviously necessary as it is routinely neglected in both theory and
practice. But this book makes it clear that the challenges that confront us cannot
be addressed in any other way. Indeed, any lesser approach based on the present
paradigm of separation rather than the proposed paradigm of wholeness and con‑
nectivity is likely to only multiply and deepen our problems.
The book closes with two detailed case studies that demonstrate how the
Wellness Design paradigm is applicable in the overdeveloped world such as the
United States, as it is in less developed places such as Bali, Indonesia, that are
challenged with the task to avoid the unsustainable patterns of settlement and ways
of life that the United States has perfected. The most fully embodied precedent is
the award‑winning new community of Serenbe, Georgia, for which author Phillip
Tabb is the master planner. This necklace of humanly‑scaled hamlets, which are
woven into the fabric of the forested landscape of Chattahoochee Hills near Atlanta,
Georgia, offers a life‑enhancing alternative to suburban and exurban sprawl. Rather
than growth by the endless addition of disconnected parts that lengthen distances
between life functions in ways that can never be overcome by ever faster and big‑
ger highways, the planning principle of Serenbe is based on the multiplication and
the gathering of interconnected wholes within wholes to create an experientially
rich community.
The Serenbe community is comprised of six residential hamlets, each of which
is built around a different wellness theme: Selborne, culinary, visual and performing
arts; Grange, an organic farm and equestrian activities; Mado, multigenerational
health and wellness; Spela, family and play (under construction); Education, schools,
international study, and continuing education (planning phase); Middle Housing,
more affordable housing and a commercial zone connected to the larger existing
community (conceptual phase). Seventy percent of the land is and will remain

xx ◻
 FOREWORD ◼

undeveloped. Each hamlet has one face opening onto a narrow serpentine road
that connects it to all the hamlets and the world beyond, and the other face opens
onto native forests and the many trails that connect to every part of the whole com‑
munity. A central area at the end of each hamlet provides higher density housing
and commercial spaces, providing an identifiable central neighborhood focus. When
fully developed, Serenbe will house some 3,000 residents.
The Mado hamlet has been designed as a mixed‑use, multigenerational, and
ecologically designed biophilic community focused on the practice and cultivation
of wellness and the healing arts. The planned Aging in Place Wellness campus is
adjacent to the Terra School at Serenbe, a planned lifelong learning education cam‑
pus, as well as the community pool to encourage cross‑generational interaction.
The Medicinal and Edible Landscape and the Mado Food Forest encourage visits by
people of all ages throughout Serenbe and beyond, further increasing the likelihood
of cross‑generational and unplanned encounters among residents and visitors. The
many wellness related businesses are mixed throughout the hamlet based on the
idea of form‑based codes rather than single use functional zoning. In Mado, as is the
case throughout Serenbe, a variety of ecologically‑based green infrastructure such
as vegetated wetland waste systems, bioswales, and bio‑habitats, create garden
landscapes that integrate function and beauty, demonstrating how we can build
with nature, rather than against nature. Every human‑made environment, good or
bad, is itself a form of environmental education: the all‑pervading lesson of Mado,
and Serenbe a whole, is that our human ecology and the naturally occurring ecol‑
ogy must be and can be experienced as a single undivided whole in all the areas
in which life takes place.
This brief Foreword merely gives a taste of what the reader will find by reading
and re‑reading this book in depth. Its strength is that it not only provides a com‑
prehensive theory of a new approach to architecture and community design that
harmonizes with naturally occurring ecologies of place, but it also provides us with
principles, patterns, and precedents at every scale of environment that can inform
and inspire the creation of ever new forms of resilient, beautiful, and sustainable
communities. Over the course of this century and beyond humankind needs to cre‑
ate thousands of new communities in response to systemic crises that are beyond
anything our species has yet encountered. It is estimated that in the lifetime of
someone born today there will be as many as a billion and a half climate refugees
worldwide by 2100. The United States itself could find several hundred million citi‑
zens seeking refuge from rising seas, uncontrollable wildfires, megadroughts and
floods, and a cascade of economic and societal breakdowns as existing institutions
and systems are overwhelmed. Where will people move to? How will they live?
It is clear that the entire planet will need to build new communities to provide
refuge and comfort and to shelter us from the crises that are already on our door‑
step. We will not have the capacity for or the luxury of continuing to mindlessly build
more and more automobile‑dependent, sprawling anti‑communities that worsen
our carbon footprint and leave us more isolated from the earth and each other.
We need to create an economic and cultural revolution that helps us to heal from
the traumas of our times, by making it possible for us to meet our basic needs for

xxi ◻
◼ FOREWORD

energy, food, shelter, and cooperative human relationships both locally and sustain‑
ably: it is the only way forward for all the peoples of the earth. The forms this will
take will be as varied as the cultures and landscapes in which they emerge.
We do not have to wait for systemic failure of our life‑support systems to
fully emerge: the approach to planning and design described in this book can be
applied now at every scale of environment from a backyard to an existing neighbor‑
hood, the retrofitting of a dead shopping mall or a life‑giving enhancement of an
existing school or small town. The ideas in this book are replicable and scalable. I
hope this book both informs and inspires the creation of a worldwide network of
life‑enhancing human settlements in all the varied landscapes and diverse cultures
of the earth. Let a thousand flowers bloom! The time to start is now.

Gary J. Coates
ACSA Distinguished Professor
Kansas State University

xxii ◻
About the Authors

Phillip James Tabb is Emeritus Professor of Architecture at Texas A&M University

and was the Liz and Nelson Mitchell Professor of Residential Design. He served
as Head of the Department from 2001–2005 and was Director of the School of
Architecture and Construction Management at Washington State University from
1998–2001. He completed a Ph.D. dissertation on The Solar Village Archetype: A
Study of English Village Form Applicable to Energy Integrated Planning Principles
for Satellite Settlements in Temperate Climates in 1990. Among his publications are
Solar Energy Planning published by McGraw‑Hill in 1984, Co‑authored The Greening
of Architecture: A Critical History and Survey of Contemporary Sustainable Archi‑
tecture and Urban Design published by Ashgate in 2014, Co‑edited Architecture,
Culture and Spirituality also published by Ashgate in 2015. He was author of Serene
Urbanism: A Biophilic Theory and Practice of Sustainable Placemaking in 2017, Ele‑
mental Architecture: Temperaments of Sustainability in 2019, Biophilic Urbanism:
Designing Resilient Communities for the Future in 2021, and Thin Place Design:
Architecture of the Numinous in 2024, all published by Routledge. Since 2001, Tabb
has been the master plan architect for Serenbe Community – an award‑winning sus‑
tainable biophilic community being realized near Atlanta, Georgia, and his net‑zero
residence in Serenbe. He is an editor and author of Wellness Architecture and
Design Initiative for the Global Wellness Institute. He received his Bachelor of Sci‑
ence in Architecture from the University of Cincinnati, Master of Architecture from
the University of Colorado, and Ph.D. in the Energy and Environment Programme
from the Architectural Association in London. He is a practicing urban designer and
licensed architect, and a member of the American Institute of Architects and holds
a NCARB Certificate.

Lahra Tatriele is an international wellness executive leading corporate‑level growth

strategy, business model innovation, concept design and curation, and integrated
wellness branding within high growth markets. In 2010, she led the launch of Fivel‑
ements Retreat Bali. By 2016, she steered the opening the first urban retreat,
Fivelements Hong Kong, in partnership with New World Development, and a city
wellness sanctuary, Fivelements Habitat, with Evolution Wellness in the central
business district in 2019. Over the course of her leadership, Lahra was responsible
for the brand’s design and growth strategy resulting in Fivelements as the recipient
of over 50 international awards and over 200 editorials spanning health and well‑
ness, culinary innovation, and sustainable design fields. Lahra is also Co‑Founder

xxiii ◻
◼ ABOUT THE AUTHORS

and Principal of Alchemy Concepts and Wellness Communities Italia, working with
public and private entities, real estate, and hospitality developers toward embrac‑
ing an integral wellness strategy as the core foundation for regenerative growth.
Previously, she was a co‑executive producer of TEDx Ubud on economic empower‑
ment and has received numerous invitations to speak on regenerative wellness and
design. Lahra currently serves as Chair of the Wellness Architecture and Design
Initiative and is a long‑time member of the Mental Wellness Initiative of the Global
Wellness Institute (GWI) whose mission is Empowering Wellness Worldwide. The
GWI’s research, programs, and initiatives have been instrumental in the growth of
the USD$5.6 trillion wellness economy. Lahra has also had corporate affiliations
with the Friends of the Wildlife Foundation in Bali, Indonesia, the Tibet House USA,
and the Coral Triangle Conservancy. She received a Bachelor of Science in Inter‑
national Marketing from the Stern School of Business at New York University and
completed an executive course in Architectural Imagination from Harvard’s Gradu‑
ate School of Design.

xxiv ◻
Preface

The human condition is affected by an unprecedented capacity for good and bad
consequences for our species caused by the natural and urban environments and
the human activity associated with these contexts. Concurrently, the environmental
context within which these activities occur is also a benefit or a risk to extremes.
Human activity and the natural environment are inextricably linked. And as world
population is projected to reach 8.5 billion people in 2030, only six years from now,
critical problems are not going away. This increase in the number of people most
likely means more ecological degradation, increase in human causes of climate
change, increase in conflicts, and higher risks of global‑scale heath issues like pan‑
demics. Overcrowding, crime, and food and water shortages are also likely to occur
especially in vulnerable locations. To reverse these outcomes to positive wellness
benefits is going to require many changes to lifestyle choices and the settled envi‑
ronments within which we live.
Environmental issues include climate change, natural disasters, environmental
degradation, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, water scarcity, resource depletion,
and appropriate responses to increasing population numbers and migration pat‑
terns. With increasing populations, more food and water are needed. This in turn
most likely will create increased deforestation in order to create new farmlands,
grazing land, and expanded settlements. Another byproduct of population growth
is the stress on fresh water. According to UNESCO, between two and three billion
people worldwide experience water shortages for at least one month per year.1 In
order to reverse the trend of environmental degradation, planetary wellness princi‑
ples and strategies are needed to bring our co‑existence with nature into balance.
Presently there are small pockets or examples where wellness designs have been
realized, and there is the need to expand these pockets and proliferate the positive
work to even larger scales of influence. There has been a huge surge in the wellness
economy from personal care and beauty, nutrition, and spa designs, to wellness
tourism and, more recently, in wellness real estate, but more is needed.
The wellness movement is a relatively contemporary concept in part informed
by the emergence of the World Health Organization in the late 1940s where health
went beyond merely the absence of illness and included states of physical, men‑
tal, and social well‑being. The work of Halbert Dunn in the 1950s took health to
“high‑level wellness” which included integrated functions oriented toward maxi‑
mizing one’s potential. John Travis’s work in the 1970s promoted self‑directed and

xxv ◻
◼ PREFACE

preventative approaches to well‑being rather than focus on “illness‑oriented care.”2

The wellness movement was considered to have entered the mainstream in the
1980s and was taken more seriously by the medical academic communities, and
included planetary health.
Wellness applied by the design disciplines is also a relatively new practice that
was initially born from the planning and design of hospitals, assisted living, nursing
homes, and other care‑related facilities. In fact, ancient structures were constructed
to solicit healing from the gods. Some of the earliest healthcare facilities were
built by the Romans as military hospitals. Later, monastic communities became
the standard for public hospitals. The “pavilion plan” developed in the middle ages,
featured fresh air and natural light. In modern times, hospitals were designed to
accommodate greater populations of patients by growing larger and higher with
multi‑stories. Today, healthcare facilities include addiction treatment centers, birth‑
ing centers, blood banks, cancer centers, dental care, optometry care, hospice
homes, urgent care facilities, physical therapy centers, and more recently telehealth
care support. The shift from curative health to wellness responds to architecture and
urban designs with design determinants that implicitly contribute to good health
and well‑being outcomes.
More recent concepts of wellness design have focused on a variety of scales
and with everyday applications. This suggests that wellness should be applied to
all urban contexts and building types, from homes to offices, and from schools
to shopping centers. Wellness should be infused into all places we inhabit and
experience daily. Dr. Edward Valentin puts it as working toward a state of balance
collecting “well‑moments” over “un‑well” moments.3 Key to promoting greater
wellness is the proximity and access to positive wellness‑moment environments
and experiences. Well moments can be as simple as time spent outdoors, in the
sun, near water or breathing fresh air, and they can be experienced as awe or
serene moments.
Research into previous literature on health and wellness has helped inform the
content of this work. This includes subjects of illness, health, wellness, and physi‑
cal design disciplines. Also being involved in the planning and design of several of
the projects featured in the book gave invaluable insights. This book is based upon
previous research into the relationship between wellness and the built environ‑
ment conducted by a team of volunteer professionals led by initiative chair Lahra
Tatriele and editor Phillip Tabb. Seven other international scholars, health, and design
practitioners from Hong Kong, Bali, Dubai, Lisbon, London, New York City, and
Jackson, Wyoming, also assisted in the preparation of a draft white paper entitled
Wellness Architecture and Design Pathways. This work was initiated by the Global
Wellness Institute initiative on wellness architecture and design intended to raise
awareness and provide pathways for the implementation of an interdisciplinary
wellness approach delivering positive health, sustainability, and financial outcomes
for existing and future environments. It aimed to provide definitions and clarity on
what a wellness architecture and design approach is and the benefits and intended
outcomes that result. This was in large part accomplished through the use of many
examples worldwide as pathways in the planning, architecture, interior, and land‑
scape design sectors.4

xxvi ◻
 PREFACE ◼

An important section of the white paper, Chapter 4, focused on the financial

and economic benefits of wellness. This included real estate economics, construc‑
tion, building operations and maintenance, AI, and renewable technologies.5 Team
members for the white paper included Valentina Cereda, Gove Depuy, Anthony
DiGuiseppe, Sherry Fong, Stephen Marks, Kailas Moorthy, Veronica Schreibeis
Smith, Phillip Tabb and Lahra Tatriele. Initiated in 2022, the preliminary white paper
is anticipated to be complete in early 2024. The paper was organized along the seven
pillars or dimensions of wellness benefits, a series of planning and design strategies
occurring at varying scales, and a focus on financial or economic wellness.6
All design fields affect health and wellness in various ways. This includes issues
of sustainability, resilience, placemaking, material science, environmental protec‑
tion, natural disasters, climate change, and biophilia. Sustainability and resilience
are important to wellness in terms of both human and environmental health. Build‑
ing with non‑toxic materials improves the indoor environment where we spend
most of our time. The reduction of environmental pollution and advancements in
hygiene have contributed significantly to the increase in human health and life
expectancy. Climate change is linked to a number of health‑related risks, including
injuries caused by storms or flooding, and the spreading of insect‑borne infectious
diseases. Biophilic design, for example, supports a host of health and wellness
outcomes, including stress reduction, improved heart health and respiratory func‑
tion, improving incidences of kidney disease, increased social connections, and
spiritual renewal.
Figure 0.1 illustrates the contrasts in the relationship between wellness and
non‑wellness lifestyles and environments. It shows a health and wellness con‑
tinuum along wellness principles of design.7 Normal health or not‑sick occurs at the
intersection of these two realms. This neutral state includes medical noninterfer‑
ence and moderate levels of thriving. Lifestyle choices that promote wellness are a
balanced life, healthy diet, frequent hydration, regular exercise, access to fresh air,
non‑smoking, and a healthy social life. High‑level wellness is a process of wholistic
functioning achieving fuller and longer life potentials.

0.1
Lifestyles and
Health and Wellness
Continuum
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

xxvii ◻
◼ PREFACE

The need for wellness is a top priority for the built environment and places
human and environmental health at the center of the design agenda. A more
comprehensive and sophisticated wellness lens is at the forefront particularly on
personal wellness including better physical health, fitness nutrition, appearance,
sleep, and mindfulness. This lens also includes the emotional, social, spiritual, and
planetary health in an attempt to address broader scales of influence. The Global
Wellness Institute believes that the residential real estate market is the next fron‑
tier that will affect the wellness movement. They assert that it is our homes, com‑
munities, and the surrounding environments that will directly affect daily wellness
behaviors and lifestyles.8 It is important to see the relationships between health
and wellness, their positive benefits, the strategies informing designs for the built
environment, and the lifestyle changes that can result with these interactions. While
this work focuses on placebound wellness, it does not diminish the importance of
between‑place wellness, an integral part of modern life. We are in need of strate‑
gies that occur on the larger scales and particularly with the movement of goods
and people between urban places, from nations to nations, and from continents
to continents.
The following chapters address wellness design from a broad and more
wholistic point of view to propitiate the integration of positive wellness design and
planning measures applied across multiple scales. Also important is the need for
accessibility especially through everyday activities which is shown throughout the
various scales. It is also important to show that many of the wellness strategies are
not costly, but do need foresight. The book is intended to clarify definitions of well‑
ness, explain their connections to the design professions, and elucidate the many
benefits that accompany such strategies. The two case studies in the last two chap‑
ters clearly illustrate the wellness design strategies applicable at the planning and
building scales. Focusing on the scale of Mado in Serenbe reveals the importance
of wellness considerations with neighborhood planning on the individual and com‑
munity. And the Fivelements Retreat Bali reveals the inspiring qualities of natural
architecture and purposeful well‑tourism, and the immersive impacts on individual
wellness. Finally, the planning and design strategies are meant to provide guidelines
or pathways for interventions in existing urban settings, buildings, interiors, and
landscapes and to help guide future growth in new projects toward reimagining a
wellness future.

xxviii ◻
Acknowledgments

Thanks go to Kathryn Schell, Senior Editor, and to Selena Hostetler, Editorial

Assistant of Routledge part of the Taylor and Francis Group for their guidance and
support throughout the completion of this work. They provided great encourage‑
ment, enthusiasm, and valuable feedback throughout the process. Thanks also to
Dr. Mona Matthews who engaged in many conversations about wellness design
and who edited the entire manuscript. Thanks go to the Global Wellness Institute
for initiating the white paper on Wellness Architecture and Design Pathways. It was
this research effort on wellness architecture and design that offered the impetus
to do this book. It provided a refreshing approach to the conventional systems
and methodologies and helping project teams to identify and select distinctive
design pathways, as well as measure the impact on the wellness for humanity and
the environment. Thanks also go to the interdisciplinary team including Valentina
Cereda, Gove Depuy, Anthony DiGuiseppe, Sherry Fong, Stephen Marks, Kailas
Moorthy, and Veronica Schreibeis Smith for their contributions to the GWI white
paper.
For Phillip Tabb, thanks go to Noa Hecht who reviewed the questionnaire for
Mado and provided a few of the images and one of the testimonials. Thanks also
go to Jennifer Walsh whose enthusiasm about the experience of wellness and
nature are unmatched, and for the support of Ronald Skaggs, FAIA who is one of
the most influential architects for health worldwide. Special thanks to Gary Coates
who wrote the Foreword and provided images of the Vidar Clinic. His insights were
invaluable. Thanks also go to the Nygren family, Serenbe Community, and Mado
residents for their gracious support of the concept of wellness and for inputs into
this work. Thanks go to my family, especially to my sons Michael and David, and to
Shea, Kristin Tabb, to my grandsons Emrys, Caius, James, and Jack Tabb, my sister
Janice, and brother‑in‑law Richard Nourse.
For Lahra Tatriele, thanks go to all those who helped create Fivelements Retreat
Bali, especially to Chicco Tatriele, my partner and husband in co‑creation, Wayan
Bawa, our Balinese friend and partner, who inspired local philosophy and tradition as
part of this project, and Ketut Arthana for bringing our vision for Fivelements to life
and guiding us through an extraordinary Balinese design journey. Thanks also go to
our entire Fivelements team, partners, and guests who continue to trust the vision
and believe in the power of Love in Action. And a special acknowledgment goes to
my three children, Mya, Sasha, and Luca, my parents, Gordon and Beverley Finch,
and my dear brother, Leighton, for their unyielding love and support.

xxix ◻
◼ ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NOTES
1. UNESCO, Imminent Risk of Global Water Crisis, Warns the UN World Water Develop‑
ment Report 2023 (Accessed December 22, 2023), https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/
imminent‑risk‑global‑water‑crisis‑warns‑un‑world‑water‑development‑report‑2023
2. Travis, John, Illness and Wellness Continuum, 1972 (Accessed June 12, 2023), https://
www.houseofhealth.co.nz/wellness‑continuum‑blog‑1‑physical‑health/
3. Valentin, Edward, Wellness and Its Importance for Our Daily Lives (Accessed Novem‑
ber 6, 2023), https://saportareport.com/wellness‑and‑it‑is‑importance‑for‑our‑daily‑lives/
thought‑leadership/families‑first/
4. Marks, Stephen, Kailas Moorthy, Veronica Schreibeis Smith, Valentina Cereda, Anthony
Guiseppe, Sherry Fong, Gove Depuy, Lahra Tatriele, and Phillip Tabb, Wellness Architec‑
ture and Design Pathways, Global Wellness Institute, 2023.
5. DiGuiseppe, Anthony, and Sherry Fong, “The Economics of Wellness Architecture and
Design,” Wellness Architecture and Design Pathways (2024).
6. Global Wellness Institute, Wellness Architecture & Design Initiative (Accessed October 1,
2023), https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/initiatives/wellness‑architecture‑design‑initiative/
7. Tabb, Phillip, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future (New
York, NY: Routledge, 2021).
8. Global Wellness Institute, Wellness Lifestyle Real Estate & Communities
(Accessed October 3, 2023) https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what‑is‑wellness/
what‑is‑wellness‑lifestyle‑real‑estate‑communities/

xxx ◻
1 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND
OVERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

What does it mean to be well? When asked “How are you?” we most often say
“I’m good” or “I’m well.” This answer is often vague and in general means that
life and especially wealth and health are in a reasonably good place. The response
is intended to move beyond any detailed explanation of the myriad of dimensions
to how we might really feel – how we physically, mentally or emotionally feel,
how are social or spiritual lives are, or how we are doing financially. Yet these are
the conditions that do define our experience of wellness. Why we should care is
not only important to our individual health, but also our social well‑being and the
environment within which we all live. Each of these levels is interrelated and affect
the quality of a more holistic wellness. So, perhaps it might be posited that well‑
ness gives us a survival advantage; it always has. Meaning that addressing health
and wellness‑relevant issues of person and place can indeed give benefits or an
advantage that in part advances our very survival. Having high levels of wellness can
enable us to overcome difficulties, gives us flourishment, help us to self‑­actualize,
be happy, live longer, and experience life satisfaction. This book is intended to
address these dimensions as they inform wellness benefits and design strategies
on individual, social, and planetary levels. This book does not focus on healthcare
architecture or hospitals per se, but rather it presents preventative principles and
premeditated design concepts aimed at a larger audience of city and building dwell‑
ers, visitors and users of all building types, and hopefully influencing wellness in
the activity of everyday life.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS DEFINITIONS

Health and wellness have been terms used interchangeably. Health has been
referred to as freedom from disease, pain or defect with normal physical and men‑
tal functions. Health is also considered as a state allowing for coping with all the
demands of everyday life. And finally, health is a state of balance within the social
and physical environments.1 The term haelan derives from Old English meaning to
make whole, sound, or well.2 It is a baseline state of well‑being. The World Health
Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social
well‑being and not merely the absence of disease.” Well‑being, as defined by the
Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC) is “a holistic synthesis of a person’s

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-1 1 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

biological, psychological, and spiritual experiences, resulting from interplay between

individuals and their social, economic, and physical environments that promotes
living a fulfilling life.” The SPRC’s global longitudinal study, Stanford WELL for Life
(WELL), uses new methods to understand, measure, and promote multiple dimen‑
sions of well‑being across countries and cultures. The study’s objective is to under‑
stand what it means to be well and how we can increase our well‑being, shifting
the lens of chronic disease prevention to focus on understanding and enhancing
well‑being. The built environment in which we live our daily lives can positively
impact our well‑being.3
The term welnes is derived from the Old English for wel meaning abundantly or
in good fortune, and nes or a word‑forming element denoting action. Taken together
wellness suggested behaviors that result in happiness, self‑actualization, and opti‑
mal health. Wellness was considered the opposite of illness. More recently the
term by Kenneth Cooper was further advanced as the concept of wellness as a
lifestyle.4 This suggests that human interactions occur with both space and dura‑
tion of time that frames a wellness experience. Wellness is a process. This includes
processes like holistic living, self‑healing, preventative care, and active wellness
practices. What we eat, how we move, with whom we interact, and our interactions
with nature are contributing factors to wellness. The National Wellness Institute
defines wellness as an active process through which we become more aware of,
and make choices toward, a more successful existence.5 The buildings and com‑
munities within which we live can also contribute to this notion of wellness:

• Health – refers to the state of complete physical, mental and emotional dis‑
eases, and not merely the absence of illness or infirmity. Health includes diag‑
nosis and predisposition of disease and any unexpected injury.
• Wellness – refers to a more holistic process of balanced, enhanced, and pre‑
ventative well‑being and is more inclusive adding social, financial, environmen‑
tal, and wellness to an active self‑directed process and change of lifestyle.

When people focus proactively on prevention and improving their vitality,

they adopt attitudes and lifestyles that decrease disease, improve health, and
enhance their quality of life, and sense of happiness and well‑being. According
to the Berkeley Well‑being Institute, wellness is proactive, preventive, and driven
by self‑­responsibility. The growth of wellness is the extension of this consumer
value and worldview. The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active
pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health”
It is an active process of being aware and making choices that lead toward opti‑
mal health and well‑being outcomes.6 Closely associated with holistic health, well‑
ness is integrative and multi‑dimensional and includes physical, mental, emotional,
social, financial, environmental, and spiritual dimensions. Although considered an
individual proactive pursuit, wellness is significantly influenced by the physical,
social, and cultural environments in which we live, including our built environments.
Prioritizing wellness as a central concept in planning and design processes can play
a significant role in ensuring built environments not only sustain people living in
cities, villages and rural regions but also regenerate and revitalize these built areas,

2 ◻
 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

leaving the people and the environment around them better off than before and on
a trajectory toward recovery, revival, and increased vitality.7
The differences in health and wellness can easily be seen in the architec‑
ture that reflects them. Healthcare buildings have long been created to attend
to people who are ill, are suffering from disease, or recovering from accidents.
Early history sees the caring for the sick in their homes and later in churches. Flor‑
ence Nightingale was influential following the Crimean War of 1854 recognizing
the need for clean hospital wards. This included providing patients with access to
natural light, air, landscape, attention to diet, as well as a clean, sanitary environ‑
ment. An outgrowth was the pavilion configuration, which later shifted to a platform
typology, and finally to the layering designs of the larger hospitals of today. In the
1980s, evidence‑­based research and design, although not a new concept, began
to influence the hospital environment.8 Building types that are associated with
health‑oriented facilities include hospitals, clinics and medical offices, surgery cent‑
ers, birthing centers, blood banks, hospices, assisted living, nursing homes, urgent
care facilities, and rehabilitation centers.
Wellness architecture, as distinct from healthcare architecture, is relatively new.
It focuses on broader, more preventative and nudge‑oriented or suggestive plan‑
ning and design approaches that encourage wellness behaviors and lifestyles. It
permeates all building types and planning scales, and attempts to influence healthy
lifestyles toward an inclusive integration of all the wellness benefit categories. In a
broader sense it also includes responses to natural disasters, resiliency, renewable
resources and stewardship of the broader environment generally, and nature’s ben‑
efits are focused on access for everyone and integration with everyday life activities.

WELLNESS HISTORY

Health has long been a concern for our survival and positive experience of life.
Original sources of wellness ideas can be found in deep history, thousands, even
millions of years ago. Early primates and humans survived and maintained relative
wellness through their abilities to control the terrestrial elements, their food sup‑
plies and dietary habits, their strong social connections, and adaptability. From a
health perspective, the hunter‑gatherer lifestyle of Pleistocene groups is generally
considered particularly advantageous.9 Spanning a wide period of time and based
on artifacts and human remains, therapeutic herbs and natural substances were
likely used in prehistoric medicine. There also is supernatural evidence found in
burial sites and cave paintings. Disease was “dis‑ease” or lack of ease, and being
out of balance and discordant, sometimes attributed to mythological and malevolent
spirit sources. And finally, a powerful wellness survival strategy was migration due
to dramatic climatic changes and scarcity of food and other resources.
“The concept of wellness is not modern at all, but ancient, deriving from the
most basic human drive: to live longer, healthier and better.”10 Indian Ayurveda and
Traditional Chinese Medicine some 5000 years ago, sought to bring harmony and
balance into daily life. They used physical methods such as Acupuncture, Tai Chi,
Qigong, Baduanjin, or Yijinjing, and administered herbal medicines. Ancient Egyp‑
tians, also 5000 years ago, practiced bone setting, dentistry, simple surgery, and

3 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

the use of natural medicines.11 Ancient Greek medicine 2500 years ago and Ancient
Roman medicine, around 2000 years ago, focused on preventing sickness as well
as treating disease. Hippocrates is credited as being possibly the first physician.
Roman strategies for wellness are most known for the building of vast networks of
aqueducts, sewers, and public baths contributing to public health. These traditional
systems focused on both curative and preventive methods of disease. They further
emphasized one’s lifestyle – nutrition, physical activity, quality sleep, moderation,
ethical behavior, development of positive thoughts and emotions – and perceived
healthcare as holistic with an aim of achieving balance and harmony of body, mind,
and spirit.12xii These wellness considerations remain important today. Early Chris‑
tian concepts of health derived as gifts of God focusing on stewardship to self and
service to others in “health, sickness and suffering.”13 This also included lifestyles
choices emphasizing moderation and kindness.
In the Middle Ages most people lived in rural servitude and were subject to
contagious diseases, such as the Black Death and leprosy, childbirth deaths, and
generally low life expectancy. Early medical practices included herbal remedies,
antiseptics, medicinal oils, and midwives. Monastic environments were often cent‑
ers of health and wellness, and it is from their practices that the term “hospital”
derived. It was in the Renaissance that modern medicine began, but it was at the
turn of the 18th century that marked the modern medical revolution.14 The earli‑
est evidence for the Western use of the term wellness is from 1654, in a diary
entry by Sir Archibald Johnston, lawyer and politician. Its meaning is the opposite
of “illness” or the “state of being well or in good health.” By the 19th century,
new intellectual movements, spiritual philosophies, and holistic medical systems
had proliferated in the United States and Europe. Alternative healthcare systems
emerged, such as naturopathy, homeopathy, osteopathy, and chiropractic, focusing
on holistic mind‑body‑spirit healing and illness prevention. These systems marked
the origin of our modern, thriving wellness industry.
The 19th century marked a great advance in public health with advances in
scientific knowledge about the sources and means of controlling disease as well as
public responsibility for responding to it. Known as the “great sanitary awakening,”
filth was seen as the cause and vehicle of disease transmission.15 By the mid‑20th
century, however, evidence‑based medicine, and a focus on the treatment of illness
gained favor over much of the preventative approaches, resulting in the omission
of alternative systems from mainstream medical education. In the 1950s, Halbert
L. Dunn’s work on High‑Level Wellness, published in 1961, introduced the idea of
“wellness” and the impact of our environment on personal wellness.16 Dunn’s work
later inspired American professionals in the 1970s who together are considered
the “fathers of the wellness movement,” including Dr. John Travis, Don Ardell, and
Dr. Bill Hettler, among others. They created their comprehensive models of well‑
ness, developing the first university campus wellness center, and establishing the
National Wellness Institute and National Wellness conference in the United States.
They defined wellness as more dynamic, going beyond health to reaching a happy,
balanced, quality of fulfilled life. Soon after, the WHO released its definition of well‑
ness with a shift toward prevention and health promotion, this marked the official
start of the wellness movement.17

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 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” was an awakening of the environmen‑

tal movement and a critical look at pollution sparking greater concerns about public
health. In 1970, Earth Day started as one of the largest grassroots movements in
environmental awareness and the Clean Air Act set national air quality and automo‑
bile emissions standards both of which closely parallel wellness. Pesticides were
banned and the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972. In 1973, the scarcity of OPEC
oil and the dependence on fossil fuels spawned the alternative technology industry
and leaded gasoline was phased out. Beginning in 1982, toxic building materials
were addressed, and many were banned. Many new programs and legislations
were set into motion resulting in environmental action. The EPA radon protection
program began in 1988. Awareness of climate change occurred as early as the late
1800s by Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenis. Global warming as a function of human
behavior began to become a public concern 100 years later, and was a politicized
issue in the 1990s.
Over the two decades from 1980–2000, there were more government‑­
sponsored programs in the U.S. focused on health and healthy lifestyles. Through
the ‘90’s many of the world’s most elite medical institutions, including Harvard,
Stanford, Yale, Johns Hopkins, and the Mayo Clinic, began to feature Integrative
Medicine departments, including with a focus on evidence‑based wellness. The
wellness movement soon spread to European nations, and by the end of the 20th
century, there was the birth of workplace wellness programs. In the late 1980s
companies began to focus on psychological well‑being as part of their workplace
wellness initiatives, and in 1986, the Occupational Safety and Health Administra‑
tion began to encourage the implementation of stress‑related mental health pro‑
grams in the workplace. This also was a time of self‑discovery, of fitness, spas and
self‑care, and self‑help experts who brought wellness into the mainstream. Another
contributing factor to the focus on wellness was the consistent global rise in chronic
diseases and obesity which continues to lead to unsustainable healthcare costs.
More governments have begun shifting their focus on prevention and wellness to
combat the skyrocketing costs of healthcare. By the 21st century, the concepts of
wellness, healthy living, and nutrition hit a dramatic tipping point as we began to
see them permeate and transform every industry from food and beverages to travel
and tourism, and more recently, architecture, design, and real estate development.
In 1973, the evolution of the concept of biophilia began in modern times with
Erich Fromm in 1973. Edward O. Wilson in 1980 published his book on biophilia that
revealed the health and wellness relationship between humans and nature.18 Later,
in 2008, Stephen Kellert edited a volume on biophilia that further investigated the
wellness outcomes of biophilic design and presented 72 attributes to that design.19
In the early 2000s, Dan Buettner traveled worldwide investigating what he called
“blue zones,” where the demographics revealed extreme longevity. He discovered
that certain lifestyle choices contributed to this phenomenon.20 Richard Louv’s “Last
Child in the Woods,” underlined the importance of the relationship between children
and the outdoors in order to overcome what he called “nature‑deficit disorder.”21
In the early 2000s came the rise of eating disorders, the rise of influenza virus,
salmonella, SARS and E. coli outbreaks, and an increase of morbid obesity. Accord‑
ing to Emily Pau, eating disorders, like anorexia, rose 3.5% from 2000–2006 mostly

5 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

in women and young girls as many desperately strived to copy the ultra‑thin figures
promoted in the fashion industry and on social media.22 During this time, solid meals
were replaced with liquid alternatives, and portions of servings at restaurants were
smaller. In America, the lack of health care insurance and access to prescription
drugs for millions were problematic. Yet for the wellness movement, the “Healthy
People 2000” was a national strategy with its focus on physical activity, fitness
programs, improved nutrition, physical education in schools, and personal self‑care
that began to turn the tide toward wellness. In the decades that followed, a parade
of dietary trends emerged, such as the Atkins Diet, Raw Foods Diet, NutriSystem,
Keto Diet, and the Juicing Diet. The decades also saw increases in the awareness
of food quality as defined as organic, vegetarian, vegan, gluten‑free, and non‑GMO.
In addition to nutrition, closer attention was paid to exercise and fitness.23
The early 2000s was also a time of growing awareness of climate change as
a result of human activity, growing environmental degradation, and forest loss.
According to the Global Forest Watch, 8% of the world’s intact forest landscape
has been lost since 2000 due to fragmentation, logging, and development.24 Water
and air pollution are also of concern with household air and water pollution on
the decline, and outdoor pollution has risen. In addition, according to the United
Nations, the number of natural disasters worldwide since 2000 has reached 7,348
taking 1.23 million lives. It is clear that recent history has shown the critical need
for wellness strategies for climate mitigation and natural disasters.
In 2023, the GWI released an updated Global Wellness Economy Monitor.
According to the GWI report the wellness market was worth $4.9 trillion in 2019 and
then shrank during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Since 2000 it has grown to $5.9 trillion
as a result of the medical world, with governments and consumers placing greater
value on prevention and wellness. The report stated that wellness expenditures in
2020 have grown and are now extending to the wellness real estate market ($398
billion), mental wellness ($180.5 billion), public health ($611 billion), prevention and
personalized medicine, healthy eating, nutrition and weight loss ($1 trillion), physical
activity sector ($976 billion), traditional complementary medicine ($519 billion), per‑
sonal care and beauty ($1.1 trillion), wellness tourism ($651 billion), spas ($104 bil‑
lion), thermal and hot springs ($43.3 billion), and workplace wellness ($51 billion).25
In 2018, the Global Wellness Institute released Build Well to Live Well, the
first in‑depth research to analyze the $134 billion global wellness real estate and
communities sector (previously Wellness Lifestyle Real Estate) exploring how com‑
munity environments can positively impact personal wellness. The report found that
real estate and communities that intentionally put people’s health at the center of
design, creation and redevelopment are the next frontiers in real estate. The Well‑
ness Architecture & Design Initiative of the Global Wellness Institute hones even
further on the built environment, further researching and understanding pathways
for the implementation of an interdisciplinary wellness design approach, which
delivers health, sustainability, economic, and spiritual outcomes for existing and
future designs and environments. Wellness trends in the early 2020s include strate‑
gies to overcome loneliness, expansion of wellness tourism worldwide, a focus on
workplace wellness, advancing the biotech beauty market, addressing weight and
obesity, clean blue spaces, wellness and spiritual implications, neuroscience and

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 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

1.1
Wellness History
Timeline
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

multisensory integration, models of wellness hospitality, and expanding wellness

influences on the cities, infrastructure, and capital improvements.
Planned in 2007 and currently largely complete, the Mado Hamlet, featured
in Chapter 7, is located in Serenbe Community outside of Atlanta, Georgia and
is one of the first purpose‑built residential developments or intentional neighbor‑
hoods designed around wellness. When complete Mado will house 575 dwellings
with a host of wellness businesses, functions and services. Woven throughout the
neighborhood are a fitness center, swimming pool, yoga studios, farm‑to‑table res‑
taurant, dentist, veterinary clinic, aging in place campus, k‑12 school, many health
and wellness live‑work units, and access to hundreds of acres of forested open
space. Wellness retreats, like Fivelements Retreat Bali featured in Chapter 8, and
the wellness tourist destination industries are ever‑increasing in demand.
Modern conceptions of wellness began in the 20th century and are seen as a
holistic and multi‑dimensional model of health. While modern medicine and scien‑
tific discoveries moved the medical professions ahead, holistic medicine was still
common. lt was not until J.I. Rodale launched his Prevention magazine in the 1950s,
when Halbert Dunn put forward his concept of high‑level wellness in the early 1960s,
and John Travis in the 1970s focused on wellness practice and his development
of an illness‑wellness continuum, that the wellness movement began to advance

7 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

particularly in the United States. Now wellness has migrated into planning schemes,
infrastructure designs, tourism, destination retreats, building designs, building sys‑
tems, material selections, furnishings, and real estate to name but a few.
Human activity impacts the land on Earth causing irreversible changes in cli‑
mate, biospheric integrity, biodiversity, and ecological systems’ flows. In response
planetary health is an outgrowth of preventative health initiated in the 1970s and
1980s and promotes vitality and sustainability of the Earth’s natural systems. To
Susan Prescott, et al., planetary health is important and fundamental to maintaining
trans‑generational vitality at scales of person, place, and planet. Prescott goes on
to explain that sustaining vital natural systems, narrative health processes, plan‑
etary consciousness, nature‑relatedness, and the development of new normative
behaviors are now necessary.26

WELLNESS CONTINUUM

A wellness continuum describes the increasing and decreasing effects of wellness

benefits as developed by John Tavis in 1972.27 It plots various stages from utter poor
health or near death to high‑level wellness. Between these extremes is a neutral
space of neither illness nor wellness. To Donald Ardell, the continuum spans from
worseness to wellness, which is affected by health hazards, nutritional health, and
physical fitness.28 As can be seen in Figure 1.2, high‑level wellness is influenced by
purpose in life, life satisfaction and spiritual growth, and wellness lifestyles, while near
death and chronic illness are a function of inactivity, poor lifestyles, smoking, high
alcohol use, loss of vitality, and social isolation. This continuum is also related to what
is referred to as a treatment paradigm (treatment pathology and disease prevention)
occurring on the illness side of the diagram and usually involving surgery, therapy,
and drugs; while the positive side of the diagram supports a wellness paradigm usu‑
ally involving healthy lifestyle choices with good nutrition, physical activity, emotional
balance, positive social interactions, zest for life, and purposeful spiritual growth.
The wellness continuum reinforces the idea that wellness is not static or
one‑dimensional, but rather an ongoing process or dynamic progression that can
vacillate between illness events and degrees of wellness. The treatment paradigm,
reliant upon drugs, herbs, surgery, physical therapy, psychotherapy, acupuncture,
blood transfusions, radiation, and palliative care to name a few, can move one to the
neutral space. The wellness paradigm moves from the illness and neutral space to
greater balance, integration, nutrition, physical activity, and healthier social, financial
and spiritual well‑being. While the continuum model is a useful visual tool in emplac‑
ing the wellness concept, it should be noted that it is a simplification of complex
and often contradictory dimensions of health.29 It is a simple visual tool that allows
one to place their wellness on a risk‑to‑prevention scale.

• Near Death – an experience of coming close to dying in medical or non‑medical

setting.
• Chronic Illness – conditions requiring ongoing medical attention or limiting
activities.

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 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

1.2
BAD GOOD
Wellness
(–) HEALTH HEALTH
(+)
Continuum
(Source: Phillip
Tabb) NEAR CHRONIC NEUTRAL WELLNESS HIGH-LEVEL
DEATH ILLNESS Low-Smoking Non-Smoking WELLNESS
Inactivity Smoking Low Alcohol Healthy Nutrition Life Purpose
Limited- Alcohol Moderate Diet Frequent Exercise Life Satisfaction
Mobility Poor Diet Moderate- Socialization Spiritual Wellness
High- Low Exercise Exercise Financial Health Holistic
Medications Isolation Integration
Poor Lifestyle
Imbalance Balance
Excesses Moderation

INCREASING ILLNESS EFFECTS INCREASING WELLNESS BENEFITS

WELLNESS CONTINUUM
Based on John Travis 1972

• Neutral Health – state of medical noninterference and moderate levels of

thriving.
• Wellness – daily practices attaining holistic and successful health outcomes.
• High‑Level Wellness – the process of holistic functioning achieving fuller
potential.

WELLNESS BENEFIT PILLARS

A wellness benefit is seen as a tangible health advantage and process promoting

health and fitness, and in spiritual terms it suggests doing well or doing good.
Wellness pillars are a broad category of wellness benefits, and are explained in
detail in Chapter 2. Physical wellness involves the physical body, its maintenance,
exercise, hygiene, quality of sleep, as well as preventing illness or injury. In some
instances, it also includes nutritional health and a balanced diet. Cognitive well‑
ness relates to mental processes, clarity, focus, and memory. Emotional wellness
covers positive feelings and the ability to understand, communicate and transcend
difficult emotions. Social wellness involves the connections and relationships with
others whether it is family or community and beyond. Financial wellness is the pil‑
lar devoted to living within your means and planning for your future appropriately.
Environmental wellness is a function of immediate outdoor spaces, community,
and surrounding environment. It involves both our impact on the environment and
the environments impact on us. Spiritual wellness relates to living values, a sense
of purpose, and meaning in life. Taken together these pillars constitute what may
be considered holistic and even high‑level wellness. It is further important to under‑
stand that the multiple pillars are interrelated and can influence and impact one
another.

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◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

Created in the early 1990s by Dr. Margaret Swarbrick were what she called
“dimensions of wellness.” Swarbrick’s version was used in cases of mental health
challenges and included eight dimensions. The model included intellectual rather
than mental, and occupational wellness benefits were often excluded from more
widely published classifications. The model focused on key daily habits and routines
especially within the occupational environment, and encouraged new wellness‑­
oriented behaviors.30 Financial wellness in contrast focused on the satisfaction with
current and future financial situations. Sometimes vocational wellness was consid‑
ered a pillar that focused on developing life enrichment and contributions to work.
The Global Wellness Institute saw the wellness benefits as multidimensional
and included six dimensions. In the GWI white paper on Wellness Architecture and
Design Pathways, seven pillars were discussed. GWI sees the wellness benefits
as an active pursuit toward an optimum state of health and wellness. Extrapolated
from the many publications on the pillars of wellness are the following seven core
wellness pillars considered good models of self‑ and environmental‑stewardship
discussed in this book:

• Physical wellness – nutrition, restful sleep, movement and exercise.

• Mental wellness – creativity, positive thinking, mental acuity and focused
attention.
• Emotional wellness – well feelings, supportive sharing, and coping effectiveness.
• Social wellness – interactions, relationships, connectedness and sense of
community.
• Financial wellness – economic benefits, increased value, efficiency and
productivity.
• Environmental wellness – positive interactions with nature with negatable
pollution.
• Spiritual wellness – holistic connections, transcendence, and life purpose.

HIGH‑LEVEL WELLNESS

High‑level wellness was a concept developed by Halbert Dunn and first published
in 1961 that promoted interrelatedness, high level functioning, balance, purposeful
direction, and maximizing one’s potential. And in 1976, in his book, Donald Ardell
advanced high‑level wellness as an alternative to doctors, drugs, and disease, and
as being highly effective with self‑responsibility applied to the varying degrees
of high‑level wellness.31 High‑level wellness occupies a prominent and desirable
position on the wellness continuum where degrees or levels of wellness spanning
from chronic illness to normal health to high‑level wellness exist. What is important
to understand is that wellness is not a static state, but rather a dynamic process
that vacillates within all of us, and high‑level wellness is achievable through the
conscious actions and lifestyle choices we promote in our everyday lives.
Characteristics of high‑level wellness include flourishing, attaining purpose and
meaning in life, life satisfaction, mastery, optimism, and positive affect. Human
flourishing is a state of optimal functioning and well‑being across our individual
lives.32 According to Haugan and Dezutter, purpose and meaning are mediating

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 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

variables in psychological health, and they contribute to vitality and motivational

forces for survival.33 Life satisfaction is associated with lower mortality and risk of
hospitalization, and an influence on wellness behaviors.34 Mastery is associated
with better physical and mental quality of life.35 Positive effects, including experi‑
ence of happiness, longer lives, and positive responses to chronic diseases, occur
across a wide range of health outcomes.36 According to Donald Ardell, high‑level
wellness requires giving care to the physical self, being mentally constructive, chan‑
neling stress energy positively, expressing emotions effectively, being creative with
others, and connecting to the environment.37 To Ardell, there are five dimensions to
high‑level wellness: self‑responsibility, nutritional awareness, stress management,
physical fitness, and environmental sensitivity.
High‑level wellness is broad in its application extending from organizations,
buildings and communities, to nations, eco‑regions, and humankind as a whole.
Here the discussion of high‑level wellness must include the health of the Earth’s
biosphere and natural systems. This includes the wellness‑determinants directed
toward infectious diseases, harmful lifestyle behaviors, human population growth
and migration patterns, and irresponsible use of natural resources. Unfortunately,
this includes the prevailing of wars, terrorism, natural disasters, and harmful crimes.
Increased population and urban clustering are cause for rising housing costs and the
more quickly spread of diseases.38 Planetary health was defined by the Rockefeller‑­
Lancet Commission of Planetary Health as “the health of human civilization and the
state of the natural systems on which it depends.”39
High‑level wellness also includes spiritual dimensions and outcomes with
concepts of whole health, including physical fitness, good nutrition, flourishing,
longevity, positive family and social interactions, and relations to nature. This also
is enabled by wellness planning and design measures occurring at all scales of
the built environment. High‑level wellness involves giving good care to your physi‑
cal self, using your mind constructively, expressing your emotions effectively,
being creatively involved with those around you, and being concerned about your
physical, psychological, and spiritual environments. High‑level wellness seeks an
ever‑increasing quality of life integrated with planetary wellness.40 The term plan‑
etary health denotes the interconnections between personal health and place
or settings at all scales. Important is the ability to translate high‑level wellness
determinants to the planning and design fields in order to facilitate supportive envi‑
ronments and settings promoting high‑level wellness. Key attributes of high‑level
wellness are:

• High functioning – often categorized as anxiety, depression or autism, but in

the context of wellness it is the positive process of adaptable health‑oriented
choices with positive physical, emotional, psychological, and social functioning.
• Maximizing potential – an evolving process of actualizing one’s goals, direction,
calling and capabilities of the whole person occurring day to day. Attracting
positive social connections, accumulating the appropriate tools, and living in
supportive environment(s).
• Balance and integration – the maintenance of completeness and according to
Halbert Dunn, the integration of body, mind, spirit, and environment.41

11 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

• Positive lifestyle choices – with healthy nutrition, daily physical activity, frequent
experience of nature, financial health, and positive social interactions.
• Purposefulness – not only is important to problem solving, but the attainment
of higher‑level completeness and transformations. Perseverance, vision, resil‑
ience, and lived experiences are important to purpose.

WELLNESS SCALES OF APPLICATION

In order to achieve the greatest impact on wellness design strategies and benefits,
there should be broad applications. This is to ensure providing wellness opportuni‑
ties to all walks of life and pervading lifestyles. Wellness benefits and strategies
span a variety of scales from rooms to buildings, and from neighborhoods to cities.
It is important to understand that each scale provides certain sets of individual,
social, or environmental benefits. Most are either concurrent, complementary, or
unique to the scale. For example, access to nature can take the form of an indoor
plant, a walled‑in garden, a view to the ocean, a walk in the woods, or a vacation
to a national park. Even flying across the country in an airplane or viewing the vast
night sky can be awe‑inspiring. The benefits can occur on pro‑individual, pro‑social,
and pro‑environmental levels. It is the purpose here to provide through these scales
of application a broad and encompassing set of wellness design strategies.

• Planning and urban design scale – issues include air and water pollution, inad‑
equate access to green and blue spaces, reduction of arable agricultural land,
dependence on the automobile and lack of public transportation, abundance
of derelict land, response to city‑scale natural disasters, and inadequate and
non‑renewable infrastructure capacity.
• Architecture scale – issues include increased visual and physical indoor‑outdoor
relationships, increased responses to light and spatial quality, reduced use of
toxic building materials, improved design for energy conservation and other
renewable resources, improved responses to climate and weather conditions,
and natural disasters.
• Interior scale – issues include improved interior spatial quality, natural lighting
and ventilation, use of non‑renewable and toxic material selections, reduced
noise pollution, improved thermal comfort, and improved access to nature.
• Landscape scale – issues include accessibility and increased open, green and
blue spaces, and increased use of climate‑resistant species, improvement of
stormwater management, reduction of water‑intensive landscaping, excessive
hardscapes, and mono‑culture agriculture.

While there are varying scales of wellness design, it is important to understand

and implement a combinatory and integrated approach where each scaler level is
not considered in isolation, but rather as an integrated part of the other scales. And
that each pillar of wellness benefits is considered across the scales. For example,
how can the wellness benefit of physical fitness be encouraged at the planning
scale, within a site and building interior, and with landscape features at each scale?

12 ◻
 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

How can they be combined to give synergy to one another, such as physical fitness,
organic farming, and community meals? Mado Hamlet discussed in Chapter 7 is
a good example of the integrated effects of the wellness strategies across scales
in one place.

WELLNESS DESIGN CHALLENGES

There are increasing signs that both human and planetary health are at risk. Physi‑
cal inactivity, obesity, poor nutrition, substance abuse, mental health, heart dis‑
ease, cancer, diabetes, injury and violence, airborne infectious diseases, and lack
of access to health care are among the most common human health issues. It is
alarming that according to the World Health Organization recently released data that
81% of kids between the ages of 11 and 17 are now inactive.42 Climate change,
natural disasters, air pollution, poor water quality, chemical safety, wildfires, habitat
destruction, loss of biodiversity, microbes, and destruction due to war are among
the most common environmental health issues. It is clear we need to reimagine
the survival advantages for us as well as the planet as a whole. Our very survival
may be dependent upon a more well‑oriented paradigm.
Our behavior is influenced by the environment within which we live. It is impor‑
tant to understand there is a reciprocal relationship between the two. Therefore, the
rooms, buildings communities, and ecological regions within which we live influence
our well‑being. The challenge is to create designs at these varying scales to help elicit
or facilitate the wellness benefits. For the purpose of the work in this book, the scales
are limited to urban design, architecture, interior design, and landscape design. It,
therefore, is the intent of wellness designs to reduce the negative factors and risks
of harm to person and environment, to enhance and increase the opportunities for all
the positive benefits, and to support accessible and enduring solutions for all as well
as vulnerable populations. It is not only a human‑centered design approach, but also an
environment‑sensitive one as well. This includes plans, physical products, services, proce‑
dures, strategies, and policies. In order for wellness design strategies to be most effective,
they must simultaneously occur at multiple scales of application, and need to be acces‑
sible, inclusive, experienced as often as possible, and made economically feasible.
Another challenge is the implantation of larger‑scale wellness and plan‑
etary health toward sustainable and biospheric designs. And addressing the
questions of existing built urban, suburban, and peri‑urban environments, such
as, “How can they be transformed into high‑level wellness?” According to the
United Nations, the urban design scale has the potential to be at the forefront
of improving community heath in the coming years. However, most modern
city designs, especially in the United States, are based on gridded spatial struc‑
ture, increasing density, accommodation of the automobile (circulation and park‑
ing), and little focus on mass-transportation. The challenges for urban areas are
many and include implementing revitalized infrastructure, reducing congestion,
increasing public transport systems, and creating more natural open spaces.
Suburban designs, on the other hand, are lower in density, employ single‑­use
development and functional zoning, and promote automobile dependency. The

13 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

challenge is restructuring the monolithic spatial character into an accessible mix

of critical land uses, in which many support wellness. For example, these include
greater access to parks and recreation, suburban agriculture, schools, commercial
shopping, workplaces, and healthcare.
What are the large impactful moves that can really have a profound influence
and effect on wellness? In other words, where are the wellness planning and design
strategies most likely to be effective? Will they be existing, new, urban, subur‑
ban, rural, small or large scale, or developed or undeveloped countries? In existing
places, wellness design considerations will initially be directed toward “interesting
interventions” or “fixing mistakes,” such as the dominance of the automobile, pol‑
luted waterways, disaster‑prone areas, inefficient infrastructure, improved mass
transit systems, overhauled zoning practices, and piecemeal insertions of wellness
buildings. In older cities, the wellness interventions will need to be respectful of
the existing fabric, inventory of buildings, and community features. They most likely
will be additive and piecemeal.
Another major challenge is to create affordable and accessible designs know‑
ing that many wellness strategies can be costly. According to Jamie Gold, in a build‑
ing environment where wellness design includes amenities like yoga rooms, air and
water purification, state‑of‑the‑art fitness centers and circadian lighting, health and
fitness are being built into the housing for those who can afford it. However, other
wellness design strategies that are far less costly like well‑placed windows with a
view to nature, meeting of indoor air quality standards, well‑lit community gardens,
playgrounds and recreation spaces, the inclusion of more and appealing walking
paths, sheltered bike racks, and smoke‑free environments.43
In new developments, more comprehensive, holistic, and integrated measures
can be implemented, such as those illustrated in the strategies section on the urban
design scale. According to a 2017 Housing and Urban Development Survey and US
Census Data, 21% of households are described as rural, 52% as suburban, and
27% as urban.44 This suggests more careful and targeted interventions in the larger
scaled environments, and more integrated and comprehensive approaches in the
lower densities and smaller scales. The challenges are complex, terrain‑­dependent
and require commitment, and design for well‑being potentially comes with changes
in the physical environment and lifestyle adjustments or changes. In order to over‑
come this “wellness‑deficit disorder,” the prevailing real estate, land planning, archi‑
tectural, interior design and landscape practices are in need of revision. To gain a
survival advantage, the wellness strategies need to be robust and inclusive. Chal‑
lenges at scale are listed below:

• Large‑scale wellness strategies – occurring at the eco‑regional, city and urban

scales where issues of climate, natural disasters, land use, density, mixes
of use, transportation, urban greenery, streetscapes, and infrastructure are
addressed.
• Medium‑scale wellness strategies – occurring with the campus, single and
multiple buildings, passive survivability, local streets, neighborhoods, schools
and universities, and urban landscapes.

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 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

• Small‑scale wellness strategies – occurring with healing gardens, courtyards,

interior spaces, furnishings and finishes, and material selections.
• Easily accessible strategies – porous and encouraging designs occurring in
proximity to nature and social spaces close to where people live, work, go to
school, and recreate. The ideal is to have pedestrian access with other modes
of transport.
• Daily wellness strategies – occurring with frequency as a part of daily routines
and integrated with wellness lifestyles.
• Live‑work relationships – achieving work‑life balance and with easier access to
work. Commuting is incredibly stressful not to mention sustainably inefficient.
• Financial wellness strategies – producing both short‑ and long‑term economic
incentives and benefits that help drive and enable the right‑retail, the wellness
industry and wellness real estate development. Providing affordable strategies.
• Planetary wellness strategies – suggesting some lifestyle changes, lower and
more renewable and efficient energy and resource consumption, nucleated
human‑centered sustainable development, greenhouse gas sequestering,
population redistribution away from vulnerable locations, and revitalizing natu‑
ral areas (air, land, water, and ecology).45

1.3
Planetary Wellness
(Source: NASA)

15 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

SUMMARY

Wellness as a concept is relatively new, and its applications to the design fields are
rare, especially at the urban design and planning scales. However, the history of
the wellness movement over the past 50 years is an indication of how important
the issue is and the breadth of concerns. The purpose of this book has been to give
contemporary definitions to the concept of wellness design, define the dimensions
of its reach, and to propitiate physical design strategies that can help elicit the
positive benefits. Understanding the range of benefits is important in informing
and guiding the wellness strategies in planning and design. It should be noted that
wellness benefits and strategies are not curative medical treatments, but rather
promote holistic environment and lifestyle choices reinforced through planning and
design practices.
According to the National Institute of Health, “approximately 60 percent of pre‑
mature deaths could be attributed to unhealthy lifestyle factors, including smoking,
excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, poor diet, and obesity.”46 This
results in the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, stroke, dia‑
betes and dementia. According to the World Health Organization, 23% of all prema‑
ture deaths can be attributed to environmental factors, including unsafe air, water,
sanitation, and hygiene.47 This underlies the importance of planning and design
measures for supporting an integrated model for preventable and positive lifestyle
choices and environmental designs. These choices are defined by the seven pillars
of wellness.
The following chapters address wellness design from a more holistic point
of view with the integration of positive wellness design and planning measures
applied across multiple scales and accessible through everyday activities. They are
intended to clarify definitions of wellness and elucidate the many benefits. Further,
the planning and design strategies are meant to provide guidelines or pathways
for interventions in existing urban settings and buildings and to help guide future
growth in new projects toward wellness actions in reimagining the future. The
work concludes with two detailed case studies at the urban design and architec‑
tural scales intended to illustrate the multifaceted methods for achieving wellness
design. These case studies are important in that they illustrate in‑depth, fully inte‑
grated approaches of the wellness strategies on scales from planning to interior
design producing a host of wellness benefits.

NOTES
1. Sartorius, Norman, The Meaning of Health and its Promotion, (Accessed November 20,
2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2080455/
2. Guidotti, Tee L., The Literal Meaning of Health (Accessed July 10, 2012) https://www.
tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19338244.2011.585096?journalCode=vaeh20#:~:te
xt=The%20English%20word%20“health”%20derives,%2DIndo%2DEuropean%20
root%20“*
3. Standford WELL for Life, (Accessed July 21, 2023), https://med.stanford.edu/wellforlife.
html.

16 ◻
 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

4. Cooper, Kenneth H., Overcoming Hypertension: Dr. Kenneth H. Cooper’s Preventative

Medicine (New York City, NY: Bantam Books, 1990).
5. National Wellness Institute, National Wellness Institute, About Wellness, (Accessed July
10, 2013) http://www.nationalwellness.org/?page=AboutWellness.
6. Definition of Wellness: Meaning, Dimensions, and Examples, Berkeley Well‑Being Insti‑
tute, (Accessed July 21, 2023) https://www.berkeleywellbeing.com/wellness‑definition.
html
7. Global Wellness Institute, What is Wellness? (Accessed June 1, 2013) https://globalwell‑
nessinstitute.org/what‑is‑wellness/
8. Burpee, Heather, History of Healthcare Architecture, (Accessed August 15, 2023), http://
www.mahlum.com/pdf/HistoryofHealthcareArchBurpee.pdf
9. Alt, Kurt, Ali Al‑Ahmad, & Johan Woelber, Nutrition and Health in Human Evolution‑Past
to Present, (Accessed November 20, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC9460423/
10. Murphy, Douglas, The History of Wellness, (Accessed December 5, 2023), https://
pacificpsychiatry.com/blog/the‑history‑of‑wellness/
11. National Library of Medicine, Traditional Ancient Egyptian Medicine: A Review, (Accessed
December 5, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8459052/
12. Cohen, Strohecker, A Brief History of Wellness. Wellness Inventory Certification Training,
(Accessed July 20, 2023) https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what‑is‑wellness/
history‑of‑wellness/
13. Murphy, Douglas, The History of Wellness, (Accessed December 5, 2023), https://
pacificpsychiatry.com/blog/the‑history‑of‑wellness/
14. Modern Medicine, The Origin of Modern Medicine, (Accessed December 5, 2023),
https://www.hellovaia.com/explanations/history/public‑health‑in‑uk/modern‑medicine/
15. National Library of Medicine, A History of the Public Health System, (Accessed Decem‑
ber 6, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK218224/#:~:text=The%20nine‑
teenth%20century%20marked%20a,of%20nineteenth%2Dcentury%20social%20
reforms.
16. Dunn, Halbert, High‑Level Wellness for Man and Society. American Journal of Public
Health and the Nation’s Health, 49(6), 786–792.
17. The Surgeon General’s Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, (Accessed
July 20, 2023) http://profiles.nlm.nih.gov/NN/B/B/G/K/
18. Wilson, Edward O., Biophilia (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984).
19. Kellert, Stephen R., Judith H. Heerwagen, & Martin Mador, Biophilic Design: The Theory,
Science, and Practice of Bringing Building to Life (New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2008).
20. Buettner, Dan, The Blue Zones: 9 Lessons Learned from the People Who’ve Lived the
Longest, 2nd Edition (Washington D.C.: National Geographic, 2012).
21. Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature‑Deficit Disorder
(New York, NY: Algonquin Publishers, 2008).
22. Pau, Emily, Nutrition Through The Decades: 2000s, (Accessed December 5, 2023), https://
www.werise4wellness.com/post/nutrition‑through‑the‑decades‑2000s
23. Rowe, Keith, A Look Back at the Health Trends of the Last 20 Years, (Accessed December
5, 2023), https://brainmd.com/blog/health‑trends‑last‑20‑years/
24. Harris, Nancy, Rachael Peterson, & Susan Minnemeyer, World Lost 8 Percent
of its Remaining Pristine Forests Since 2000, (Accessed December 5, 2023),
https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data‑and‑research/world‑lost‑8‑percent‑
of‑its‑remaining‑pristine‑forests‑since‑2000/
25. Global Wellness Institute, Global Wellness Economy Monitor 2023, (Accessed
December 5, 2023), https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/industry‑research/global‑
wellness‑economy‑monitor‑2023/

17 ◻
◼ WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW

26. Prescott, Susan, Planetary Health: People, Place, Purpose, Planet, (Accessed November
22, 2023), http://www.drsusanprescott.com/planetary‑health.html
27. Travis, John, Illness and Wellness Continuum, 1972, (Accessed June 12, 2023) https://
www.houseofhealth.co.nz/wellness‑continuum‑blog‑1‑physical‑health/
28. Ardell, Donald, High Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors and Drugs, and Disease,
(Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1977), pp. 87–91.
29. Wellspring, Key Concept #1: The Illness‑Wellness continuum, (Accessed November
6, 2023), http://www.thewellspring.com/wellspring/introduction‑to‑wellness/357/key‑­
concept‑1‑the‑illnesswellness‑continuum.cfm.html
30. Swarbrick, Margaret, Mapping Mental Health: Dr. Swarbrick & The Eight Well‑
ness Dimensions, (Accessed August 15, 2023), https://alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/
mapping‑mental‑health‑dr‑swarbrick‑the‑eight‑wellness‑dimensions/
31. Ardell, Donald, High‑Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs, and Disease
(Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1976).
32. Logan, Alan, Brian Berman, & Susan Prescott, Relevance to Personal and Pub‑
lic Health, (Accessed November 8, 2023), https://www.mdpi.com/1660–
4601/20/6/5065#:~:text=Human%20flourishing%2C%20the%20state%20of%20
optimal%20functioning%20and,in%20the%20context%20of%20health%20
and%20high‑level%20wellness.
33. Haugan, Gorill & Jessie Dezutter, Chapter 8, Meaning‑in‑Life: A Vital Salutogenic Resource
for Health, (Accessed November 8, 20923), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
NBK585665/
34. Bi, Kaiwen, Shuquan Chen, Paul Yip, & Pei Sun, Domains of Life Satisfaction and
Perceived Health and Incidence of Chronic Illness and Hospitalization, (Accessed
November 8, 2023), https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/
s12889‑022‑14119‑3#:~:text=As%20a%20promising%20health%20asset%2C%20
life%20satisfaction%20has,intake%20restriction%29%20%5B%204%2C%20
5%2C%206%2C%207%20%5D.
35. O’Kearney, E. L. et al., Mastery is Associated with Greater Physical and Mental
Health‑related Quality of Life in Two International Cohorts of People with Multiple Sclero‑
sis, (Accessed November 8, 2023), https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31756608/
36. Pressman, Sarah, Brooke Jenkins, & Judith Moskowitz, Positive Affect and Health: What
Do We Know and Where Next Should We Go, (Accessed November 8, 2023), https://
www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev‑psych‑010418–102955
37. Ardell, Donald, High‑Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors, Drugs, and Disease
(Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, Inc., 1976), p. 10.
38. Kopec, Dac, Person‑Centered Health Care Design (New York, NY: Routledge, 2021),
pp. 30–31.
39. Haines, Andy, Addressing Challenges to Human Health in the Anthropocene Epoch – an
Overview of the Finding of the Rockefeller‑Lancet Commission on Planetary Health,
(Accessed November 6, 2023), https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1186/
s40985‑016‑0029‑0.pdf
40. Prescott, Susan, Alan Logan, & David Katz, Concept of High‑Level Wellness in the
Planetary Health Paradigm, (Accessed November 8, 2023), https://www.mdpi.
com/1660–4601/16/2/238
41. Halbert Dunn, High Level Wellness (Pitman, NJ: Charles B. Slack Publisher, 1977).
42. Physical Activity for Kids is Out of Control: Policymakers Are Taking Action,
(Accessed August 30, 2023), https://mail.yahoo.com/d/folders/1/messages/
AIExDVFm0c9JZO95kgLDCEzt89A
43. Gold, Jamie, Making Wellness Design Affordable With Builder Incentives,
(Accessed December 6, 2023), https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2019/02/08/
making‑wellness‑design‑affordable‑with‑builder‑incentives/?sh=424fff2d2bf8

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 WELLNESS DEFINITIONS AND OVERVIEW ◼

44. Urban. Suburban. Rural. How Do Households Describe Where They Live?, (Accessed Octo‑
ber 20, 2023), https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr‑edge‑frm‑asst‑sec‑080320.
html#:~:text=According%20to%20data%20HUD%20and,describe%20their%20
neighborhood%20as%20rural.
45. Prescott, Susan, Alan Logan, & David Katz, Concept of High‑Level Wellness in the
Planetary Health Paradigm, (Accessed November 8, 2023), https://www.mdpi.
com/1660–4601/16/2/238
46. Li, Yanping, An Pan, Dong Wang, Xiaoran Liu, Klkodian Dhana, Oscar Franco, Stephen
Kaptoge, Emanuele Di Angelantonio, Mi Stampfer, Walter Willett, & Frank Hu, The Impact
of Healthy Lifestyle Factors on Life Expectancies in the US Population, (Accessed Janu‑
ary 17, 2024), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6207481/#:~:text=A%20
meta%2Danalysis9%20of,physical%20inactivity%2C%20poor%20diet%2C%20and
47. Zarocostas, John, Millions of Deaths from Environmental Causes are Preventable,
says WHO, (Accessed January 17, 2024), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC1479630/

19 ◻
2 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND
URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

INTRODUCTION

In what ways can planning and design solutions contribute to human and envi‑
ronmental health and wellness? Health and wellness benefit both human beings
and the environments they inhabit including both natural and built places. Human‑­
centered benefits are directed to the dimensions of wellness including our physi‑
cal bodies, mental health, emotional well‑being, social connections, and spiritual
growth. As seen in Figures 2.1a and 2.1b, there certainly is a difference between
the experience of illness and joy. Financial health is also seen as a wellness benefit,
personally and occupationally. The environmental‑centered benefits are directed to
the natural environment around us and the cities and buildings we occupy, as seen
with the industrial air pollution and clean cityscape in Figures 2.1c and 2.1d. The
contrast between these two environmental conditions is moving – one is polluted
and the other is endowed with clean air. Spiritual wellness is an understanding and
acceptance of our connection to the world and our place in it leading to personal
peace and purpose. Wellness is an everyday process and is inextricably linked to the
place and where we exist.1 These places include where we live, work, learn, shop,
recreate, dine, worship, and otherwise occupy. They are the contexts within which
we interact and function, and if these places are healthy places, there is a greater
chance of achieving wellness. Lifestyles are based on tangible and intangible fac‑
tors of individuals and groups, and their actions, living behaviors, conditions, habits
and style of living reflect values, attitudes, cultures, and world views. And, for them
to become wellness‑lifestyles means a balanced, holistic, and purposeful choice.

WELLNESS BEHAVIORS

Wellness manifests broadly across several contexts as pro‑individual, pro‑social,

and pro‑environmental behaviors especially as they influence lifestyle choices.
Pro‑individual behaviors are actions taken to improve personal health, lifestyles,
and welfare. Pro‑social behaviors are those intended to reduce loneliness, and help
other people with actions that are characterized by a concern for other’s rights,
feelings, and welfare. Pro‑environmental behaviors are those which minimizes the
negative impact of one’s behavior on the built and natural environments. Following
are further descriptions of these behaviors:

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-2 20 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

2.1
Wellness Benefits
a) From Illness,
b) To Wellness,
c) From Air Pollution
from Industrial
Plant, d) To Clean
Cityscape
(Sources: Wikimedia
Commons and
Shutterstock)

• Pro‑individual behaviors (interpersonal) – manifest with health‑related lifestyles

and an increase in well‑being and positive health effects physically, emotion‑
ally, mentally and spiritually particularly with stress reduction, increased activ‑
ity, improved nutrition, the perception of having more time, and with a clear
purpose in life. Awe‑eliciting and serenity‑eliciting experiences might offer
effective ways of alleviating the feeling of time starvation and temporal den‑
sity. Wellness experiences can improve mood, increase life satisfaction, and
can create clarity of mind and critical thinking. They contribute to the “small
self‑effect” and self‑transcendence and the experience of humility.2 And finally,
pro‑individual behaviors can lead to positive post‑experience accommodation.
• Pro‑social behaviors – are a broad class of behaviors defined as involving social
support, reduced loneliness, and with costs for the self, resulting in benefits for
others. They result in a diminishment of perception of the individual self and its
concerns. They manifest with positive social relationships that promote interac‑
tion, friendship, generosity, empathy, gratitude, sharing, community building,
and developing desirable traits. They include socially‑responsible behaviors to
infectious diseases like COVID‑19, and potentials for greater life satisfaction
and longevity. Wellness experiences can create a greater sense of connected‑
ness, cooperation, altruism, as well as mutualism.

21 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

• Pro‑environmental behaviors – manifest in positive attitudes about the

environment and preservation of nature. They foster biospheric values
with awareness of climate change, global forest loss and sustainable liv‑
ing practices, and sensitivity to consumption patterns and their effect on
the environment. Wellness experiences also extend to place and the envi‑
ronment leading to environmental awareness, consciousness and action
behaviors, thereby potentially reducing the negative environmental and cli‑
matic impacts caused by human activities. Pro‑environmentalism supports
a heightened awareness of environmental problems and the need to modify
human lifestyle behaviors.

CONNECTIONS TO EVERYDAY LIFE

Wellness applied to everyday life means balance, consistency, and care within each
of the characteristic areas of one’s life, including self, family, work, school, social,
recreational, food consumption, and sleep life. It includes major bodily functions
such as immune system functions, normal cell growth, digestive, bowel, bladder,
neurological, brain, respiratory, circulatory, endocrine, and reproductive functions.
Everyday life is the self‑evident subjective experience of everyday – how we feel,
think, and act on a daily basis. Lifestyle choices are conscious decisions that can
lead to a healthier, more productive, and purposeful existence. Imbalance is cause
for stress, common among all the wellness pillars, and can lead to permanent
damage to one or more of vital organs.3 It is important that designs for the built
environment address this imbalance.
Wellness benefits can occur as momentary “fixes,” but in order to maintain
longer term effects, the lifestyle activities should be put into practice daily. The strat‑
egies that support these practices need to be easily accessible. Like the individuals
and families residing in blue zones who experience great longevity, they tend to
maintain completeness and wellness from day to day through the fabric of their
daily routines. In Dan Buettner’s book, Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer, the
key to the people he studied who lived extraordinarily longer lives was the lifestyles
they led on a daily basis – heathy diet, exercise, the outdoors, meaningful social
interactions, and purposefulness.4 Everyday wellness is not something applied from
the outside like a drug or treatment, but rather it is something nurtured from the
inside in terms of lifestyle choices, wellness behaviors, care of the whole self, and
stewardship of home, family, friends, community, and surrounding environment
that are accessible daily. In this regard, wellness is an inside job and integral to
everyday life. It is about living well.

DIMENSIONS OR PILLARS OF WELLNESS BENEFITS

The dimensions or pillars of wellness, developed by Dr. William Hettler in 1976,

were originally defined by six approaches comprising a hexagonal model. The num‑
ber of pillars has varied over the years, but generally are agreed to fall into seven or
eight categories. For this work, the seven wellness Planning and Design benefits

22 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

are based on the physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, environmental, and
spiritual categories. They have been identified through decades of evidence‑based
health and wellness scholarly and scientific research. A justification for this kind of
demarcation is the identification of the varying characteristics of wellness that fit
one’s present condition and lifestyle. Following is a brief listing and summary of the
benefit pillars discussed in further detail in this chapter:5

1. Physical wellness – lower stress and blood pressure, improved respiratory

function, increased physical activity and energy, lower obesity levels, weight
management, increased healing rates, improved circadian cycles, lower addic‑
tions, and improved nutrition.
2. Mental wellness – improved cognitive ability and appraisal, increased focus and
clarity of mind, increased resilience, reduced anxiety and negative thoughts,
ability for awareness of present moment (mindfulness), increased attention
restoration and soft fascination, and reduced temporal density.
3. Emotional wellness – maintaining healthy relationships, improved mood, lower
stress levels, experience of positive emotions (awe, serenity, contentment,
wonder, and joy), resilience and positive coping, and experience of inner peace.
4. Social wellness – creating community, increased social interactions, generos‑
ity, mutualism, empathy, compassion, helpfulness, and enhanced collective
concerns. Social wellness creates a sense of safety, belonging and security,
with increased life expectancy, and the experience of pro‑social behaviors.
5. Financial wellness – increased efficiency and productivity, increased job per‑
formance, reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, positive return on invest‑
ments, increased market distinction and branding, increased facilities due to
economy of scale, and reduced stress over financial matters and security.
6. Environmental wellness – producing and experiencing lower air pollution and
greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water, greater access to nature, increased
biophilic effect, improved biodiversity and regenerative processes, disaster
mitigation, and pro‑environmental and biospheric behaviors.
7. Spiritual wellness – the addressing of existential questions, increased self‑­
transcendence, experience of wholeness, positive sense of solving problems,
invigorated meaning and purpose in life, spiritual arousal, and increased life
satisfaction.

The following sections address each of these wellness benefit pillars with
definitions and detailed descriptions. They also include examples and references
to seminal works and research. With some of the pillars, there are similar benefits
such as stress and anxiety reduction, which have a cognitive, emotional, and poten‑
tially a financial benefit. These repetitive benefits are often experiences at all scales
of the environment and fall under many if not most of the wellness pillars. There are,
however, many benefits unique to each pillar. At the end of this chapter are seven
summary tables describing the wellness benefit categories, the listing of benefits
to humans and to the environment, and their references. Refer to Figure 2.2 for
the seven pillars.

23 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

2.2
Wellness Benefit
Pillars
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

1. Physical wellness
Physical health is critical to overall well‑being, and can be affected by various
factors such as lifestyle, diet, genetics, and level of physical activity. Physical
wellness is engaging in daily physical activity, eating fresh and heathy food,
managing weight, getting uninterrupted sleep, avoiding injury, initiating pre‑
ventative care, and preventing illness. Physical activity refers to all movement
including during leisure time, exercise, participation in sports, and passive
forms such as forest bathing, pedestrian transport to get to and from places,
or as part of a person’s work. This includes cultivating daily routines of physical
activity. And at night sleep efficacy affects physical restoration, wakefulness,
focus, and cognitive clarity. Factors affecting sleep include sleep schedule,
sleep environment, sound and light, air quality, stress levels, sleep latency, and
possible sleep disorders.
Sedentary behavior, poor diet, smoking, spending too much time indoors,
and lack of access to nature all can contribute to poor physical health. In the
United States, indoor inactivity for adults is exacerbated by consuming media
that accounts for more than ten hours a day.6 The planning and design associ‑
ated with the environmental context can also affect physical wellness. This
includes the quality of air that we breathe, water we drink, amount of sunshine
and daylight we receive, the accessibility to natural outdoor spaces for exer‑
cise, and even the aesthetic quality of the places we inhabit. Close proximity
to disaster‑prone locations and those with frequent extreme weather events,
toxic landfills, and low‑frequency electromagnetic powerlines can negatively

24 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

affect physical health. In the context of wellness architecture and urban design,
the physical benefits occur through site location, design intentions, wellness
considerations for planning and design, and in the encouragement of wellness
behaviors including increased activity, balanced diet, reduction of illness fac‑
tors, and increased socialization.
Increased activity, especially on a daily basis, produces powerful well‑
ness effects. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the average adult needs 150 hours of moderate‑intensity physical activity over
five days, which is a little over 30 minutes a day.7 Exercise enhances stress
reduction with improved mental focus and can add variation. The immediate
benefits are weight management, reduced health risks, building strength, and
improved functioning. Bicycling and walking to work have shown positive con‑
nections to heart health, physical activity, weight control, and longevity. Key
benefits follow:

• Increased daily physical activity.

• Increased physical performance.
• Strengthens bones and muscles.

Obesity is a major public health issue and is complex, multifactorial, and

is shaped by age, social interactions, and the physical environment. It is char‑
acterized by abnormal or excessive size and amount of fat cell accumulation.
Overweight and obesity produces problems related to heart health, blood
pressure, diabetes risk, sleep apnea, musculoskeletal disorders, and some
cancers. According to the National Institute of Health, obesity can be reduced
by dietary modifications and energy expenditure modifications.8 Social con‑
nectedness and peer group support affect health outcomes, including obe‑
sity.9 A major cause is a sedentary lifestyle and inactivity, which results in
an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended.
Supportive environments and communities are fundamental in shaping peo‑
ple’s choices, with access to healthier foods and regular physical activity, and
therefore preventing physical stress, overweight, and obesity.10 Key benefits
follow:

• Increased daily exercise.

• Reduced physical stress.
• Enhanced social networks.

Food is essential, and nutrition is how food affects the health of the body.
Improved nutrition is a critical part of wellness. It is the process of consum‑
ing, absorbing, and using nutrients from food which is necessary for growth,
development, and maintenance of life. Eliminating or reducing energy‑dense
(fatty) foods can support physical health. Above all, drinking water every day is
essential for good health by flushing out toxins, lubricating joints, influencing
energy levels, and preventing dehydration. According to an article published
by Nutritional Psychology, healthy dietary patterns include nutrient‑dense food
items like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, lean meat, and low‑fat

25 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

dairy.11 From a planning and design perspective, this means greater proximity
and access to clean water and good nutrition (local farms, gardens, and grocery
stores). Key benefits follow:

• Well‑balanced diet.
• Access to healthy food and healthy eating patterns.
• Increase drinking water.

A wellness benefit of physical activity is improved heart health. Risk factors

to good heart health include high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, smok‑
ing, obesity, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity. According to the National
Institutes of Health, moderate and vigorous physical activity added to a daily
routine affects aerobic activity, strengthens the heart muscle, widens capil‑
laries, lowers blood pressure, lowers triglycerides, and manages blood sugar
and insulin levels.12 The three types of exercise generally accepted to benefit
heart health are (1) aerobic exercise, (2) resistance training, and (3) stretching,
flexibility, and balance exercises. Exercise done regularly is likely to reduce the
chances of suffering of a sudden heart attack or other life‑threatening cardiac
events. Key benefits follow:

• Reducing cardiac Illness factors.

• Managing blood pressure.
• Reducing HDL cholesterol.

Physical activity can improve respiratory function. Activity increases the

need for oxygen which in turn exercises the diaphragm, heart, and lungs.
Stopping smoking reduces the risk of heart disease and chronic lung disease
including lung cancer. Physical exercise increases lung function by bringing oxy‑
gen into the body, providing energy, and removing carbon dioxide, the waste
product created when you produce energy. Oxidative stress has also been
linked to asthma and COPD, and chronic inflammation in the lungs also leads
to these conditions. Over time, vascularization in muscles also improves res‑
piratory function, further improving gaseous exchange and metabolic capacity.
The American Lung Association recommends that adults get 15 minutes of
moderate physical activity per week.13 The combination of physical activity and
smoking cessation functions in cardiorespiratory fitness. It should be noted
that excessive physical activity can lead to maladaptations and difficulties.14
Key benefits follow:

• Increased oxygen supply.

• Diaphragm strengthening.
• Cardiorespiratory fitness.

The immune system can be balanced with physical activity, healthy diet,
maintenance of weight, enough sleep, moderate‑to‑no alcohol, and not‑­
smoking. The immune system can be protected by social behaviors when
exposed to infection risks, such as COVID‑19. Physical activity could provide

26 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

physical, psychological, and emotional benefits and contribute to the preven‑

tion and treatment of various diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, dia‑
betes, cancer, hypertension, obesity, depression, and osteoporosis.15 Spatial
distancing, providing sanitation protocols, sheltering in place, quarantining, and
sanctuary spaces are among the strategies for the mitigation of spread of com‑
municable diseases. Innate and adaptive immunity can be strengthened with
appropriate sleep. Key to the effectiveness of the physical activity depends
on the frequency, duration, and intensity, while over exercising can suppress
the immune system.16 Physical activity helps the body react more quickly to
viruses, and more efficiently with vaccines. Further physical activity affects
nutritional influences and the gradual deterioration of the immune system.
Key benefits follow:

• Response to seasonal colds, flu, and COVID‑19.

• Mitigating spread of communicable diseases.
• High‑quality sleep.

Oxidative stress occurs when there are too many unstable molecules,
called “free radicals,” in the body, and if the system cannot detoxify, then it can
lead to cell and tissue damage. Social isolation contributes to oxidative stress.
It can be reduced with physical activity, quality sleep, healthy diet, limited
alcohol consumption, and no smoking. A moderate and programmed physical
exercise has often been reported to be therapeutic both in adulthood and in
aging, since it is capable of promoting fitness, and physical activity and intake
of antioxidant compounds can protect the body from oxidative stress.17 Locat‑
ing buildings and communities close to parks and natural areas can help pro‑
mote fitness, and away from electrical transmission lines can mitigate ill health
related to electromagnetic sensitivity and the increase of allergies, chronic
fatigue syndrome, neurological disorders, auto immune system diseases, can‑
cers, and Alzheimer’s disease.18 Key benefits follow:

• Avoiding carcinogens.
• Consuming high antioxidant foods.
• Reducing social isolation.

Walkable trails in nature, jogging along a beach, playgrounds, pedestrian

cities, parks, fitness centers, gymnasiums, swimming pools, back yards, using
stairs, and even nature‑friendly streetscapes are good examples where physi‑
cal wellness occurs. Yet more nuanced designs can encourage physical activity
and wellness, such as courtyards, terraces, balconies, sidewalks, and building
stairs. According to Dan Buettner’s study of Sardinian centurions, the every‑
day exposure to the steepness of the street and pathway slopes contributed
to long life.19 Incorporating physical activity and contemplative practices into
daily routines can help balance neurochemicals and the hormones that lead to
happiness.20 Figure 2.3 shows jogging exercise along a beach and everyday
circulation along steep paths and stairs in Cortona, Italy. Refer to Table 2.1.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

2. Mental/cognitive wellness 2.3

Physical Wellness
Brain health is a broad state of functioning across cognitive, sensory,
a) Joggers Along a
social‑emotional, behavioral, and motor domains.21 Mental or cognitive well‑ Beach, b) Cortona,
ness is more than mental health as it affects our positive flourishing, resilience, Italy
and high‑level functioning. It nurtures mental clarity, focuses attention, creativ‑ (Source: Wikimedia
Commons)
ity and productiveness, and supports a positive sense of self. According to the
World Health Organization, mental wellness is defined as “a state of well‑being
in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the nor‑
mal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a
contribution to his or her community.”22 Put simply, it means the ability to think
clearly, learn, and remember.
Improved cognitive function can take the form of clarity of thinking. Cog‑
nitive function also includes mindfulness and the conscious awareness of
the present moment. Another benefit is the ability to activate all the senses
and perceive more detail within situations and environments. Clear thinking
decreases confusion and external distractions and increases performance for
prioritization and more rapid decision making. According to a National Institutes
of Health study, improvements in cognitive dysfunction were accompanied by
improved workplace productivity.23 Cognitive health is affected by genetics,
age, educational level, and lifestyle factors including physical, emotional, social,
and spiritual benefits. Cognitive wellness can also be accompanied by a need
for accommodation or the assessment and reframing a mindset or mental
schema after either positive or negative experiences. Key benefits follow:

• Enhanced perception.
• Presence of mind and possible need for accommodation.
• Increased production and workplace performance.

The benefits of developing focused attention skills are plenty and can assist
in well‑being as well as success in other areas. Focused attention and concen‑
tration that is selective, discriminating, and sustained over a period of time is
a benefit of mental wellness. It affects perception, attention, concentration,

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

and memory. Motivation stimulates attention to detail as well as global fea‑

tures (bigger picture).24 And sustained attention is the ability to maintain focus
and alertness over time resulting in quicker and improved prediction abilities
and task completion leading to a sense of success and well‑being. Focused
attention can be increased with less ambiguity and complexity, and fewer dis‑
tractions. Focused attention is influenced by personal factors such as level of
motivation and activity and emotional state, environmental factors such as
reduced and intense distractions, and stimulus factors such as complexity,
ambiguity, and novelty of the incitement. Key benefits follow:

• Focused attention.
• Increased motivation.
• Sustained attention.

Cognitive coping mechanisms address and manage stressful events and

situations. They put events and situations into perspective and appraisal with
understanding root causes and possible resolutions. Avoidance coping occurs
by ignoring stressful problems or issues, and results in a host of negative
effects. Active coping refers to a coping style that is characterized by solving
problems, seeking information, seeking social support, seeking professional
help, changing environments, planning activities, and reframing the meanings
of problems. According to a National Library of Medicine article, factors affect‑
ing stress and cognitive function include the intensity of stress, its origin, and
its duration.25 These stresses can be caused by a single event or by continuing
worrisome situations. Key benefits to coping with cognitive stress follow:

• Cognitive perspective.
• Understanding causes (origins).
• Resolution pathways.

Although cognitive behavior reflecting trust and cooperative relationships

is subject to debate, the link is important as a cognitive wellness benefit.26 Cog‑
nitive trust occurs with the belief in someone else’s competence, capabilities,
reliability, and dependability. The credibility dimension is a combination of hon‑
esty, reliability, and expectancy. Benevolence in trust refers to the well‑being
of others. Cooperation, in turn, occurs with situations and behaviors that con‑
tribute to others’ welfare. According to the National Institutes of Health, trust
is seen as a chronological mental process involving three elements of expec‑
tation (process outcome), interpretation (rational and emotional evaluation),
and suspension (moderating interpretative knowledge).27 Trust occurs across
different social groups such as family, friends, or strangers, different issues
such as money, work, and relationships, and communication modes such as
face‑to‑face versus digitally. Key benefits follow:

• Rational reasoning.
• Cognitive cooperation.
• Cognitive trust.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

High‑quality sleep is a positive outcome of healthy cognitive function and

tends to facilitate outgoing behaviors and self‑confidence. It affects a variety
of functions including attention, language, reasoning, decision making, learn‑
ing, and memory. Sleep plays an important role in consolidation of different
types of memory and contributes to insightful, inferential thinking, and helps
with empathy and lessens aggression which reinforces positive pro‑social
behaviors.28 Lack of sufficient sleep or sleep duration is cause for cognitive
decline, and is somewhat linked to one’s chronotype – early or late rising. Cir‑
cadian rhythm regulation plays a crucial role in people’s healthy lives affected
by factors consisting of cosmic events related to the universe and earth, envi‑
ronmental factors (light, night and day duration, temperature and seasons),
and stress levels, sleep habits, and lifestyles.29 Circadian rhythms are affected
by melatonin, cortisol, and other hormone levels. Key benefits to high‑quality
sleep follow:

• Improved cognitive function.

• Improved circadian rhythms and sleep health.
• Increased energy.

Memory is one of the most important cognitive processes that affects

learning, conceptual processes, problem solving, and decision making. It
allows people to retrieve, learn, encode, retain, and process knowledge and
information. It is essential in developing personality, personal history, and reten‑
tion of common knowledge. Imagination relies on memory as building blocks.
Age‑related memory change (forgetfulness) is normal and can be lessened
with wellness activities including physical activity, puzzles, social activities,
healthy diet, reducing alcohol consumption, and performing services within the
community.30 For people suffering from dementia‑related disorders initial visual
and spatial cues are important, including those improved by the serial‑position
effect developed by Hermann Ebbinghaus which is accuracy in the recall of the
first and last items in a series.31 Recollection and navigation are improved and
reinforced by clear space sequencing, rhythm patterns, and the use of color
clusters. Semantic memory is an important accumulation of general knowl‑
edge gained throughout a lifetime and is essential to healthy cultural and social
interactions. Key benefits follow:

• Memory cognition.
• Serial‑position effect.
• Activating the imagination.

John Steele’s notion of “temporal density,” occurs with cognition where

any given interval of time is filled and saturated with a myriad of events,
processes, information, and thoughts.32 Time is dense requiring great mental
and emotional attention and affords little solitude or the ability to attune to
wellness benefits. Too much density is difficult to assimilate and experience
the present moment fully. Processing multiple mental problems deludes the

30 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

ability to focus on single issues. Overthinking and fixating on certain situa‑

tions, problems, shortcomings, and past mistakes can affect well‑being and
mental peace.33 Reducing mental temporal density creates an openness with
greater receptivity and the ability to focus on the most important problems.
This allows for a clearer mind that is present‑centered. Being present acti‑
vates the mind for greater breadth and creativity, and a fuller experience. Key
benefits follow:

• Reducing temporal density.

• Reducing mental noise and stress.
• Increasing present‑centeredness.

Cognitive‑rich spaces have the potential for experience of embodied infor‑

mation, meaning, and education and symbolic content. Cognitive function
includes processes of perception, learning, memory, understanding, reason‑
ing, judgment, intuition, and language skills.34 Place types like historic cities
and sacred sites, museums, libraries, visitor’s centers, and schools are infused
with both implicit and explicit information. Retail spaces, markets, and grocery
stores also are full of content, and there are semantic‑rich spaces like religious
and ceremonial structures. These spaces of enrichment can cause stimulation
of the brain and brain activity, increase resilience and motor learning, encour‑
age active learning, and they can exist at varying scales from cities to rooms.
According to Stephen Kellert, intellectual satisfaction and cognitive prowess
can be facilitated through designs reflecting nature and nature’s abstractions.35
And, according to Dan Buettner’s study of Sardinian centurions, active coping
and problem solving helps with mental health, stress resilience, and cognitive
longevity.36 Close family, friends, and community social connections also posi‑
tively affect cognitive health. Figure 2.4 shows a man concentrating on a pool
shot and a boy solving a geometry problem. Refer to Table 2.2 for a summary
of cognitive benefits.

2.4
Mental Wellness
a) Focused Attention
and Concentration,
b) Creative Problem
Solving
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)

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3. Emotional wellness
Emotional wellness is related to how we feel and affects our relationships, our
ability to handle stress and overcome negative emotions, the quality of our
sleep, our response to grief, productivity, and overall mental health.37 There are
more than 30 emotions of which anger, fear, disgust, sadness, happiness, and
surprise are the prime ones. These emotions serve to interpret, guide, protect,
inform, and initiate appropriate behavior. Mood disorders are the most disa‑
bling and prevalent illness worldwide and range from depression to mania.38
Emotional wellness addresses negative emotions and promotes the positive
ones. Being adaptable and resilient suggests self‑awareness and the ability
to manage emotions. One of the most important wellness benefits is the
experience of positive emotions leading to improved mood and happiness.
Moods are feelings that influence thoughts, behaviors, and actions. Moods are
less specific and less intense than emotions and can vary greatly from angry,
ashamed, depressed, and indifferent to curious, calm, optimistic, and happy.
The experience of good moods is usually accompanied by reduction of stress
and anxiety, good sleep, and pro‑social behaviors. Happiness leads to lower
heart rates and blood pressure, improved mental health and executive function‑
ing, support of the immune system, and an increase in pro‑social behaviors.39
Key benefits follow:

• Being in touch with emotions.

• Increased good moods.
• Experience of happiness.

Other important wellness emotion benefits are the reduction of stress

and anxiety. Stress commonly occurs in three types: acute (brief events), acute
episodic (frequent), and chronic (persistent). It typically occurs over a short
term and is externally generated with the experience of irritability, fatigue,
racing heart, changes in appetite, and difficulty breathing. Anxiety is generally
longer‑term and internally generated involving persistent uneasy feelings such
as restlessness, panic, fear, and dread. Stress and anxiety can result in high
blood pressure, apprehension, tension, excessive worry, and loss of sleep.
Sleep disorders often accompany stress and anxiety and affect the continuity
and quality of sleep. Sleep appears to be essential to our ability to cope with
emotional stress in everyday life. According to the Mayo Clinic the following
are stress relievers: assert oneself, be active, connect with others, be creative
or musical, and laugh more.40 Key benefits follow:

• Emotional stress reduction.

• Anxiety reduction.
• Reduction of insomnia and sleep disorders.

Adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence also lead to emotional

wellness. Adaptability refers to the ability to recognize, regulate, and manage
emotions and mood swings. This includes the management of impulses and
behaviors, and the ability to navigate challenges and difficulties. Emotional

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resilience is the ability to adapt to stressful situations and environments. Emo‑

tional intelligence affects our ability to foster long‑term relationships, to suc‑
ceed in school or work, and to help formulate a sense of purpose. Popularized
by Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence refers to our ability to perceive,
observe, evaluate, and even control emotions.41 The wellness benefit derives
from our ability to understand and respond to emotional changes and regula‑
tion resulting in improved mental health, job performance, and relationships.
Key benefits follow:

• Emotional adaptability.
• Emotional resilience.
• Emotional intelligence.

Serenity and its relationship to emotion theory, health and wellness,

and spirituality first appeared in the nursing literature in the mid‑1960’s
when it was identified as an important outcome for terminally ill patients.
Serenity is defined as sustained inner peace. The experience of the seren‑
ity cluster of emotions (serenity, calmness, contentment, and joy) results
in positive wellness benefits. Based on the nursing profession’s serenity
evidence‑­based research, a nine‑factor serenity scale developed by Kay
Roberts and Cheryl Aspy, identified serenity as sustained inner peace,
sense of connectedness and perspective, trust, contentment, beneficence,
and present centeredness. Both serene and the peaceful qualities of thin
places contribute to these emotional experiences.42 Thin places are loca‑
tions or settings where a thin veil exists between the secular world within
which we live and a wellness environment that possess an energy that is
qualitatively different. Thin places functioning in serene ways give us expe‑
riences, even if momentary, that are extraordinarily beautiful, incredibly
tranquil or contemplative, and insightful, and they contribute to individual,
social, and environmental benefits. Three of the more critical attributes of
serenity are listed as follows:

• Experience of inner haven.

• Sense of connectedness and belonging.
• Present centeredness.

Like cognitive temporal density, emotional temporal density occurs when

any given interval of time is filled and saturated with a myriad of events, pro‑
cesses, moods and emotions. Reducing temporal density contributes to clarity
of mind, emotional openness, and the experience of the present. It is being
grounded with the ability to be aware and conscious in the present moment
and becoming receptive and resonant with the qualities of wellness. Accord‑
ing to John Steele, temporal density creates a cognitive and emotional thick‑
ness separating us from the present and direct experiences.43 The emotional
responses to temporal density can lead to emotional dysregulation creating
outbursts, anxiety, depression, and difficulty in regulating emotions that feel
overwhelming. A cluttered and confusing environment can reflect temporal

33 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

density in contrast to a more peaceful and serene environment. Key benefits

follow:

• Reduced temporal density.

• Becoming open and receptive.
• Grounded, serene, and centered.

The biophilia hypothesis posits an innate biological and genetic connec‑

tion between humans and nature, including an emotional dimension to this
connection. Biophilia is the inborn affinity human beings have for nature, other
life forms, and life processes.44 Biophilia’s epistemology derives from the two
Greek terms bio meaning “life,” and philia meaning “affection or friendly feel‑
ing toward.” Simply put, it is the emotion of love of life. As a wellness benefit,
biophilia connects us to the positive aspects of nature (increased physicality,
mental clarity, spiritual renewal, and emotional well‑being) as well as fostering
biospheric values. Immersion in nature helps improve mood and facilitates pos‑
itive emotional growth, and in some instances may aid in managing loneliness,
irritability, and anger. Beyond the individual and social benefits, connections to
nature can promote pro‑environmental behaviors. The design attributes include
exposure to plants and animals, daylight, the elements, ecological processes
and flows, biomorphic forms, color, and spiritual triggers. Key benefits follow:

• Love of life.
• Wellness connections to nature.
• Pro‑environmental behaviors.

The ability to transform negative emotional states to positive ones is

an indicator of wellness. The emotional benefits include stress reduction, an
increase in life satisfaction, developing understanding, and a sense of pur‑
pose in life. We seek ways of understanding ourselves and the world around
us, therefore, the meaning of life is seen as a positive trait and indicator of
well‑being.45 Meaning in life and hope contribute positively to life satisfaction
and an increase in emotional well‑being especially in difficult times. Life pur‑
pose is part of psychological well‑being having a sense of meaning and mis‑
sion as well as direction toward particular goals and aspirations. Life purpose
also gives a sense of coherence, especially during times of immense change,
and serves to guide self‑actualizing processes. Life purpose is linked to pain
management, stress reduction, heart health, and longevity. Key benefits follow:

• Life satisfaction.
• Meaning in life.
• Life purpose and longevity.

Wellness planning and design processes intend to provide environments

that can help elicit positive emotional benefits for stress reduction, resiliency,
acceptance, maintenance, and recovery. Blue spaces and thin places serve
to facilitate emotional and spiritual wellness in that they provide safe, quiet,
vital, and naturally beautiful spaces. Common characteristics of these kinds

34 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

2.5 of spaces include identifiable bounding, containment, a sense of place, safe

Emotional Benefits
connections to the elements (fire, water, earth, air, and light), and the experi‑
a) Processing Grief,
b) Experiencing ence of wonder, fascination, mystery, and awe. The image in Figure 2.5 shows
Happiness a man experiencing certain emotional distress next to the waves of a beach‑
(Source: Wikimedia head on an overcast day contrasted with a woman enjoying the energy of the
Commons)
sun. Our ability to experience these emotions, center ourselves, and navigate
to more positive moods and states is central to emotional wellness benefits.
The environmental context is an important contributor to this transformation.
Emotional wellness is important in how one feels and one’s abilities to
carry out everyday activities and support relationships. According to Dan
Buettner’s study of Okinawan centurions, reducing anger and quickly letting
go of anger contributed to long life.46 Further positive emotions support inter‑
est in physical activities, improved mental states, creativity levels, resiliency,
and the ability to handle and even reduce stress. In social contexts, it supports
pro‑social behaviors, beneficence, and generosity. Emotional well‑being is also
connected to increased presence and mindfulness.47 Refer to Table 2.3 for a
detailed listing of emotional benefits.

4. Social wellness
Wellness has long been connected to social well‑being, which includes the
positive relationships we maintain and the quality of interactions with others
in both local and global communities.48 Attachment and belongingness frame
the positive effects. Social wellness can have both short‑term and long‑term
influences on mental well‑being and physical health, and friendships can func‑
tion as an emotional support. A higher level of social wellness may be achieved
through trust, especially in intimate matters. Several factors contribute to
positive social wellness including regular contact, experiencing quality time,
engaging in meaningful interactions, joining interest groups, and participating in
family, neighborhood, and community events. Social well‑being involves shar‑
ing, connectedness, being present, listening, and developing and maintaining
relationships.
Belonging helps mitigate isolation, loneliness, and low social status and
the harm they bring to a person’s subjective sense of well‑being. Belonging
supports human membership and organization and gives a sense of purpose.
Belonging increases meaningfulness. It can provide protection and help reduce

35 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

depression, anxiety, and suicide. The social ties that accompany a sense of
belonging are a protective factor helping manage stress and other emotional
issues. As a social determinant, it contributes to the continuity of experience
toward life satisfaction and longevity. Well‑being is closely related to individual
and community health, flourishing, and prosperity, and has meaningful par‑
ticipation in a range of daily life activities and occupations.49 The practice of
acceptance, open mindedness, and positive attitudes can increase belonging
and support. Key benefits follow:

• Promotes membership, inclusion, support, and value.

• Mitigates depression, anxiety, and suicide.
• Contributes to life purpose, life satisfaction, and longevity.

Positive social relationships foster altruism and beneficence. Altruism con‑

nects people and reduces social isolation, and contributes to maintaining a
perspective on life. Altruism is good for emotional well‑being, and promotes
physiological changes in the brain linked with happiness, kindness, and acts of
goodness. It also promotes the prevention and removal of harm from others.
According to the Journal of Behavioral Medicine, altruism results in deeper and
more positive social integration, enhanced meaning and purpose as related
to well‑being, a more active lifestyle that counters cultural pressures toward
isolated passivity, and the presence of positive emotions.50 While beneficence
is generally concerned with the caregiver’s promotion of well‑being toward
patients, it also refers to health outcomes and is related to the experience
of mercy, kindness, generosity, and charity.51 Community identification and
peer support promote belonging and can help in overcoming loneliness and
social isolation. Commuting by automobile, for example, is integral to eve‑
ryday life providing a transition between private and working life. It can lead
to negative impacts on personal and social wellness. Moving to pedestrian,
mixed‑use communities can reduce commuting miles and times, and can
increase opportunities for casual encounters and positive social interaction.
Key benefits follow:

• Altruistic behavior.
• Expression of beneficence.
• Increases community participation and reduces isolation.

A marker of social wellness is cooperation as it contributes to openness,

trust, and safety. Cooperation involves paying a personal cost (for example,
contributing to charity or donating time to a good cause) to gain a collective
benefit (a social safety net or giving to a food bank for those in need).52 It
creates communities of human connection and collaboration for the collec‑
tive greater good. In social contract theory, cooperation contributes to con‑
sensus building, group decision making, and work effectiveness. Cooperative
behavior encourages the global sharing of knowledge and the ability to tackle
shared problems, such as climate change, natural disasters, or economic reces‑
sions and depressions. Cooperative behavior was instrumental in reducing the

36 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

negative effects of the spread of COVID‑19 (testing, sequestering, wearing of

masks, and social distancing).53 Key benefits follow:

• Willingness acts to contributing to others’ welfare.

• Paying personal costs to gain collective benefit.
• Gaining trust.

Wellness support networks reduce stress, decrease physical health prob‑

lems, improve emotional well‑being, and can lead to longer life. Social con‑
nectedness is defined as “the degree to which people have and perceive a
desired number, quality, and diversity of relationships that create a sense of
belonging, and being cared for, valued and supported.”54 Maintaining an inner
circle creates mutual support, and improves mood and self‑esteem, especially
when it occurs frequently. Network emotional support is an important well‑
ness factor including reductions in high blood pressure, diminished immunity,
cardiovascular disease, and cognitive decline.55 Wellness support is about sur‑
rounding yourself with a carefully curated group of people whom you admire
and respect and with whom you share common beliefs and values. Social
connection, and social media in particular, can raise health and environmental
awareness. Key benefits follow:

• Mutual support.
• Curating an inner circle.
• Maintaining over time.

Empathy comes from the Greek word, empátheia, which means “­passion.”
Emotional and cognitive empathy is the ability to recognize, imagine, and
understand another person’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Cognitive
empathy involves an inclusive ability to accommodate a diversity of viewpoints
and having more accurate and complete knowledge and understanding of
another’s perspective. Emotional empathy is the ability to share, relate, and
feel someone else’s emotions. Compassionate empathy combines cognitive
and emotional empathy promoting pro‑social behaviors. Emotional empathy
consists of three separate components. First is feeling the same emotion as
another. Second refers to one’s feeling the same emotion as another. And third
is compassion for another person (the most frequent empathy in psychology).56
Key benefits follow:

• Cognitive empathy.
• Emotional empathy.
• Compassionate empathy.

According to the CDC, “the way we design and build our communities
can affect our physical and mental health.”57 Community building encourages
socialization, meaningful connections, engagement, and well‑being. A healthy
community is comprised of membership, influence, integration, and fulfillment
of needs and shared emotional connections.58 There is a shared sense of coher‑
ence and identity with common interests. Building community creates physical

37 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

and social environments that are safe, open and meaningful, and allow for
shared experiences and opportunities to learn from one another. Community‑­
building activities should be reported as benefits because they address such
root causes of a community’s health problems as poverty, environmental haz‑
ards, and inadequate housing.59 Community building in addition to eliciting
wellness benefits can function as a survival advantage. Key benefits follow:

• Place sensing and genius loci.

• Shared identity, needs, and emotional connections.
• Communal well‑being producing a survival advantage.

Many factors affect a long life including gender, genetics, hygiene, access
to health care, diet and nutrition, exercise, lifestyle, and social connections.
According to the National Institutes of Health, people who have healthy life‑
style choices and habits can extend life a decade more than those who do
not.60 Longevity is affected by loneliness and social isolation and with a higher
risk of disease, disability, and mortality. People with strong social connections
live longer. And the environmental quality and daily contact with nature can also
extend life. Poor air and water, depletion of natural resources, soil deteriora‑
tion, low nutritional food, and natural disasters contribute to morbidity. High
consumption of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco are some of the lifestyle variables
known to have toxic consequences and greatly increase the risk of serious
diseases. A seven‑year research study found participants with larger social
networks were about 45% more likely to live longer.61 Key benefits follow:

• Reduced loneliness.
• Positive lifestyle choices (diet, exercise, non‑smoking, moderate alcohol
use, etc.).
• Increase social interactions.

Where social wellness improves communications, relationships, and

community building, certain planning and design strategies can contribute to
positive social wellness and pro‑social behaviors at both the planning and indi‑
vidual building scales. Provision for both indoor and outdoor social spaces from
parks and plazas to patios and family rooms can invite gatherings and support
social functions. Rituals and celebrations for weddings, funerals, graduations,

2.6
Social Wellness
a) Family Outdoor
Dining, b) Friends
Gathering Party
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)

38 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

birthdays, and many religious practices, give a sense of meaning to families

and friends. Food is a powerful elicitor in community building and in making
place. Forming social support systems contributes to wellness and longevity.
Gatherings of friends and family meals are an effective allurement as seen in
Figure 2.6. Refer to Table 2.5.

5. Financial wellness
Wellness is a branch of the economy that is increasing the significance of finan‑
cial benefits to building locations and designs, nutrition reforms, land values,
and access to nature and other health‑oriented amenities. According to the US
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, financial well‑being is having financial
security and financial freedom of choice both in the present and future.62 In
turn, financial wellness can reduce financial toxicity and financial‑related stress.
Financial wellness also involves the economic benefits derived from health and
wellness designs and functions whether they are individual buildings, retreats,
or entire communities. Financial empowerment is considered to possess cer‑
tain wellness benefits including a sense of security, overall well‑being, peace
of mind, and stress reduction.
The wellness economy includes many places, destinations, goods, and
services including public health prevention and personalized medicine, tradi‑
tional and complementary medicine, personal care and beauty, health nutrition,
mental health, wellness real estate, wellness tourism, and wellness physical
activities. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the wellness economy
in 2020 was estimated to be $5.6 trillion.63 People are interested in better
health, better fitness, better nutrition, better appearance, better sleep, and
better mindfulness. The expanding wellness economy shares growth with food
and agriculture, sustainability, planning and design, and biophilia movements.
People are seeking deeper cultural experiences and showing interest in going
to the source of ancient healing and knowledge. This includes contributing to
circular economies of wellness materials, products, and services. Key benefits
follow:

• Circular wellness goods and services.

• Wellness tourism.
• Wellness real estate and communities.

Wellness real estate is a fast‑growing sector of the wellness economy. The

sector includes residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality, fitness centers,
and medical properties. According to the Global Wellness Institute, wellness
lifestyle and community are defined as homes (buildings) that are proactively
designed and built to support holistic health for their occupants and living near
one another (community) sharing common interests across many wellness
dimensions.64 Wellness property and design feature intentional wellness ele‑
ments that are desirable and accessible at all price points. This includes their
siting, design, materials, and amenities. Wellness lifestyle real estate is a nas‑
cent industry that recognizes, and has the potential to meet, today’s immense
health challenges. The future of wellness real estate and communities, will

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generate smarter use of land, nature, resources, technologies, and building

systems.65 Key benefits follow:

• Land and properties that enhance wellness outcomes.

• Integrating wellness mixes of amenities, functions, and services.
• Changing values toward healthy lifestyles.

Return on investment, ROI, is an important benefit of financial well‑

ness. Relative to health and wellness, ROI can include avoided medical costs,
reduced absenteeism, improved health outcomes or access to care, increased
engagement, or positive experiences. Simply put, investing in wellness plan‑
ning and design can produce both health and financial benefits. Positive ROI
from residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality, medical and rental properties
can be achieved by incorporating wellness elements in their siting choices,
design, materials, and buildings, as well as their amenities, services, and space
programming.66 Wellness property and design features are becoming more
desirable and accessible at all price points. ROI is helped by material durability,
reuse, recycling, and, in some instances, local sourcing. People are increasing
the value of healthy lifestyles.67 Key benefits follow:

• Integrating wellness amenities, functions, and services.

• Increasing property values.
• Promoting market uniqueness and brand identity.

Subjective well‑being produces less stress, lower turnover, higher levels

of satisfaction, and an increase in productivity. The Centers for Disease Con‑
trol and Prevention, reports that the absenteeism costs to U.S. employers is
$225.8 billion annually.68 Wellness can produce higher energy levels and more
efficiency. Loss of productivity can be induced by medical problems and per‑
sonal financial issues. Low turnover rates can also result in wellness‑oriented
work environments. Financial well‑being means having financial security and
financial freedom of choice to enjoy life. Subjective well‑being is self‑reported
and personally experienced, and represents both internal factors, like person‑
ality or temperament and outlook, and external factors, such as the quality
of social relationships, community, and culture within which one lives.69 Key
benefits follow:

• Improved satisfaction.
• Improved performance.
• Improved cognition and mental focus.

Wellness environments produce less burnout. Reversing the causes of

low motivation, lack of direction, illnesses, mental health issues, and stress
can reduce absenteeism. Overcoming absenteeism produces financial returns,
increases morale and production, and promotes stress reduction in the work
environment. Reducing presenteeism through appreciation, collaboration,
and encouraging wellness activities. According to the Health Enhancement
Research Organization, more than 90% of leaders surveyed said health has a

40 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

significant or very significant influence on productivity and performance, but

that belief must be consistent across all levels of management to truly create
a culture of health.70 While direct measures of productivity are rarely identical
across a variety of workplace functions, transaction‑based tasks give a good
insight into what is possible through design. The reduction of absenteeism
and presenteeism, and increase of recruitment and retention add to financial
well‑being.71 Key benefits follow:

• Improved production.
• Improved morale and retention.
• Reduced absenteeism, presenteeism.

Distinctive marketing branding is another benefit of financial wellness.

Because of the increasing interest and positive benefits of wellness designs,
services, and products, it is propitious to promote wellness branding strate‑
gies. By having unique, scarce, beneficial, or unusual wellness places, they
become more identifiable and therefore economically attractive. Well‑branding
can be transparent, elicit engagement, and express core values. In a branding
survey of roughly 7,500 consumers in six countries, 79% of the respondents
said they believe that wellness is important, and 42% consider it a top prior‑
ity.72 Health and wellness branding increases positive perceptions related to
trust, care, and knowledgeability. Well‑branding may aid in capturing greater
market share, accelerating new markets, increasing loyalty, and improving the
consumer experience. Key benefits follow:

• Health and wellness amenities.

• Integrating wellness functions and services.
• Clustering mixes of use to create access and identities.

Alleviation of debt and financial issues, and the adverse health impacts of
unsecured debt can relieve stress, anxiety, sleep loss, headaches, high blood
pressure, and depression. On a personal or family level, this includes credit
cards, medical debt, student loans, legal financial obligations, high‑percentage
interest rates, taxes, insurance payments, mortgages, and alimony and child
support. Financial wellness creates more security and control, can improve
life satisfaction, and prevent hardships. Wellness financial social relationships
gain more respect and trust and help reduce financial toxicity and economic
hardship. Anxiety about finances can cause sleep deprivation, stress, and panic
over everyday activities like getting the mail or opening bills. Altered health
behaviors resulting from debt, such as skipping medical care and cutting back
on food and utility usage to help pay bills, are one potential mechanism through
which unsecured debt may impact health.73 Separation from family and friends
can occur due to a lack of funds or financial support.74 Regenerative Finance is
a focus on practices that help create financial returns focusing on restoring and
enhancing economic prosperity, social responsibility, resource sustainability,
and environmental well‑being. It functions in a circular and holistic way with
long‑term goals, accountability, and transparency.75 Key benefits follow:

41 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

• Cognitive and emotional stress reduction. 2.7

Financial Wellness
• Organizing and taking control.
a) Six Senses
• Social benefits of trust and respect (regenerative finances). Hotel Douro Valley,
Portugal, b) Google
Planning and designing for affordable wellness is challenging, and some Mountainview
strategies that can produce wellness benefits that are not so costly. The Six Headquarters
Senses Hotels, a brand started in the 1990s, is recognized for establishing (Source: Shutterstock)

hospitality environments that are distinctive and diverse in personality using

the natural environment, topography, and qualities of the site. The paradise val‑
ley of Douro in Portugal exemplifies a well‑industry. Refer to Figure 2.7a. The
Google workplace environment offers wellness features that include financial
benefits. Google workspaces typically encourage “casual collision,” there are
abundant common areas for collaboration, unconventional workspace environ‑
ments, an atmosphere of innovation, and dog ‑friendly, with hackable spaces.76
These strategies contribute to increased creativity, employee satisfaction, pro‑
ductivity, and low turnover rates such as Google Mountainview Headquarters.
Refer to Figure 2.b that shows a vibrant outdoor work and social environment
at Google. Refer to Table 2.5 listing benefits for financial wellness. Key benefits
follow:

• Incorporating “free” wellness elicitors (daylight, fresh air, views).

• Strategies for encouraging physical activity (sidewalks, paths,
greenspaces).
• Providing simple social spaces (intimate seating areas, courtyards,
balconies).

6. Environmental wellness
Environmental wellness is the positive interactions we have with all forms of
the environment and nature as well as with the built environment including
our homes, neighborhoods, and cities. It not only refers to wellness to the self
but also to the environment and our abilities to preserve, sustain, engage, and
give back in positive ways. The co‑benefits are directed to both human well‑
ness and planetary health. This includes physical, mental, emotional social, and

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

spiritual human wellness, cleaner air and water, healthier agriculture, reduced
risks to natural disasters and extreme weather events, and the spread of
diseases. Environmental wellness is a transdisciplinary, interconnected, and
inclusive process of the mitigation of the negative impacts of human disrup‑
tions to natural systems and the positive benefits derived from the practice of
right‑livelihood.
The specific environmental benefits include improving connections and
opportunities for engagement with nature, utilizing sustainable, renewable,
and healthy resources, combating pollution, maintaining a cleaner environment
(earth, air, water, energy), reducing greenhouse gasses and increasing carbon
sequestering, protecting the biodiversity of the planet so we live richer more
vibrant lives, mitigating climate change and natural disasters, improving public
health, and creating vital urban spaces. These benefits pervade all scales of
human activity from agricultural production of healthy food and the cities we
plan in response to planetary population growth to windows on our homes that
bring in sunlight and fresh air and to the very fabrics in our clothing. Mitigation
and preventative responses to negative climatic conditions, severe weather
events, and natural disasters are also important environmental benefits to plan‑
etary and human well‑being.
Biophilia is the love of nature. Fundamental to the biophilic effect are sets
of relationships that occur among nature and its processes, human experi‑
ences and lifestyle practices, and the quality of the ever‑changing built environ‑
ment. Correspondingly, nature as the source of these elicitors is reflected in
the built environment through its materiality, form, and patterning of daily life.
A positive relationship is intended to result in engaging experiences with the
support of healthy lifestyles along with associative planetary health.
One of the most important wellness benefits is in improving connec‑
tions with the natural world and increasing opportunities for daily emer‑
sion. Research by Mathew White at the University of Exeter found that
people who spent two hours a week in green spaces were more likely to
report good health and psychological well‑being than those who did not.77
This reflects the well‑documented benefits of biophilia and the love of
nature and natural processes, which results in increased physical activity,
reduced stress, improved cardiovascular system and respiratory function,
and pro‑social and pro‑environmental behaviors. Access to biomimicry and
biomorphic forms can contribute to creative and inspiring design solutions,
sustainability, positive health effects, and attention restoration. Environmen‑
tal concerns contribute to human activities and lifestyle choices that occur
on four levels – environmental activism, non‑activist public‑sphere behaviors,
private‑sphere behaviors, and organizational behaviors.78 These activities can
contribute to healing, positive mood experiences, and human flourishing.
Key benefits follow:

• Increase in physical activity.

• Stress reduction and attention restoration.
• Pro‑environmental behaviors.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

Both human health and planetary wellness can be enhanced by utilizing

sustainable renewable and healthy resources. According to the World Health
Organization, energy, especially clean energy, and health are inextricably linked.
The public health interests in renewable resources include technical, economic,
social, political, and environmental benefits. For energy this includes integrat‑
ing conservation and safe waste handling practices, and geothermal heating
and cooling, solar electricity and hot‑water heating, wind energy, biomass,
and hydroelectricity. The benefits include reduced global warming emissions,
increased security from scarcity, increased economic well‑being, decreased
terrorism, increased stability, reliability, and resilience, accessibility due to local
or regional sources, and finally improved public health.79 Key benefits follow:

• Conservation practices in everyday life.

• Utilization of natural resources (air, water, solar energy).
• Resource security, stability, and resilience.

Wellness benefits can come from combating pollution toward a cleaner

environment (air, water, energy and waste disposal). This includes reduction
of greenhouse gas production and increasing carbon sequestering, clean
water and sanitation, removal of toxic substances and hazardous wastes, and
responses to climate change. Air pollution can lower life expectancy, affect
the brain, and reduce the quality of life. Clean water and effective sanitation
result in significant declines in disease. Loss of biodiversity can compromise
the nutritional value of food. Environmental wellness addresses those physical,
chemical, and biological factors that we might not have direct control over but
can impact our health anyway.80 The benefits result in better respiratory func‑
tion, and relief from allergies and asthma, including improved mood, cognitive
health, and longer lives. Pro‑environmentalism can raise awareness about the
environment and its propensity toward change (often disastrous), encourage
interventions to reduce negative environmental impacts caused by human
behavior, and encourage the preservation of nature’s healthy attributes. Key
benefits follow:

• Utilization of clean, non‑polluting resources.

• Use of non‑toxic materials.
• Pro‑individual benefits (physical, mental, emotional).

Mitigating climate change can occur through catastrophic climate and

weather events. The overcoming of the psychological distress phenomenon
called “solastalgia.” This includes mitigating natural disasters, such as volcanic
events, earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, forest fires, avalanches, flooding
and storm surges, and extreme weather events which can diminish physical
safety, health, and wellness. Emotional responses to natural disasters include
intense feelings, strained interpersonal relationships, sensitivity to loud noises,
repeated memories, and disaster‑related stress.81 Physical responses can
include minor injuries, life‑threatening injuries, and even death. The negative
effects of climate change and natural disasters linger far beyond the event

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

itself, with climate anxiety, loss of habitat, native plants, water, property and
buildings, pets, and, in some instances, employment and livelihood. The ben‑
efit occurs in the form of mitigation or even elimination of the threats and
undesirable events. Key benefits follow:

• Mitigating climate change.

• Response to natural disasters.
• Pro‑environmental behaviors.

Protect the biodiversity of the planet’s ecosystems including its flora,

fauna, microorganisms, soils, and pharmacological products so we live richer
more vibrant lives. This includes the protection of the existence and functioning
of all forms of life and their relationships to all ecosystems. Benefits support
sustained livelihoods, the addition of medical and pharmaceutical advance‑
ments, and the preservation of species habitats. Biodiversity loss means loss
of nature’s chemicals and genes, of the kind that have provided humankind
with enormous health benefits, and disruptions affect ecosystem function‑
ing and significance that can result in loss of life‑sustaining ecosystem goods
and services. Biological diversity of microorganisms, flora, and fauna provides
extensive benefits for biological, health, and pharmacological sciences. Eco‑
system services affect livelihoods, income, and local migration, and may even
cause or exacerbate political conflict.82 Key benefits follow:

• Direct access to natural resources.

• Pharmaceutical advancements.
• Pro‑environmental behaviors.

Health and place are inextricably linked. You cannot have health without
place, but you can have a place without health. Thus, the need for wellness
benefits includes place creation with responses to access to nature, safe and
clean environments, healthy food, the experience of changes of seasons and
diurnal fluctuations that can provide signals for particular leisure, recreation,
economic activities, and sleep cycles. Aligning with, rather than resisting, the
changes can lead to the experience and to the understanding of pro‑individual,
pro‑social, and pro‑environmental behaviors. This includes the health benefits
of eating more nutritious locally produced seasonal foods. “Seasonal living”
is a concept that supports greater feelings of interconnectedness with nature
and opportunities to amend routines, and is considered an immune system
boost. Seasonal living enhances vitality, energetic connections, and renewal.
Seasonal body changes also exhibit physical changes, activity levels, and nutri‑
tional needs.83 Key benefits follow:

• Changes in leisure, recreational, economic, and survival activities.

• Nutrition with seasonally produced foods.
• Seasonal living and pro‑environmental behaviors.

Wellness benefits can come from the creation of safe and healthy urban
spaces and the infrastructure systems that support them. Public spaces are

45 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

instrumental in creating community and opportunities for socialization, which

have positive emotional effects. This includes the addition of amenities, and
programmed activities and services. Pedestrianization also contributes to what
is called “sticky urban places” that support opportunities for meeting, interac‑
tion, and enhancing social tolerance. Those things that slow down a pedes‑
trian’s pace may be the very things that make a street great – not to mention
the reduction of the negative effects of the automobile (safety and pollution).
Places like patios, plazas, streetscapes, food carts or trucks combined with
attractive seating, street performers, trees and landscape elements, or just
lively store windows that draw a crowd, all contribute to making a street more
“sticky.”84 Key benefits follow:

• Support of community and sense of place.

• Promoting sticky urban spaces.
• Pro‑social behaviors.

The environmental benefits of wellness manifest in positive attitudes

about the environment and preservation of nature with biospheric values,
awareness of climate change, global forest loss and sustainable living prac‑
tices, and sensitivity to consumption patterns and their effect on the environ‑
ment. The numinous sense of connectedness also extends to place and the
environment leading to environmental awareness, consciousness, and action
behaviors, thereby potentially reducing the negative environmental and cli‑
matic impacts caused by human activities. Figure 2.8 illustrates the beauty
and environmental benefits of a beautiful beach and sunset in California. It
possesses a sense of awe and wonder as well as serene moments. Similarly,
the people‑friendly pedestrian environment of the Boulder Pearl Street Mall
is compellingly sticky and friendly. Pro‑environmentalism supports a height‑
2.8
ened awareness of environmental problems and the need to change human Environmental
lifestyle behaviors. The wellness design benefits are intended to positively Benefits
influence planning, urban design and design strategies for human health a) California
Beach, b) Boulder
and wellness, preserve the natural environment, and incorporate specific
Pedestrian Mall
approaches to the built environment. Refer to Table 2.6 for a listing of envi‑ (Source: Wikimedia
ronmental benefits. Commons)

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7. Spiritual wellness
Spiritual well‑being ultimately represents our connection to ourselves and the
greater world around us. Spiritual dimensions of wellness are about the active
pursuit, choices, preventive care, and lifestyles incorporating spiritual experi‑
ences leading to processes of holistic well‑being. It is the ability to experience
and integrate meaning and purpose in life through connection with oneself and
others, as well as through other contexts such as nature, the arts, religious prac‑
tices, literature, or something other and beyond comprehension.85 A spiritual
experience goes beyond the ordinary and can be mystical or euphoric, where
there is an awareness of synchronicity, the presence of intuitive thoughts, a
sense of ultimate peace and well‑being, and a degree of surrender. Spiritual
connections to awe experiences include the feeling of being one with others,
local place and the larger world, purpose revealing, containing an element of
transcendence and a sense of wonder. Spiritual connections to serenity include
feelings of calm, inner peace, and slowing of the perception of time.
Many are moving away from traditional religious practice, but yearn for
spiritual connections. Research confirms the link between healthy spiritual con‑
nections and mental and emotional health. Spiritual experiences contribute to
the reduction of stress, increases in positive mental health, in coping strate‑
gies, and in individual happiness. Religious and spiritual experiences, like numi‑
nous and awe experiences comprise two major experiential qualities, those
that are ineffable (indescribable) and those that are noetic (possessing hidden
or unexplainable knowledge).86 Focusing on spirituality in health care means
caring for the whole person, not just their disease. Spiritual wellness combines
with other benefit pillars to new insights and perspectives, peace of mind,
increased kindness and generosity, more social connections with improved
relationships, and greater physical health. Spiritual wellness can connect us to
cosmic narratives, original causes, spirit of place, source experiences, awe and
serene emotions, and purpose in life. Further, it can address existential ques‑
tions and relieve angst and the experience of a divine presence.
Spiritual renewal can occur in a variety of contexts with differing functions
or purposes. Exposure to restorative beautiful natural places and experience of
extraordinary architecture can contribute to spiritual renewal. Sometimes referred
to as “thin places,” they can elicit both awe and serene emotions leading to posi‑
tive benefits. Serene elicitors develop an inner haven, acceptance, belonging,
trust, perspective, contentment, centeredness, and beneficence.87 Awe elicitors
are generally vast triggers within thin places that derive from sources that vary
greatly sparking wonder, fascination, and inspiration with differing physical, emo‑
tional, cognitive, and spiritual responses. These two differing emotional states
create both similar and contrasting wellness benefits. Key benefits follow:

• Experience of awe and spiritually stimulating.

• Experience of serenity and spiritually calming.
• The need for accommodation, cross‑state retention, and the experience
of reflection.

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Spiritual experiences change from secular or profane experiences and

places to transcendent ones. Secular space is ordinary space that we expe‑
rience every day, and this includes unremarkable places. Sacred space pos‑
sesses its characteristics in contributing to charged experiences that include
enhanced perception where the senses are heightened, there is a sense of syn‑
chronicity and an extrasensory awareness. A spiritual experience goes beyond
the ordinary and can be mystical or euphoric, where there is an awareness of
the presence of intuitive thoughts, a sense of ultimate peace and well‑being,
and a degree of surrender. Key to this transcendence is the ability to reduce
temporal density and to become more present in experiences of the unknown.
Transcendent experiences provide shifts with the small self or individual, with
deep inner peace and with prosocial shifts, and support alignments greater
than the self.88 Experiences of cosmic narratives, sensory unity, and intercon‑
nectedness are common. Spiritual experiences include the feeling of being one
with others, local place and the larger world, purpose revealing, containing an
element of transcendence, and a sense of wonder. Key benefits follow:

• Profane and secular experiences.

• Transforming process.
• Experiences of wonder and the unknown.

Awe experiences are vast and elicit ineffable wonder and fascination, and
positive emotional valances and transformations. For some time-perception
in awe experiences slows down and for others time is expanded. Self‑
diminishment is the reduction of a salient aspect of self, such as one’s own
body or its size relative to the awe environment or stimulus. Predicated on the
nursing profession’s serenity evidence‑based research, serenity experiences
are peaceful, tranquil, calm, even sedating and free from anxiety, with accom‑
modation emerging in the form of emotional readjustment. Serene environ‑
ments contribute to creating an inner haven and include elimination of peril and
crowdedness, providing proper safe and secure places. Such places include
benevolent environmental features, such as gentle and qualitative use of light,
balance, and elemental features (fire, water, earth, and air), and importantly,
quiet. These experiences challenge our concept of self and the world around
us and are the process of adjusting or making sense out of preexisting mental
structures and emotional states that were unable to be assimilated during the
experience. In a 2018 publication, research showed a six‑factor scale of meas‑
uring awe emotion.89 This scale included time, self‑loss, connectedness, vast‑
ness, physiological (physical sensations), and accommodation. Another scale
was initially developed in the 1960s that defined serenity with nine factors as
a sustained state of inner peace and spiritual well‑being and its universality
appeals to a large population of diverse persons.90 Key benefits follow:

• Awe emotions.
• Serenity emotions.
• Accommodation experiences.

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

Spiritual experiences can be fostered in places of refuge and sanctuary.

Refuge is withdrawal into a safe, sheltered, and protected asylum away from
danger. Spaces like these can occur either indoors or outdoors and create
opportunities for quiet solitude, peacefulness and relaxation, spiritual renewal,
change in moods, reduced stress, and offer isolation from/with communicable
diseases like COVID‑19. Third places, such as coffee shops, hair salons, and
malls, are places where people meet to socialize, express themselves, and
support one another. These sanctuary spaces enrich social interaction, a sense
of community, and belonging outside of the home and workplace.91 They foster
contentment with safe situations, a high degree of certainty, and a low degree
of effort. Key benefits follow:

• Refuge experiences.
• Sanctuary spaces.
• Experiencing the range of wellness benefits.

Spirit of place gives meaning, value, emotion, and mystery to place, and
in the context of this chapter, it gives health and wellness benefits. They are
most often found in natural environments characterized by features with spe‑
cial geological, topological, hydrological, vegetation, landforms, or those with
other visual character. They also occur in places where people live with special
cultural, historic, ceremonial, symbolic, architectural, or aesthetic qualities.
Spiritual benefits include connections to the spirit of place and the original
cause. The beauty and energetic qualities of a special place can amplify, vital‑
ize, charge, and inspire spiritual or transcendent experiences. Often these
experiences are characterized by altered perceptions, feelings of connected‑
ness, embodied narratives, and an ancient stirring of the archetypal first place.
Sense of place has received considerable attention from social scientists in
recent years, and research has indicated that a person’s sense of place is
influenced by several factors including the built environment, socio‑economic
status (SES), well‑being, and health.92 Key benefits follow:

• Spirit of place.
• The original cause/feeling.
• Soulful experiences.

Spiritual and existential issues are important factors for well‑being and for
influencing meaning in life and hope or positive emotions.93 Spiritual experi‑
ences can produce opportunities to help address perplexing and existential
issues in an ensemble of feelings in finding meaning while experiencing pain,
physical and psychological limitations, and needs frustration. These experi‑
ences often spur one to ask questions like “What is the meaning of life?” or
“Is there life after death?” There are existential concerns with fear and death,
identity and meaning, emptiness and isolation, the unknown, and freedom.94
Perplexing moments can be filled with difficulty, confusion, and uncertainty, as
well as dealing with issues like life changes or climate crisis. According to the
National Institutes of Health, we become aware of the existential dimension

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

of health during times of illness.95 Places of sanctuary, contemplation, caring,

and healing qualities can help ease the anxiety and stress accompanying these
moments. Key benefits follow:

• Existential issues.
• The unknown.
• Overcoming problems of modernity.

Spiritual healing spaces can contribute to purpose, meaning in life, and

life satisfaction. Purpose is a journey that directs our actions and behaviors for
life‑long goals or simply for daily care. Research demonstrates that meaning
is of great importance for mental as well as physical well‑being and is crucial
for health and quality of life.96 Research has also found that life satisfaction
is strongly correlated with health‑related factors like chronic illness, sleep
problems, pain, obesity, smoking, anxiety, and decreased physical activity.97
Subjective well‑being receives benefits from relationships, teamwork, and
fulfilling work. Meaning in life has been defined as people’s subjective judg‑
ments that their lives are marked by coherence, purpose, and significance,
which emerge from the web of connections, interpretations, aspirations, and
evaluations.98 The progression from birth through death possess moments
of celebration and reflection, and the context for life purpose. Key benefits
follow:

• Life’s meaning and purpose.

• Respecting life’s progression and significance.
• Life satisfaction.

Religious and spiritual sites and sacred architecture have consistently had
the intention to create a more fluid threshold and transcendent connection
between heaven and earth, deity and human, and parish or community to reli‑
gious institutions and belief systems. Non‑theistic believers might see these
places and the wellness benefits as opportunities to experience awe, wonder,
nature, and the present. Especially charged spaces in many ways are similar to
any other building requiring foundations, structure, heating and ventilating sys‑
tems, and responses to fire regulations. Yet, there is an additional responsibility
which is to create space that can become charged, possibly elicit transcendent
experiences, and support health and wellness behaviors.
Sacred places, thin places, charged places, transcendent or wellness
places often have a certain function or purpose that includes graves, cem‑
eteries, burial grounds, purification and healing sites, sacred plant and animal
sites, quarries, astronomical observatories, shrines, temples and effigies, fertil‑
ity sites, mythic and legendary sites, historic sites, places of spiritual renewal,
and healing and wellness. With the experience of such places there often is a
“cross state retention” or a renewal that is remembered – a kind of spiritual
accommodation. Places like the Maggie Centres located throughout the United
Kingdom and in Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Barcelona are good examples of the
combination of facilities designed for health, wellness, and spiritual growth.
They were primarily designed by leading architects to create uplifting buildings

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

2.9 to help people with cancer providing support, information, and practical advice.
Spiritual Wellness
Their focus on good design were intended to help facilitate cancer treatment.
a) Quiet Moment
in a Healing Water, Remebering that religious and spiritual benefits comprise two major experien‑
b) Prayers at the tial qualities, those that are ineffable (indescribable) and those that are noetic
Temple of the (possessing hidden or unexplainable knowledge). Refer to Figure 2.9 showing
Golden Mount,
Thailand
natural and architectural sacred wellness examples. Refer to Table 2.7.
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)
Summary of wellness benefits
Physical wellness reduces the risk of heart diseases, supports positive moods,
helps with sleep, and helps control weight. Cognitive wellness increases open‑
ness, optimism, curiosity, and participation in trusting relationships. Our emotional
wellness helps in overcoming stress, strengthens social connections, builds resil‑
ience, and enables us to better cope with loss. With meaningful social connections,
we can connect, make healthy choices, and develop better physical, mental, and
emotional outcomes. Social places help overcome placelessness. From a finan‑
cial health point of view, the benefits are understood as one’s ability to manage
expenses, prepare for and recover from financial shocks, have minimal debt, and
provide the ability to build wealth. Although financial wellness underlies all facets
of daily living such as securing food and paying for housing, there is inconsistency
in the measurement and definition of this critical concept. Environmental wellness
reduces pollutants, creates resilience against natural disasters, encourages positive
connections to nature, supports physical activity, and supports biophilic patterns.
Spiritual wellness gives us connections to a larger community and the world as a
whole, greater peace of mind, calmness, and more meaning in life. Filtering through
each of these benefit pillars, it becomes clear that certain wellness characteristics
are common to each pillar, such as stress reduction, improved cognitive function,
improved mood, increased connections to nature, improved life satisfaction, and
increased life expectancy. However, a further look into each of the wellness pillars
reveals more detailed wellness benefits. There are a host of health and wellness
benefits that are a result of lifestyle choices and the environmental contexts within
which we live.
The following list of more than 80 wellness benefits are extrapolated from the
discussions of each of the previous benefit pillars. They are intended to provide a

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quick and condensed guide for planning and design purposes. The tables at the end
of the chapter, 2.1–2.7, further summarize the wellness benefits relative to the well‑
ness benefit pillars according to pro‑individual, pro‑social, and pro‑environmental
factors.

1. Physical benefits
Increase physical activity (boosts energy).
Physical performance Improvement.
Bone and muscle strengthening and balance.
Reduce inactivity and obesity.
Enhanced social networking (reduces isolation).
Improved nutrition (access to healthy food).
Improved respiratory function.
Improved heart health.
Strengthened immune system.
Improves sleep quality (restful and restorative sleep).
Free radicals’ reduction in oxidative stress.
Mitigating measures of protections from natural disasters.
2. Cognitive benefits
Increase cognitive ability and clarity of thinking.
Improved memory and concentration.
Increase focused attention and sustained attention spans.
Addressing complex problems and situations.
Reduction of mental stress (worry and tension).
Increase in creative and logical thinking.
Increase memory cues according to serial‑position effect.
Improved sleep at night and wakefulness during the day.
Increase mental energy and less of a sense of fatigue.
Improved mental performance at work and play.
Cooperative social cognition and interactions.
Reduction of cognitive temporal density (too much information, considerations,
issues).
3. Emotional benefits
Improve positive emotions and mood.
Relief from depression and forms of mania.
Emotional stress and anxiety reduction.
Emotional resiliency and adaptability.
Development of emotional intelligence.
Increase serenity emotions (inner haven connectedness, present centered‑
ness, silence).
Reduction of emotional temporal density (too many ill feelings, considerations,
issues).
Increase present centeredness and presence.
Reduction of insomnia and sleep disorders.
Increase emotional effects of biophilia (love of nature, life forms, and natural
processes).

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Increase in life satisfaction.

Increase life purpose and meaning.
4. Social benefits
Increase in a sense of belonging to reduce a sense of loneliness and
isolation.
Creating a sense of place and places that are cared for.
Improvement of cleanliness, maintenance, and aesthetics of the community.
Support engagement and interaction.
Enhanced social networking.
Defines boundaries of private and public to allow refuge and safety.
Increase altruism and beneficence through care of place and community.
Diminish placelessness which leads to vandalism of place and community.
Inspires creativity by creating a variety of experiences.
Increase life expectancy.
Increase emotional and compassionate empathy.
Increase respect for each other and every living creature.
5. Financial benefits
Expanding wellness economy, growth, and development.
Improve productivity and work effectiveness.
Increase return on investment.
Increase property value.
Reduced absenteeism, presenteeism, and turnover.
Increase retention and recruitment.
Enhancing and building on market distinction (wellness branding).
Economic well‑being and relationship to personal finance.
Supports of the economy of scale.
Clustering of mixes of use creates synergy and accessibility.
Regenerative benefits (enhancing financial prosperity, social, and environmen‑
tal wellness).
Cognitive and emotional stress and anxiety reduction.
Providing affordable wellness designs.
6. Environmental benefits
Improving connection with nature and opportunities for engagement in nature.
Utilizing sustainable, renewable, and healthy resources (energy, water, wind,
geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, rainwater, etc.).
Combating pollution, a cleaner environment (air, water, waste, soils, plant life,
energy).
Reducing greenhouse gasses.
Increase carbon sequestering.
Improvement of public health.
Protecting the biodiversity of the planet so we live richer more vibrant lives.
Preserving ecological zones and processes.
Protecting existing forestland and restoring waterways.
Mitigating climate change.
Positive response to seasonal changes.
Mitigating natural disasters.

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7. Spiritual benefits
Experiences of beauty.
Transformative from prosaic to transcendental.
Connections to the spirit of place and the original cause.
Increase opportunities for awe experiences.
Increase opportunities for serenity experiences.
Reduces mental and emotional stress and anxiety.
Improves mental health.
Creation of sanctuary spaces that allow us refuge.
Can help address perplexing existential issues.
Encounters with the unknown.
Cross‑state retention or accommodation.
Gives purpose and meaning to life.
Can lead to improved life satisfaction.
Creation of healthy urban spaces (recreational, social, contemplative, spiritual).

Tables 2.1–2.7 serve to summarize the wellness pillars and their specific well‑
ness benefits and serve as planning and design guidelines. The benefits can also
serve to create wellness goals and policies. The tables list the key wellness benefits
related to descriptions of pro‑individual, pro‑social, and pro‑environmental associ‑
ated with each of the benefit pillars. Since the planning, architecture, and interior
design scales produce human‑centered behaviors and practices, the benefits in
these tables tend to favor pro‑individual and pro‑social behaviors, while the land‑
scape scale favors pro‑environmental behaviors.

BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Increased After physical activity is Certain activities can Green activity promotes
Physical Activity & improved cognition, reduced increase confidence, physical wellness and
Performance short‑term anxiety, improved peer acceptance, can shape the quality
mood, and improved leadership skills and and length of time of
sleep. Physical activity also can empathy. Exercise outdoor interactions. In
help in weight management, in groups can boost turn our physical work
reduction of health risks of heart motivation, create in the environment
disease and diabetes. Physical accountability, build can be instrumental in
activity strengthen bones, joints teamwork skills, enhance preservation, restoration,
and muscles. cognitive function, and food production.
builds community.
Reduced Inactivity Reduced inactivity means Increase social networks Removing environmental
and Obesity increased physical activity. This decrease obesity barriers and obesogenic
and Weight increases energy, balances risks. Another social environments can
Management caloric intake with burning, and benefit is overcoming encourage walking,
decreases fat around the waist the obesity stigma bicycle riding, accessibility
and total body. Combined with and associated to recreation areas and
healthy dietary practices, the discrimination. Pro‑social increase of physical
physical benefits are high. relations can positively activities. The lack of
reduce obesity risk. surveillance can also
influence outdoor activity.

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Improved Nutrition This means a well balanced diet There are many social Locally grown plant‑based
with reductions is fatty foods, benefits surrounding foods reduce and
sodium and sugar. Maintaining nutrition and food. The sequester greenhouse
healthy eating habits, with more often people dine gasses. Urban agriculture
produce variety and high fiber, with others, the happier captures rainwater and
optimize with higher meal and more satisfied mitigates the heat island
frequency, and hydrate. with their lives they effect.
are. Good eating habits
are supported by social
dining.
Improved Heart Heart health can be improved Meaningful family Mitigation of natural
Health by physical activity, healthy connections, friendships disasters and extreme
diet, managed weight, and social interactions weather events can
reduced stress, and reduced contribute to heart reduce stress and
cholesterol, blood pressure, and health. Healthy heart thereby reduce heart
consumption of alcohol. Stop can translate into healthy disease and stroke. This
smoking. lifestyle which can attract includes reduced
others. exposure to pollutants
and other environmental
stressors.
Improved Respiratory function can be Removing or isolating Air quality both
Respiratory Function improved with regular physical second hand cigarette indoor and outdoor ae
activity and reduction of smoke. With infectious important to respiratory
oxidative stress. Healthy lungs diseases, wearing health. Bacterial, viral
can shorten recovery times masks, employing social and fungal infections
from infections, allergies, and distancing and using can be spread in the
influenza. They can improve the cleaning protocols can environment.
immune system. reduce the spread within
social contexts.
Improved Immune Healthy immune systems Suggests maintaining The immune system
System protect against harmful antiviral social is an organ that
microbes, pathogens, bacteria, environments and specializes in responding
fungi parasites, and certain interactions. Healthy to environmental
diseases. Illnesses and wounds social relationships help exposures. Protecting
heal faster and there is less strengthen the immune the immune system
fatigue. Immune‑supporting system. Adverse social means maintaining
nutrition can contribute to experiences can cause clean, pollution‑free
immune health. isolation, threat and environments.
may suppress antiviral
immunity.
Reduction of Protects body and cells from Modern lifestyles The wellness benefit
Oxidative Stress free radicals thereby reducing contribute to oxidative is removing negative
the effects of heart disease, stress induction environmental
cancer and other lifestyle through consumption contributors to oxidative
diseases. Healthy systems of processed foods, stress include radiation
detoxify reactive products. exposure to chemicals in ultraviolet light, tobacco
the atmosphere, and lack smoke, xenobiotics and
of exercise. other pollutants.
Table 2.1
Physical Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

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BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Clarity of Thinking Includes mindfulness and Increased performance is a Easier to pay attention
conscious awareness teamwork and work‑force to natural stimuli. Nature
of the present moment. benefit. Mental clarity tends helps in self‑reflection
Increases perception of to boost life satisfaction, and introspection
details within situations wellbeing and phycological thereby aiding in a
and the environment. flourishing. mental “re‑set.”
Decreased distractions
and increases
performance, prioritization
and decision making.
Focused Attention & Focused attention can be Attention can be directed Focused attention
Concentration selective and discriminating to others fostering and concentration
and occur over time empathy skills, inner‑group can be improved with
resulting in improved mindfulness, and emotional time spent in nature.
prediction and task intelligence. Focused Nature’s fascination
completion. Concentration attention can contribute and mystery affects
enables faster positively to group attention restoration,
comprehension and task prosociality. mental fatigue and
focusing with improved concentration.
memory.
Coping Mechanisms Cognitive coping is Cognitive behavioral Cognitive coping is
to Address using mental activity to coping skills benefit social particularly important
Complex Issues manage stressful events interactions. It refers to how during natural disasters
or situations. Responses we process, interpret and and extreme weather
include gaining perspective respond to different social events. Conversely,
and situational appraisal, signals. coping can take the
and creating resolution form of reappraisal of
and problem‑focused the negative effects of
strategies. human activity on the
environment.
Trusting and The cognitive aspect of Describes situations and Concerns about
Cooperative trust is trusting behavior behaviors that contribute environmental
Relationships motivated by good rational to others’ welfare, and protection, habitat
reasons. Cooperation there is belief in someone loss, and mitigation
results in a process with else’s competence, of climate change are
common purpose and capabilities, reliability outcomes of cognitive
benefit. and dependability. Trust cooperation.
can improve social and
economic interactions.
Experience of High Cognitive health can result Tends to facilitate outgoing Sleeping outdoors
Quality Sleep in improved sleep which in behaviors and self can replenish oxygen
turn affects gaining insights, confidence. Sleep helps levels, boost serotonin
integrating information, with empathy and lessens (improving mood,
and facilitates memory aggression. digestion and sleep),
consolidation. and relieve stress.

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Improved Memory Memory is one of the most Language cognition related to Helps overcome
and Remembering important cognitive processes memory supports pro‑social biospheric amnesia and
effecting learning, conceptual behaviors. Research indicates reinforce the biophilic
processes, psycholinguistics, a memory advantage for effect and our love of
problem solving and decision prosocial behaviors. nature. People readily
making. remember information
processed to survival
relevance.
Reduction of Mental Reducing mental temporal Reducing temporal density Temporal density
Temporal Density density creates an openness allows for more perceptive fosters stronger and
with greater receptivity. and connected social more meaningful
This allows for a more interactions. One is a better connections to nature.
grounded experience that listener with increased The environment
is present‑centered. Being mental acuity. benefits through
present activates the mind for increased knowledge
a fuller experience. about the environment,
biospheric values,
and positive actions
behaviors.
Table 2.2
Cognitive Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Positive Emotions Improves health and Social interactions improve Moods are improved by
and Improves wellness through improved moods and self‑esteem. connections to nature,
Mood mood and the experience Emotional openness resulting in biospheric
of happiness. Positive supports social interactions, values, and positive lifestyle
moods include calmness, greater trust and empathy, behaviors and changes.
optimism, curiosity, and beneficence and cooperation. Moods are affected by
contentment. They lead to Positive emotions promote personal environments.
lower heart rates, reduction helping behaviors. Good moods are supported
of stress and anxiety, by natural light, outdoor
immune system support, views, order, cleanliness
and better sleep cycles. and comfort.
Stress and Reduction of short term Social support can positively Experience of nature can
Anxiety stress can improve affect stress and anxiety believe stress and anxiety.
Reduction breathing, heart rate, sleep with the forms of listening, Both solitude and silence
cycles, and can improve advice, guidance, empathy, can contribute to positive
appetite. Reduction of encouragement, assistance, emotional shifts. Biospheric
longer term anxiety can and even financial help. values can lead to lifestyle
relieve persisting uneasy Supportive connections are shifts that reduce stress o
feelings, restlessness, linked to lower levels of the environment.
panic and fear, and lower depression and workplace
blood pressure. burnout.

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Emotional Ability to recognize, adapt Emotional intelligence can Understanding the

Resiliency and and manage emotions can lead to social awareness, environmental influences
Intelligence lead to positive wellness improved communication that affect emotional
benefits. Having the with others, and reduction of intelligence can lead to
resilience to transform conflict. It improves empathy. greater biopheric values and
negative emotions Improves social skills. Can action behaviors.
to positive ones. The contribute to creating a
emotional intelligence culture of emotional wellness.
reflects self‑awareness
and the ability for
self‑management.
Positive Effects Serenity experiences foster The social benefits derive The environmental
of Serenity and trust, connectedness, life from the serenity experience influences to serenity
Silence perspective, a sense of of self‑loss, connectedness experiences includes quiet,
belonging and contribute and sense of other. Serenity is physical safety, non‑toxic
to present centeredness. It positively related to pro‑social materiality, peaceful places
signifies an inner haven that behaviors and negatively and usually places of natural
is a safe space for healing related to [physical and verbal beauty.
and wellness. aggression.
Reduction of Reducing temporal density Reducing temporal density Temporal density fosters
Temporal Density creates an openness allows for more perceptive stronger and more
and Increase with greater receptivity. and connected social meaningful connections to
Presence This allows for a more interactions. One is a better nature. The environment
grounded experience listener with increased benefits through increased
that is present‑centered. empathy. Peer presence biospheric values, positive
Being present activates increases pro‑social behavior. actions behaviors, and love
all the senses for a fuller of nature.
experience.
Increase The love of nature produces Biophilia nourishes social Produces strong
Emotional Effects positive emotional interactions in many biospheric values and
of Biophilia effects, reduces stress, forms and outdoor shared pro‑environmental
supports cognitive experiences, and reinforces behaviors. It expands
function, improves the a sense of connectedness. the sense of self beyond
immune system, improves Nature‑based color elicits the individual to the
cardiovascular function, calm, natural light boosts environment and world as
and improves mood and mood, and plants reduce a whole.
psychological health. stress and promote kinder
behavior.
Increase Life More hopeful meaning Higher life satisfaction can The vastness of awe
Satisfaction and in life positively affects increase altruism, generosity, experiences, the
Purpose life satisfaction, which and volunteerism. Shared peacefulness of serene
in turn reduces stress activities and experiences environments, and the
caused by painful events, fostered connectedness, sheer beauty and wonder
and improves abilities to increased safety and reduced of nature contribute to life
cope with adversities, crime also contribute to life satisfaction and wellbeing.
uncertainty, and satisfaction.
psychological distress.
Table 2.3
Emotional Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

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BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Sense of Belonging helps overcoming Belonging socially reinforces People and
Belonging loneliness and supports human alliances, friendships and communities can
organization and a sense support. Social isolation, benefit from positive
of purpose, and provides loneliness and low social status experiences of nature,
protection, and helps reduce can harm a person’s subjective and the environment
depression, anxiety and suicide. sense of well‑being. Belonging can facilitate social
It contributes to life satisfaction supports meaningful community interactions.
and longevity. activities.
Increase Altruism is good for emotional Altruism increases social Pro‑environmental
Altruism and wellbeing, and promotes support. It also promotes behaviors and
Beneficence physiological changes in the prevention and removal of harm eco‑centric worldviews
brain linked with happiness. It from others. The intentional can be motivated by
promotes kindness and acts of voluntary pro‑social behavior self‑interest, altruism or
goodness. benefits others. benevolence.
Increase Social wellness occurs through In social contract theory, Cooperative behavior
Cooperation cooperation as it contributes cooperation contributes to encourages global
to openness, trust and safety. consensus building, group sharing of knowledge
Balanced reciprocity gives decision making, and work and the ability to tackle
social support and reduces effectiveness. shared problems, like
stress. climate change.
Networking, Wellness support reduces Inner circles have a positive Social connection
Social Support stress, decreases physical impact and contribute to and social media
and Inner Circle health problems, and increasing personal and social in particular can
improves emotional growth. An inner circle is a raise environmental
well‑being. Maintaining an healthy pro‑social context with awareness.
inner circle creates mutual support, caring, motivation, and
support, improves mood and invigorated self‑awareness.
self‑esteem.
Emotional Feeling the same emotion Maintaining deep human Higher levels of
and Cognitive that another person is feeling connections and empathy empathetic connections
Empathy and seeing things from allow us to thrive by providing to nature can improve
another person’s perspective, vital social support and environmental
understanding why and how encouragement. More behaviors and
they are interpreting and accurate knowledge about commitments.
responding to events taking others increases the quality of
place. empathy.
Sense of Place Encourages socialization, Building community There are many
and Community meaningful connections, creates physical and social environmental
Building engagement, and wellbeing. environments that are safe, benefits to sustainable
There is a shared sense of open and meaningful, and allow behaviors, land
coherence and identity with for shared experiences and revitalization,
common interests. opportunities to learn from one community gardens
another. and urban agriculture,
and the health effects
of lower greenhouse
gas emissions.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

Longevity Longevity is effective by In older age, a diverse friend The environmental

loneliness and social isolation group can also help protect quality and daily
with higher risk of disease, healthy cognition and is contact with nature
disability, and mortality. People associated with greater can extend life.
with strong social connections longevity. Environmental factors
live longer. effecting longevity
include atmospheric
pressure, temperature,
percentage of
sunshine, and humidity.
Table 2.4
Social Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Expanding Wellness The wellness economy Financial wellness includes Earth‑friendly business
Economy includes public health many social benefits. practice benefits the
prevention and personalized Circular economy supports environment. Circular
medicine, traditional and wellness economic economies produce
complementary medicine, activities around materials, reductions in energy
personal care and beauty, products and services. usage, greenhouse
health nutrition, mental Certain wellness sectors emissions, and the need
health, wellness real estate, of the economy support for the production of
wellness tourism, and pro‑social benefits, such new materials. Wellness
wellness physical activities. as, tourism, nutrition, and benefits include increase
personal care and beauty. biodiversity and limits to
habitat disruption.
Wellness Real Wellness real estate is a Wellness property and Encourages
Estate fast growing sector of the design feature intentional environmental
wellness economy. The wellness elements that are engagement and
sector includes residential desirable and accessible at endangerment.
commercial, leisure, all price points. Wellness Realization of the cost
hospitality, fitness centers lifestyle real estate is in benefit of environmental
and medical properties. response to holistic health measures. Minimizes
Wellness property and design in buildings. Mixed uses, negative impact on
features are becoming more good school districts and environment. Reducing
desirable and accessible at all amenities improve real carbon dioxide emissions
price points. estate markets. through biophilic and
sustainable planning.
Return on Positive ROI including People are increasing the Incentives may
Investment residential commercial, value of healthy lifestyles. include tax credits for
leisure, hospitality, and Positive ROI is helped by environmental and
medical properties. Wellness material durability, reuse, sustainable designs.
property and design features and recycling. Acting Environmental
are becoming more desirable pro‑socially enhances investments can produce
and accessible at all price perceptions of luck long‑term benefits.
points. ROI is helped by and increases financial
material durability, reuse, and risk‑taking.
recycling.

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

Increased Wellness can produce Wellness has a positive Air quality, noise, lighting
Productivity and higher energy levels and impact on productivity and temperature control
Performance more efficiency. It produces relative to efficiency, effect production.
produces less stress, less belonging, teamwork, Green jobs can create
burnout, lower turnover, and life satisfaction, new and emerging
higher levels of satisfaction and positive social work occupations that arise to
and an increased productivity. environment positively address environmental
effects productivity. sustainability needs
and pro‑environmental
behaviors.
Reduced Causes are low motivation, Absence has a ripple Reduction of negative
Absenteeism lack of direction, illness, effect that impacts their environmental factors,
mental health issues, workload, their team, and especially pollution
and stress. Overcoming management. Reducing effects absenteeism.
absenteeism produces presenteeism through
financial returns, increases appreciation, collaboration,
morale and production, and encouraging wellness
stress reduction in the work activities.
environment.
Distinctive Distinctive marketing Wellness branding can Strong connections
Marketing branding is another benefit of build trust with customers, to place and nature
financial wellness, by having increase your market share, can foster distinctive
unique, scarce, beneficial or and drive sales. marketing.
unusual wellness places, they
become more identifiable
and therefore economically
attractive.
Financial Well‑being Debt and financial issues Social support can relieve Aligning personal
can cause stress, sleep stress. Wellness financial finances and green
loss, headaches, high blood social relationships gain lifestyles can produce
pressure and depression. more respect, trust and positive impacts on
Financial wellness creates help exacerbate economic the environment. Low
more security and control, hardship. hazard environments can
can improve life satisfaction contribute to financial
and prevent hardships. well‑being.
Table 2.5
Financial Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Access to Nature Improves health and Provides opportunities Sense of connectedness,
wellness through increases for social interaction biospheric values, and
in physical activity and through recreation, supports heightened
energy, stress reduction organized sports, chance awareness of environmental
and improved respiratory encounters, and direct problems and the
function, improved mood contact with nature. need to change human
and emotional wellbeing, Experience of happiness, lifestyle behaviors.
and improved nutrition. subjective wellbeing, and Fosters appreciation and
Outdoors triggers existential benefits. environmental stewardship.
stimulation of the eye
retina.

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Reduce Pollution Personal responsibility of Incorporation of Reduction of use of toxic

conservation of natural community‑based waste resources and fossil fuel based
resources and waste recycling systems. resources, industrial practices
recycling practices. Greater opportunity for and consumer products.
Elimination of use of socialization with healthy Reduced pollution helps enable
red‑list materials. Improved clean environments. biodiversity and improves
personal health in Reduced absenteeism. community and business
terms of respiratory and Noise reduction image and loyalty. Reduction of
cardiovascular function, and encourages social night light pollution encourages
air borne allergies. interactions. night walking.
Conservation and Developing individual There are financial benefits Development of conservation
Natural Resource and family conservation to natural resources practices, reduction of
Utilization practices saving resources utilization. Protection commercialism, and increase
and money. Provides clean of resources for future use of renewable resources
air, water and energy, generational use. There like solar, wind, geothermal,
and improved health and are economic benefits biomass, and hydroelectricity
wellness (physical, mental, through job creation for provides cleaner air, water
emotional and spiritual the manufacture and and energy, increases
wellbeing). servicing natura systems’ biodiversity, and habitat
technologies. protection.
Response to Reducing negative effects Provision of community Reduced to degradation to
Climate Change & of global warming and resilience and passive the natural environment,
Natural Disasters natural disasters, and survivability measure for sea levels destructive
creating safe environments public safety and health. consequences of natural
during extreme weather Creation of pro‑social disasters. Mitigation can
events. This includes behaviors during times of protect habitats. Preparedness
passive survivability crisis. saves lives, protects property
measures. and speeds up recovery.
Protecting Provides food and medicinal There are socio‑economic Creates healthier soils,
Biodiversity & plant security. Provides benefits through water and air and medicinal
Habitat Protection opportunities for recreation, recreation, tourism, storm plants. Conservation protects
relaxation, education, resilience, and natural pharmacopeia and medical
and stress relief. Inspires education. Contributes to knowledge. Wildlife protection
a sense of wonder and place identity. Increases benefits the ecosystems win
connectedness natural capital. which they live.
Response to Eating locally produced Can provide signals Reduces carbon emissions
Changing Seasons seasonal foods have higher for particular leisure, using less harmful chemicals
nutritional value, have better recreation, and economic and pesticides. Changing
taste, reduction of the activities. Supports local seasons effects the type
decline in vitamin C, folate small businesses and can and diversity of food that
and carotenes. Strengthens increase property value. is propagated in a given
the immune system. location.
Safe Healthy Urban Improves mental health, Supports a sense With greenspaces,
Spaces reduces anxiety and stress, of community and increase of greenhouse gas
and reduces depression. placebound identity. sequestering and enhancing
Provides opportunities for Provides opportunities the biophilic effect. Negates
pedestrianization, chance for passive and active the heat island effect.
encounters, and physical gathering and social Provides sunshading.
activity. Improves quality interactions. Increase of
of life. economic opportunities.
Increase of social tolerance
with crime reduction.
Table 2.6
Environmental Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

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BENEFIT PRO‑INDIVIDUAL BENEFIT PRO‑SOCIAL BENEFIT PRO‑ENVIRONMENTAL

Spiritual Renewal Spiritual renewal can occur Spiritual renewal reinforces Spiritual insights can
in a variety of contexts shared purpose, the promote pro‑environmental
with differing functions feelings and welfare of behaviors related to
or purposes. It is an inner other people, and value value‑belief‑norms,
connection to holiness of community and civic which suggest that the
and inclusivity. Benefits behaviors fostering environment has value, may
include a renewed sense of compassion. Develops be endangered and is worth
purpose and inner peace. stronger connections to preserving.
others.
Transcendent Transcendent experiences Transcendent experiences Self‑transcendent emotions
Experiences create enhanced perception can lead to a recognition are often triggered by
where the senses are of our interconnection and intense absorption of
heightened, there is a shared humanity. This in nature and in turn elicits
sense of synchronicity and turn promotes altruism, pro‑environmental
an extrasensory awareness. empathy, cooperation and behaviors and biospheric
These experiences can generosity. Shared group values.
allow one to transcend transcendent experiences
beyond the present context. can be powerful, like a
music event.
Awe and Serenity Awe experiences are vast Pro‑social outcomes of awe Awe and serenity help
Emotions and elicit ineffable wonder and serenity experiences in developing biospheric
and fascination. Serenity increase generosity, values, sensitivity towards
experiences are peaceful, helpfulness, compassion, improving environmental
tranquil, even sedating and enhanced collective conditions and paying
and free from anxiety. concerns. They also attention to negative
Accommodation to both included concerns for the impacts.
experiences comes in rights, feelings and welfare
the form of mental and of other people.
emotional readjustment.
Refuge and Spiritual experiences can Refugee places offer Environmental awareness
Sanctuary be fostered in places of asylum for groups of people arises form the need for
refuge and sanctuary. who have been displaced, refuge and sanctuary
Refuge contributes including sanctuary cities. from disasters, violent
to peace of mind, Immigrant and displaced storms and communicable
present‑centeredness, and sanctuary experiences build diseases. This also includes
stress reduction. Sanctuary pro‑social connections. sanctuary for wildlife.
from disasters, storms and
disease.
Spirit of Place and Spiritual benefits include Places endowed with Spirit of place refers to
Original Cause connections to the spirit of certain energies, historic the special and energetic
place and the original cause. significances, cultural qualities of a particular
The locational experience is values, and beauty attract place that contributes to
safe, identifiable, vital and people creating pro‑social a re‑enchantment and
up‑lifting. It’s a connection behaviors. Celebrations appreciation of the larger
to our beginnings. and rituals with others environment.
can strengthen a sense of
place.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

Addressing Spiritual experiences can Existential issues help Provides some

Perplexing and produce opportunities to people to better understand understanding of the
Existential Issues help address perplexing themselves in relation complex issues surrounding
and existential issues. to others in the world. the world, the environment
Questions like what is the Perplexing moments can be and existential questions of
meaning of life? Is there caused by relationships and our collective roles.
life after death? They are connections to community
concerned with existence and sharing with others can
and purpose of life. reduce stress.
Purpose, Meaning Spiritual healing spaces Optimism stemming from Positive environmental
and Life Satisfaction can contribute to purpose, life satisfaction can spread conditions and experiences
meaning in life and life to pro‑social behaviors, correlate to happiness and
satisfaction. Purpose empathy, and increased life satisfaction.
gives motivation and cooperation and generosity.
direction. Meaning gives Subjective wellbeing
comprehension and receives benefits from
understanding of one’s life. relationships, teamwork
Life satisfaction is a benefit and fulfilling work.
of wellbeing.
Table 2.7
Spiritual Benefits
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

NOTES
1. Gesler, Wilber M., Healing Places, (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2003).
2. Piff, Paul, Pia Dietze, Matthew Feinberg, Daniel Stanccato, & Dasher Keltner, Awe, the
Small Self and Prosocial Behavior, (Accessed November 10, 2023), https://www.apa.org/
pubs/journals/releases/psp‑pspi0000018.pdf
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health/heart/physical‑activity/benefits#:~:text=When%20done%20regularly%2C%20
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64 ◻
 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

13. American Lung Association, (Accessed September 22, 2023), https://www.lung.org/

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

33. Toshi, Nikita, Overthinking – To What Extent Can It Damage Your Life? (Accessed January
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49. National Institutes of Health, Sense of Belonging, Meaning Daily Life Participation, and
Well‑Being: Integrated Investigation, (Accessed September 24, 2023), https://www.ncbi.
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50. Altruism, Happiness, and Health: It’s Good to be Good, International Journal of Behavio‑
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51. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, The Principle of Beneficence in Applied Ethics,
(Accessed November 10, 2023), https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/principle‑beneficence/
52. Holmes, Bob, Why People Choose to Cooperate, According to Behavioral Sci‑
ence, (Accessed November 11, 2023), https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/
why‑people‑choose‑to‑cooperate‑according‑to‑behavioral‑science
53. National Institutes of Health, Identifying with All Humanity Predicts Cooperative Health
Behaviors and Helpful Responding During COVID‑19, (Accessed September 25, 2023),
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33690679/
54. CDC, How Does Social Connectedness Affect Health? (Accessed November 11, 2023),
https://www.cdc.gov/emotional‑wellbeing/social‑connectedness/affect‑health.htm
55. American Psychological Association, Manage Stress: Strengthen your Support
Network, (Accessed September 25, 2023), https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/
manage‑social‑support
56. Lesley University, The Psychology of Emotional and Cognitive Empathy, (Accessed Septem‑
ber 25, 2023), https://lesley.edu/article/the‑psychology‑of‑emotional‑and‑cognitive‑empathy

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS ◼

57. CED, Healthy Community Design, (Accessed November 10, 2023), https://www.cdc.gov/
healthyplaces/docs/Healthy_Community_Design.pdf
58. McMillan, David & David Chavis, Sense of Community: A Definition and The‑
ory, (Accessed November 11, 2023), https://aacimotaatiiyankwi.org/2022/05/10/
benefits‑of‑community‑building‑for‑mental‑health/
59. Catholic Health Association, How Community‑Building Aligns with Public Health,
(Accessed September 25, 2023), https://www.chausa.org/publications/health‑progress/
archive/article/september‑october‑2011/how‑community‑building‑aligns‑with‑public‑
health
60. NIH, Healthy Habits can Lengthen Life, (Accessed November 11, 2023), https://www.nih.
gov/news‑events/nih‑research‑matters/healthy‑habits‑can‑lengthen‑life
61. Greater Good Science Center, How Our Social Lives Impact Our Health, (Accessed
September 25, 2023), https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_your_social_
life_might_help_you_life_longer
62. Turner, Terry, Financial Wellness, (Accessed June 2, 2023), https://www.annuity.org/
personal‑finance/financial‑wellness/
63. Global Wellness Institute, What is the Wellness Economy? (Accessed June 10, 2023),
https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/what‑is‑wellness/what‑is‑the‑wellness‑economy/
64. Global Wellness Institute, Wellness Lifestyle Real Estate & Communities: Definitions
and Core Principles, (Accessed November 11, 2023), https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/
what‑is‑wellness/what‑is‑wellness‑lifestyle‑real‑estate‑communities/
65. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Why Financial Well‑being? (Accessed Septem‑
ber 26, 2023). According to the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, https://
www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer‑tools/financial‑well‑being/about/, financial well‑
being is having financial security and financial freedom of choice in both the present
and future.
66. Bergeron, Paul, Wellness Real Estate Market Nearly Doubles in Last Few
Years, (Accessed November 11, 2023), https://www.globest.com/2021/09/30/
wellness‑real‑estate‑market‑nearly‑doubles‑in‑last‑few‑years/?slreturn=20231011094116
67. DiGuiseppe, Anthony & Sherry Fong, “Financial Wellness, Chapter 4,” Wellness Architec‑
ture and Design Pathways, Global Wellness Institute, 2023.
68. CDC, 5 Proven Strategies for Decreasing Employee Absenteeism, (Accessed September
25, 2023), https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/absenteeism
69. Diener, Edward, Happiness: The Science of Subjective Well‑Being, (Accessed Novem‑
ber 11, 2023), https://nobaproject.com/modules/happiness‑the‑science‑of‑subjective‑
well‑being#:~:text=Subjective%20well%2Dbeing%20(SWB),with%20other%20
types%20of%20measures.
70. Tabor, Barbra, Scientific Journal Publishes HERO Study on Leadership Views About Work‑
place Wellness, (Accessed September 25, 2023), https://hero‑health.org/wp‑content/
uploads/2015/07/NR_HERO_TAHP_FINAL_072315.pdf
71. Ryan, Catie, Bill Browning, & Dakota Walker, The Economics of Biophilia: Why Designing
with Nature in Mind Makes Financial Sense, (Accessed November 30, 2023), http://www.
terrapinbrightgreen.com/wp‑content/uploads/2023/09/EOB2‑Terrapin‑2023‑p.pdf
72. Callaghan, Shaun, Martin Losche, Anna Pione, & Warren Teichner, Feeling Good: The
Future of the $1.5 Trillion Wellness Market, (Accessed September 25, 2023), https://www.
mckinsey.com/industries/consumer‑packaged‑goods/our‑insights/feeling‑good‑the‑future‑
of‑the‑1–5‑trillion‑wellness‑market
73. American Public Health Association, The Impacts of Individual and Household Debt
on Health and Well‑Being, (Accessed November 11, 2023), https://www.apha.org/
Policies‑and‑Advocacy/Public‑Health‑Policy‑Statements/Policy‑Database/2022/01/07/
The‑Impacts‑of‑Individual‑and‑Household‑Debt‑on‑Health‑and‑Well‑Being
74. WebMD, How to Feel Less Anxious About Money, (Accessed September 25, 2023),
https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/the‑debt‑stress‑connection

67 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN BENEFITS

75. Singh, Onkar, What is Regenerative Finance (RdFi)? A Beginner’s Guide, (Accessed
November 29, 2023), https://cointelegraph.com/learn/what‑is‑regenerative‑finance‑refi
76. Tabb, Phillip, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future, (New
York, NY: Routledge, 2001).
77. Robbins, Jim, Ecopsychology: How Immersion in Nature Benefits Your Health, (Accessed
November 11, 2023), https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology‑how‑immersion‑
in‑nature‑benefits‑your‑health
78. Pereira, Marybeth & Peter Forster, The Relationship between Connectedness to Nature,
Environmental Values, and Pro‑environmental Behaviours, (Accessed September 25,
2023), https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/iatl/reinvention/archive/volume8issue2/pereira/
79. Union of Concerned Scientists, Benefits of Renewable Energy Use, (Accessed June 3,
2023), https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/benefits‑renewable‑energy‑use
80. Correll, Robyn, How Environmental Health Impacts Our Quality of Life and
Health, (Accessed September 25, 2023), https://www.verywellhealth.com/
what‑is‑environmental‑health‑4158207
81. American Psychological Association, Recovering Emotionally from Disaster, (Accessed
September 25, 2023), https://www.apa.org/topics/disasters‑response/recovering
82. World Health Organization, Biodiversity and Health, (Accessed September 25, 2023),
https://www.who.int/news‑room/fact‑sheets/detail/biodiversity‑and‑health
83. Kelly, Brielle, Seasonal Living for Better Health, (Accessed September 25, 2023), https://
www.wellbeing.com.au/body/health/seasonal‑living‑for‑better‑health.html
84. Toderian, Brent, Let’s Make Sticky Streets for People! (Accessed September 25, 2023),
https://www.planetizen.com/node/69454
85. Predojevic, Anja, Spiritual Wellbeing, (Accessed June 1, 2023), https://www.stress.
org.uk/spiritual‑wellbeing/#:~:text=Spiritual%20wellbeing%20ultimately%20
represents%20our%20connection%20to%20ourselves,art%2C%20literature%2C%20
nature%20or%20something%20greater%20than%20oneself.
86. VanderWeele, Tyler, Spirituality Linked with Better Health Outcomes, Patient Care,
(Accessed June 8, 2023), https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press‑releases/
spirituality‑better‑health‑outcomes‑patient‑care/
87. Tabb, Phillip James, Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous, (New York City, NY:
Routledge, 2024).
88. Transcendence and Wellbeing, (Accessed September 24, 2023), https://www.­
mybestself101.org/transcendence‑well‑being
89. Yaden, Kaufman, Hyde, Chirico, Gaggioli, Zhang, & Keltner, The Development of the Awe
Experience Scale (AWE‑S): A Multifactorial Measure for a Complex Emotion, (Accessed
October 4, 2021) https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018–35661‑001
90. Roberts, Kay & Cheryl Aspy, Development of a Serenity Scale, (Accessed August 20, 2022),
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/15347724_Development_of_the_Serenity_
91. National Institutes of Health, Closure of ‘Third Places’? Exploring Potential Consequences
for Collective Health and Wellbeing, (Accessed September 24, 2023), https://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6934089/
92. National Institutes of Health, Sense of Place and Health in Hamilton, Ontario: A Case
Study, (Accessed September 24, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC3400750/
93. Beneficial Effects of Spiritual Experiences and Existential Aspects of Life Satisfac‑
tion of Breast and Lung Cancer Patients in Poland: A Pilot Study, Journal of Religious
Health, (Accessed November 24, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC9569296/#:~:text=Spiritual%20experiences%20can%20have%20a,emotions%20
(Galen%2C%202018).
94. Kretschmer, Madeline & Lance Storm, The Relationship of the Five Existential Concerns
with Depression and Existential Thinking, (Accessed January 24, 2024), https://www.
meaning.ca/web/wp‑content/uploads/2019/10/216‑13‑513–4–10–20180704.pdf

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95. National Institutes of Health, Suffering a Healthy Life – On the Existential Dimension
of Health, (Accessed September 24, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/
PMC8830493/
96. Haugen, Gorill & Jessie Dezutter, Chapter 8, Meaning‑in‑Life: A Vital Salutogenic
Resource for Health, (Accessed November 20, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
books/NBK585665/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20shown%20a%20significant,with%20
illness%2C%20crises%20and%20death
97. Strine, Tara, Daniel Chapman, Lina Balluz, David Moriarty, & Ali Mokdad, The Associations
Between Life Satisfaction and Health‑related Quality of Life, Chronic Illness, and Health
Behaviors among U.S. Community‑dwelling Adults, (Accessed June 8, 2023), https://
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98. National Institutes of Health, Sense of Belonging, Meaningful Daily Life Participation, and
Well‑Being: Integrated Investigation, (Accessed September 24, 2023), https://www.ncbi.
nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10002207/

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3 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

INTRODUCTION

In response to extreme weather conditions, climate change, natural disasters, air

and water pollution, ubiquitous presence of automobiles, lack of access to nature,
and many other negative impacts of the existing built environment, there are con‑
cerns about the future wellness of contemporary culture. Planning and design
strategies can produce benefits that can help overcome these negative effects of
certain planning decisions, lifestyle choices and the adverse qualities of the built
environment. Health and wellness are inextricably linked to place. While most of
our apparent concerns and efforts to improve the built environment were directed
toward sustainability, they in fact focused upon correcting what John Ehrenfeld
called “unsustainability,” that is the unsustainable technologies, buildings and
design practices, and continued consumer‑oriented living styles.1 This also includes
the lifestyle choices we make that affect our health and wellness. Mainstream
values and consumption patterns continue to dominate the production, use, and
disposal of goods, and are the proximate cause of the damage to the environ‑
ment. According to Robbie Hammond and Omar Toro‑Vacay, the role of the city
has been reimagined countless times over the centuries (cities have been trading
posts, political and artistic centers, and, more recently, concrete jungles of retail and
offices). But the pandemic served as a wake‑up call for just how unwell our cities
are – sparking a new recognition of the entangled relationship between the health
of the cities and the health of city dwellers.2 It is cities and the regions within which
they exist that pose the greatest challenges and the greatest potential solutions
that can influence all scales of wellness.
Urban design wellness is broad in its application extending from buildings and
communities to cities and eco‑regions, influencing the relationship between the
built environment, and the health of the Earth’s biosphere and natural systems. This
includes the wellness‑determinants directed toward human population growth and
migration patterns, settlement configurations, means of energy production, trans‑
port, infrastructure design, large‑scale food production and nutrition, and the need
for access to nature and responsible use of natural resources.3 Planetary health was
defined by the Rockefeller‑Lancet Commission of Planetary Health as “the health
of human civilization and the state of the natural systems on which it depends.”4
The tendency to spend the majority of our time indoors, for some as much as
90%, has separated us from direct experiences of nature. This, coupled with poor

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-3 70 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

indoor air and water quality, has exacerbated the problem. Inactivity, poor diet, and
increased stress have even further disconnected us from achieving high levels of
wellness. A response for improved health and wellness can occur with improved
planning and design solutions that include the incorporation of certain wellness
design principles, design patterns, material choices, and intentional connections to
nature. Before a project moves into its planning or design phases, robust goals and
objectives should be established through a process of defining the project purpose
and understanding human health and wellness needs. Since wellness strategies
can be applied to all scales of development, it is important to reinforce connections
to produce synergetic effects.
The island of Singapore has envisioned itself as a garden city, which in 1965
initially took the form of a tree‑planting initiative and a national parks system. Later
the vision of a garden city changed from a “garden in the city” to a “city in a gar‑
den,” bringing gardens, natural green spaces, and biodiversity to every resident.
With this conceptual shift, the Singapore Park Connector Network (PCN) was cre‑
ated and today is an innovative “green matrix.” It provides recreational and greens‑
paces along underused land and existing infrastructure along roads, canals, and
railroads. Taken together, the wellness strategies combine to reinforce the concept
of Singapore as a city in a garden, a powerful biophilic and well‑being strategy.
This occurs equally at the building, streets, neighborhood, city, and island regional
scales. Refer to Figure 3.1a showing the preponderance of greenspace integrated
into the urban fabric.
In Singapore, wellness planning occurs with the intimate knowledge of, and
interaction with, the local environment, natural ecological processes, and its inhab‑
itants. It becomes a pathway for self‑understanding and a sense of belonging.
Wellness strategies are also being implemented, including strengthening the
conservation of wetland biodiversity in northwestern Singapore. This includes the
3.1
protection of habitats, including mangroves, freshwater marshes, and mudflats to
Wellness Strategies
a) Singapore maintain strong accessible connections to urban areas. Surveys conducted by the
Aerial Photograph, National Parks Board show that residents are not only using the parks and networks
b) Bullitt Center
for recreation, physical activity and commuting, but also for social gatherings. In
(Sources: Shutterstock
and Wikimedia
addition, preserving the enormous parkland contributes to a positive climate reduc‑
Commons) tion of carbon dioxide and the production of oxygen. Wellness industries have also

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

flourished in Singapore within the real estate, recreational, workplace, health care
and beauty, traditional and preventative medicine, nutrition, and wellness tourism
sectors.5
Another example of urban‑scale wellness strategies is the Bullitt Center in
Seattle, WA, USA. Located on an urban street corner, the Bullitt Center was largely
considered to be the most sustainable commercial building in the world at its com‑
pletion. Propelled by a mission to “drive change” in the marketplace faster and
further occurs by showing what’s possible today. This significant project began as
an intention from its founder, David Hayes, to show what was possible in mod‑
ern buildings with entirely “off‑the‑shelf” products so the result would be easily
repeatable.

To really change the market, the economics of the project had to support it.
Today’s reality is that economic policy promotes environmental decay. Between
negative externalities, discount rates that dictate impermanence, and codes
and incentives that favor the status quo, the market frequently demands prod‑
ucts and services that leave society worse off.6

By setting a significant goal and adhering to purpose, Hayes and his team were
able to achieve the goals of the Living Building Challenge, one of the most
stringent certification schemes available to date. Some of the individual well‑
ness elements that led to this success include pedestrian‑, bicycle‑, and pub‑
lic transport‑­friendly elements, centrally placed stairways for an active lifestyle,
equitable daylighting, operable windows, and a pocket park. Refer to Figure 3.1b
showing the Bullitt Center.
The opportunities that emerge from setting a clear and focused purpose early
in the planning and design processes, and prioritizing this purpose during all steps
of the life of a project are largely overlooked in many city comprehensive planning
processes, real estate developments, and architectural projects. Treating each step
as an effective strategy for the industry as a whole, rather than an interesting
anecdote from a niche market sector, can provide significant value for developers
in the long run.7 The planning and urban design scales offer endless opportunities
to influence well‑being through wellness lifestyle patterns.

WELLNESS BENEFITS

Wellness is a multi‑dimensional set of pursuits, activities, choices, and lifestyles

that lead to a state of holistic health, and at the planning and urban design scale,
they set the dynamic context for health outcomes. The wellness planning and
design benefits are based on the physical, mental, emotional, social, financial, envi‑
ronmental, and spiritual categories. They have been identified through decades
of evidence‑based health and wellness scholarly and scientific research. Places
like the Pontevedra city center in Spain; Prairie Crossing, Illinois; Shearwater in
St. Augustine, Florida; Serenbe Community in Georgia; and White Gum Valley in
Western Australia show that wellness can be achieved at varying urban scales.8

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Following is a brief recap of benefits summarized from Chapter 2 to help in relating

health outcomes applicable to planning strategies:

• Physical wellness – lowering stress and blood pressure, improved respiratory

function, increased physical activity and energy, lower obesity levels, weight
management, increased healing rates, improved circadian cycles, lower addic‑
tions, and improved nutrition.
• Mental wellness – improving cognitive ability and appraisal, increased focus and
clarity of mind, increased resilience, reduced anxiety and negative thoughts,
ability for awareness of the present moment (mindfulness), increased attention
restoration and soft fascination, and reduced temporal density.
• Emotional wellness – maintaining healthy relationships, improved mood, lower
stress levels, the experience of positive emotions (awe, serenity, contentment,
wonder, and joy), resilience and positive coping, and experience of inner peace.
• Social wellness – creating community, increased social interactions, generos‑
ity, mutualism, empathy, compassion, helpfulness, and enhanced collective
concern. Social wellness creates a sense of safety, belonging and security,
with increased life expectancy, and the experience of pro‑social behaviors.
• Financial wellness – increasing efficiency and productivity, increased job per‑
formance, reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, positive return on invest‑
ments, increased facilities due to economy of scale, and reduced stress over
financial matters and security.
• Environmental wellness – producing and experiencing lower air pollution
and greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner water, greater access to nature, an
increase of biophilic effects, improved biodiversity and regenerative processes,
disaster mitigation, and pro‑environmental and biospheric behaviors.
• Spiritual wellness – addressing of existential questions, increased self‑­
transcendence, experience of wholeness, positive sense of solving problems,
invigorated meaning and purpose in life, spiritual arousal, and increase of life
satisfaction.

WELLNESS STRATEGIES

Wellness strategies are a mutually supporting set of design approaches that serve as
prime actionable elicitors of wellness benefits promoting individual physical health,
positive emotional responses, mental clarity, pro‑social behaviors, environmental
reparation, and spiritual renewal, as defined in Chapter 2. The wellness design strat‑
egies are intended to positively influence human health and wellness outcomes,
preserve the natural environment, and incorporate specific approaches to the built
environment. The strategies are generally planning schemes, physical concepts,
design patterns, attributes, and elements associated with the particular scales of
application. Across each scale they occur within primary, secondary, and tertiary
design responses from larger overarching patterns like renewable infrastructure sys‑
tems and preservation of large natural areas, to medium responses like wind towers
and fountains, and smaller details like shutters, fans, and even a house plant.

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

These wellness strategies share an important correspondence with sustain‑

ability, resiliency, biophilia, and sacred place design as they seek similar positive
outcomes for our health and well‑being. Most of these strategies are established on
science‑based outcomes within the public health, health sciences, and environmen‑
tal psychology fields. Four scales have been selected which are the planning scale,
architectural scale, interior scale, and landscape scale. The strategies described in
this chapter are neither meant to be exhaustive nor to be the only ways to achieve
the intended benefits. They are presented here more as a broader dive into the
practical application of a discipline that is still in development and can be seen as in
its infancy. The strategies have been shown to produce positive outcomes verified
by scholarly and evidence‑based research. Each strategy includes a basic descrip‑
tion of the planning or design pattern, several examples that show how the strategy
has been effectively applied in previous works, and then a list of the most pertinent
wellness outcomes to be expected from applying the strategy. Strategies at the
planning scale, in part, include and are defined by the following:

• Concepts – planning schemes and strategies organized around zoning regula‑

tions, a masterplan or central idea with explicit goals oriented to health and
wellness.
• Patterns – models after timeless and repeatable object‑oriented planning
approaches that are integrative, inclusive, and influence behavior.
• Attributes – an inherent and determinant quality describing the characteristics
of development details supporting urban wellness.
• Elements – urban design scale plans comprised of wellness‑oriented zoning
revisions, building components, and design elements of parks, streetscapes,
infrastructure schemes, water features, and carbon‑sequestering materials.
• Elicitors – planning and design approaches that function to promote or trigger
urban‑scale wellness benefits and outcomes.
• Physicality – pro‑wellness planning and zoning schemes, physical development
designs, public spaces, streetscapes, and urban agriculture related to tangible
physical and real designs.

SCALES OF APPLICATION

Wellness planning and design outcomes are intended to include varying scales
of application from city planning to intimate gardens. This is intended to provide
the largest over‑reach for wellness planning and design pathways. Within each
scale, there are six to ten examples of useful strategies appropriate to that scale.
Strategies applied at a larger scale will often support and influence wellness out‑
comes with progressively more systemic orders (such as more efficient infrastruc‑
ture, renewable utilities, waste recycling and water management systems, and
urban farming) while solutions applied at smaller scales involve building and land‑
scape design elements (such as protected entries, overhangs, window coverings,
non‑toxic materials selection, and climate resistant landscaping) and are often more
technological (such as installing HEPA air filters in an HVAC system to ensure inte‑
rior air quality or the use of renewable technologies).

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The more wellness‑supportive choices made at each of the scales, such as

choosing a project location and context safe from natural disasters to implementing
biophilic design principles and renewable technologies, the greater the opportuni‑
ties for wellness outcomes. The health and wellness benefits of the spiritual can
also be applied to each of these scales, creating extraordinary places from protec‑
tion of sacred rivers and historic sites to healing gardens and holy wells. It should
be noted that while wellness strategies are most effective when applied to all
scales, care should be given where certain strategies may impinge upon or conflict
with another (such as the need for densification versus the requirements for solar
access). It is the purpose here to provide, through these scales of application, a
broad and encompassing set of wellness design strategies.9

• Urban design scale – includes city planning, town planning, neighborhoods,

mixed‑use development, water management systems, urban parks, pasture‑
land, agriculture, and infrastructure design.
• Architecture scale – includes building sites, buildings, climatic form responses,
envelope design, fenestration schemes, building elements, material choices,
building systems, and indoor‑outdoor relationships.
• Interior scale – includes interior spatial quality, circulation patterns, furnishings,
color, natural lighting and ventilation, and material selections.
• Landscape scale – includes connections to nature, parks, urban tiny forests,
gardens, edible landscapes, vegetation, ground cover, water features, urban
agriculture, and land art installations.

It should be noted that there are scales both larger and smaller than these
four including eco‑regions, continents, and the Earth as a whole as well as the
micro‑worlds of fabrics, pigments, and the atomic level of matter. However, to inform
planning and design these four scales have been selected. Each of the wellness
strategies found within the four scales follow descriptions that articulate the well‑
ness strategies that possess the wellness benefits toward the wellness outcomes.
The ­STRATEGIES – BENEFITS – OUTCOMES relationship occurs when a strategy
is a planning or design measure that provides the benefit of physical, emotional,
mental, social, spiritual, financial, or environmental wellness, and the outcomes of
specific positive health and wellness responses such as reduced stress, improved
respiratory system, mental clarity, improved mood, spiritual renewal, improved pro‑
ductivity, and greenhouse gas sequestering. At the end of this chapter is a summary
table describing the design intentions, wellness strategies, and their references.
At the urban design scale, the planning and design strategies address spatial
organization and urban functional issues that affect the quality of well‑being, human
safety, and environmental protection. The urban design scale strategies address
mitigating natural disasters and, more specifically, climate change. The introduction
of renewable energy resources and infrastructure, carbon sequestering, and refor‑
estation are also important biophilic strategies. Land use diversity and appropriate
and useful mixes of use, density, integrated zoning, and urban growth by multi‑
plication rather than by mere addition, are effective wellness approaches. Further
strategies include modes of transportation, mobility and pedestrianization, reducing

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

or eliminating the negative impacts of automobiles, creating livable communities

and neighborhoods, the introduction of more parks and greenspaces, and finally
creation of accessible urban agriculture.

URBAN DESIGN SCALE STRATEGIES

Health and wellness strategies at the planning scale involve considerations for
cities, towns, and neighborhoods especially as they are affected by climate, natu‑
ral hazards, water shortages, and social inequity. The strategies address planning
considerations of climate change and location, density, mixes of use, responses
to rain and storm‑water, infrastructure efficiencies, low night light pollution, and
mobility and pedestrianization with access to varying modes of transportation.
This scale also considers agriculture and locally produced food. According to Fran
Baum, “The challenge for the twenty‑first century is crafting an ecological public
health in a way that acknowledges humans as part of the ecosystem, not separate
from it and not central to it.”10 This suggests more integrative approaches to plan‑
ning and human activities, especially in the context of health and wellness. Health
and wellness benefits from strategies at the planning scale range from improved
comfort and respiratory function to stress reduction and improved mental health.
They benefit in particular ways as previously discussed in Chapter 2 with physical,
psychological, mental, social, spiritual, economic, and environmental outcomes. The
planning scale strategies in this section include ecologically responsive form, effi‑
cient and renewable infrastructure design, mixed‑use zoning and provision of incu‑
bators, amenities, and social gathering places, access to public transportation with
emphasis on pedestrianization, and community allotments and urban agriculture.

1. Mitigating natural disasters and climate change

Natural disasters affect human habitation and survival, and are caused by the
convergence of damaging phenomena and vulnerable human settlements.
Natural disasters, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami (2004), Hurricane Katrina
(2005), the Kashmir earthquake (2005), cyclone Nargis (2008), the Haiti earth‑
quake (2010), the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami (2011), superstorm Sandy
(2012), the Mount Everest avalanche (2014), Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria
(2017), the Hawaii volcanic eruption (2018), the Australian wildfires (2019), and
the global COVID‑19 pandemic all contributed to a greater awareness of the
reoccurring dangers of our relationship and proximity to threatening events.
Mitigation strategies for natural disasters at the planning and urban design
scale include rethinking locations of future population growth, especially near
vulnerable areas near known hazards. Mitigation also means planning for pas‑
sive survivability and maintaining critical life‑support systems (power, water,
food, and medical supplies). Planning involves the implementation of resilient
communities with the ability to avoid and recover from disasters. Disasters
may create different types of losses, many of which may be difficult to quantify,
but include loss of property and well‑being.
Climate change and environmental degradation are also the consequences
of our contemporary condition, a situation the public has recently recognized.

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Human activity in cities and urban areas are the major causes of climate
change, and they also hold the greatest opportunity to mitigate it. In 2023 in
the United States, climate change affected both increases in summer tempera‑
tures especially in the southwest and increases in precipitation in the north‑
east. Global cooling in winter accompanies global warming and increasing low
temperatures, and the number of storms and weather anomalies. Mitigation
strategies for climate change at the planning and urban design scale include
reducing and stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, and
promoting renewable resources. This means reducing the burning of fos‑
sil fuels in the power, building, and transportation sectors. It also suggests
CO2 sequestering through surface material selection and urban landscaping.
According to NASA, this also means adapting to life in a changing climate
and reducing risk from the harmful effects of sea‑level rise, extreme weather
events, and food shortages.11 Our adverse impact on the environment is not
confined to climate change but also extends to other natural systems, giving
rise to a complex dynamic of environmental destabilization that has already
reached critical levels.12 Climate change and environmental degradation are
also the consequences of our contemporary condition; therefore, the loca‑
tion of new developments and maintenance of existing cities should carefully
be considered especially in terms of climate and local ecological processes.
Fortunately, most people live in temperate climate zones where there is less
need for exaggerated climatic planning interventions. Other climate zones
that experience greater extremes can have potential health and wellness risks
most often due to droughts, tropical storms, and extreme temperature swings.
Climate‑related hazards include temperature change, precipitation intensity,
windstorms, sea‑level rise, and increasing severe weather events.
Examples of climate‑oriented planning are focused on extreme polar and
desert climates, as seen in Figures 3.2a/b/d, in contrast to the architecture and
urban design in the mild Mediterranean climate of Santorini, Greece, Figure 3.2c.
Tromso, Norway is a built example of an extreme Arctic city planned in
response to its cold climate characteristics and is a gateway to the north,
Figure 3.2a. Summers are short, cool, and mostly cloudy and winters are
long, freezing, snowy, windy, and overcast. Tromso is experiencing some
effects of climate change with the melting of nearby glaciers, decreasing
polar ice, and slightly increasing temperatures. Tromso has a population of
over 77,000 inhabitants in which a large proportion of the population lives
within the compact city center. Wellness benefits include close contact with
beautiful nature including the midnight sun and Northern Lights. The majority
of the city exists on the island of Tromsoy adjacent to Tromsoysundet strait. Its
form is linear, somewhat compact, low and southeast facing, and protected
by local hills to the northwest. The cold climate is a cause for more introverted
living, which affects outdoor physical activity and social interactions. However,
wellness occurs with its stunning nature, colorful buildings, solar access to
south windows, healthcare system, national health insurance, the increase
of biotech and health tech industries, high standard of living, and increased
life expectancy.

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The elemental and ambient environmental forces became potential

form‑givers as illustrated in Ralph Erskine’s boreal climate image of “Arctic
City” or in the design of his Villa Strom in Stockholm (1961) where its compact
form, response to the low winter’s sun, and wind‑excluding devices responded
to the severe sub‑Arctic climate. Erskine’s interest in climatic design led to his
work on the Hedesunda Housing Cluster in Sweden, Figure 3.2b. Erskine’s
housing project in Hedesunda, built in 1989, employs a dramatic wind protec‑
tion form concept. The houses have highly insulated shed roofs deflecting the
wind over the cluster, while at the same time having the inner vertical façades
opened up to views of the river Dalalven and south for passive solar energy
gain. The north‑side sloping roofs extend high on the interior side directing the
cold winds up and away from the buildings and inner courtyard. For a project
located in such a cold and inhospitable place, the design shares a response to
the climatic conditions of the place while creating a warm sense of community
in the inner form of the buildings.13
Located on the north end of the island of Santorini, the village of Oia is
known for its quiet life, picturesque beauty, and fantastic sunsets. The crater‑­
side buildings are terraced and cascade down the steep slope; on the outer
perimeter, the land gently slopes to the Aegean Sea. At the top of the caldera
is a pedestrian main street that connects to shopping and restaurants and
enjoys sunset views. The overall landscape bears the aftermath of a volcanic
eruption. Climatic planning responses are present in the village of Oia and are
integrated to create a truly elemental urban environment. This is accomplished
through the south‑orientation of most dwellings and the high mass construc‑
tion. Energy costs are high; it is windy and winter temperatures are chilly and
humid. Small portable stoves are used for burning bush branches found on
the island. Cooling is accomplished through the flywheel effect of the earthen
caves and mass construction, and with the use of pergolas and canopies.
Light‑colored pavements and structures are employed to mitigate overheating
from the intense sun. Primarily pedestrian in nature, in many ways it is difficult
to articulate where buildings end and the urban fabric begins, Figure 3.2c.14
Design responses to arid climates are also important. The image in Fig‑
ure 3.2d shows the compact city of Zarqa, Jordan. The name Zarqa means “the
blue (city)” and once was a small Arab fortress, but now it is the third largest
city in Jordan. The summers are long, hot, and arid while the winters are typi‑
cally cold and mostly clear. The region receives very little rainfall with an annual
average of 7.2 inches which is considered arid and comparable to the state of
Nevada. The climatic design determinants for Zarqa include the relative density
of built form, narrow streets, high mass construction, light‑colored buildings,
small fenestrations, window screens or shades, flat roofs, rooftop water stor‑
age, some rooftop terraces, and interspersion of tree shading.
The planning strategies include the creation of climate‑responsive urban
forms, the use of renewable infrastructure, movement systems, land use and
density mixes, planning for solar gain or shading, and responses to natural dis‑
asters. The specific benefit pillars include physical, emotional, social, spiritual,

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3.2 and environmental benefits. More specifically, strategies include natural disas‑
Ecological
ter mitigation, maintaining infrastructure during disaster events, lower energy
Communities
a) Tromso, Norway, consumption, inclusion of nature within urban form, encouragement of social
b) Hedesunda interactions, potentially lower operating and energy costs, cultural and spiritual
Housing Cluster, connection to place, and pro‑social and pro‑environmental behaviors.
c) Santorini, Greece,
d) Zarqa, Jordan
(Sources: Shutterstock 2. Renewable infrastructure
and Wikimedia In the field of geography, infrastructure usually refers to the underlying struc‑
Commons)
ture of physical assets and services essential for society to function. This
includes the basic spatial structure of buildings and the network of transport
(roads, bridges, and subways), as well as electricity, gas, water, and sanitation
connections. Green infrastructure encompasses water management including
flooding, runoff, filtration, and capturing. The concept of renewable infrastruc‑
ture is relatively new and is intended to provide for the basic human needs,
and use renewable resources to drive the services, including solar and wind
energy, geothermal heating and cooling, hydroelectricity, biomass, rainwater
collection, storage and filtration, vegetated wetlands for waste treatment, and
food production. The challenge is converting existing urban environments, that
have been based upon fossil fuel technologies, into renewable infrastructures.
New York City’s remarkable High Line Park (2009 and 2011) was designed
in three sections by the landscape architecture firm, James Corner Field Opera‑
tions with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Theirs was a competition‑winning

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

proposal created as an aerial greenway elevated above the ground for one mile
along Manhattan’s West Side transforming the 1.45 mile (2.33 kilometer) sec‑
tion of the former New York Central Railroad spur running through the Chelsea
Neighborhood, Figure 3.3a. Originally it was a massive public‑private infrastruc‑
ture project done in the 1930s called “West Side Improvement” that elevated
dangerous freight trains 30 feet (9.1 meters) off the street level thereby avoid‑
ing conflict with pedestrians and cars on the ground below. The design was
described as part promenade, part town square, and part botanical garden – an
urban and nature integration or “agri‑tecture.”15
ReGen is a term for “regeneration,” where the outputs of one system are
inputs for another. In biology, it is the process of renewal, restoration, and new
growth. ReGen is an integrated and resilient development, and an experimen‑
tal model neighborhood of regenerative homes conceived in 2016 by James
Ehrlich from Denmark. The village of homes, based upon ongoing resiliency
research, is designed as energy positive with mixed renewable energy and stor‑
age systems, water harvesting and waste recycling, and high‑yield organic food
growing. Related specifically to wellness design, ReGen provides clean energy,
water, and food production. The village design combines a network of farms,
blue spaces, pedestrian connections, and regenerative infrastructure with
mixes of use and social gathering places. Their concept of a food hub addresses
the wellness benefits of nutrition, socialization, and emotional well‑being. The
benefits include encouragement of physical activity, stress reduction, positive
social interactions, carbon sequestering, and healthy nutritious food.
ReGen village is located in Oosterwold, Netherlands on a 50‑acre
(25‑­hectare) site. The design by EFFEKT Architects enhances resilience against
flooding, optimizes biodiversity, employs an integrated renewable infrastruc‑
ture with water storage facilities and waste‑to‑resource systems, electricity
production, and integrates local farming and food production. The nucleated
planning nests around public spaces, vertical food production, and commu‑
nity programs with individual interconnected dwelling‑greenhouses.16 Taken
together they form an off‑grid neighborhood focused on sustainability, infra‑
structure, and well‑being. Refer to Figures 3.3c/d for an aerial view of the
Helsinge Haveby conceptual design and an infrastructure plan.
The renewable infrastructure strategies most likely will be incremental inter‑
ventions to existing environments but can be incorporated within new planning
developments. Specific strategies include the use of renewable energy, collection
of rainwater, passive solar heating, photovoltaic solar farms, vegetated waste col‑
lection and purification, biomass systems, and geothermal heating and cooling,
which are all interconnected into a renewable infrastructural system. Green infra‑
structure reduces and treats stormwater at its source, and mitigates flood risk
by slowing and reducing stormwater discharge. The benefits include improved
response to variable external climatic conditions, improved comfort, utilization of
free natural resources and CO2 sequestering, and the creation of resource inde‑
pendence. Specific benefits include stress reduction, lower financial costs and
energy consumption, clean air and water, improved public health, and passive sur‑
vivability solutions in response to natural disasters and severe weather conditions.

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3.3 3. Land use diversity

Renewable
Infrastructure
Land use diversity, similar to biodiversity, is critical for urban vitality. This can be
a) New York accomplished through the integration of residential with commercial, civic and
High Line Park, recreational uses, and with the inclusion of nature. The benefits derive from the
b) Medellin
synergies, links, and accessibilities that are generated within an urban setting due
Gondola System,
c) Helsinge to the integration of different goods, services, functions, and activities. In terms of
Haveby Village, wellness, mixed‑use development promotes sustainability, safety, and wellness
Netherlands,
facilities. Land use diversity includes inclusionary zoning that seeks to promote
d) Helsinge Haveby
Infrastructure Plan affordability with employment and housing opportunities for workforce residents.
(Sources: Wikimedia Seaside, Florida is a small resort community located in the Florida panhan‑
Commons, Wikipedia, dle and is considered one of the first examples of the New Urbanism move‑
and Phillip Tabb)
ment in the United States. Designed by Duany Platter‑Zyberk, the planned
design features a traditional town grid spatial structure, pedestrian walkways
and alleyways, differing building types, and mixes of use. Houses are posi‑
tioned close to the sidewalks and streets with no private front lawns, though
they do have front porches. Most houses have rooftop terraces, decks, or
rooms with views to the Gulf of Mexico. The mixes of use include several
restaurants, a grocery store, an ice‑cream shop, clothing stores, gift shops, a
school, a chapel, swimming pools, recreation area, and a post office. This diver‑
sity of land use mixes contributes to gathering points, places of interaction,
and a sense of community. The activities also contribute to pedestrianization
with a diminished need for automobile use to get around.
Seaside is not strictly a residential community meaning that most resi‑
dents are not permanent residents, rather they visit to experience the gulf

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and beaches as a second home or vacation destination resort. As such, there

exist many health and wellness strategies that generate many benefits. These
include pedestrian ease of movement through community walkability seaside
activities, control of automobile traffic except on the main county road A‑30,
and stress reduction with the provision of many quiet places integrated into
the physical plan and along the beach. Promotion of pro‑social behaviors occurs
through the many dining, shopping, and casual encounter opportunities for
gathering, and pro‑environmental behaviors due to the experience of the abun‑
dant sunshine, the elements, and particularly the Gulf of Mexico.
Another example of land use diversity is the village of Titchfield located on
the south coast of England in the county of Hampshire. The urbanized portions
of Titchfield occurred within a one‑kilometer diameter circle and, according
to the 1981 census, housed 2,517 people in 891 dwellings. For this popula‑
tion, there was a high degree of mixed use with 67 non‑residential land uses,
businesses and services, including two schools, four greengrocers, a grocery
store, a chemist, medical surgery, a post office, a bookstore, a butcher, baker,
hair salon, hardware store, two hotels, a parish church, gasoline station, and
four pubs.17 A photograph taken in 1840 showed the commercial businesses
and trades that existed in the central square. They remain today almost intact
and in the same locations. It is interesting to see the essential businesses
and services necessary for basic everyday functioning clustered together with
easy pedestrian access. The wellness strategies include the combination of its
walkable density and inclusion of mixes of uses that are accessible, serve criti‑
cal life‑support functions, and the central village square and community green
support social interactions. The river Meon and the landscape fingers provide
close contact with nature.
Strategies for land use diversity include a move away from single‑use
zoning to integrated zoning that includes residential, commercial, cultural, insti‑
tutional, open space, and residual uses including wellness‑oriented goods, ser‑
vices, and businesses. This includes planning for closer connections of homes
and residential areas to schools, grocery stores, health care facilities, and parks
and recreation. This also means planning for public transportation networks,
and pedestrian and bicycle movement connections. At the panning scale,
sprawl development, redlining, and single‑use zoning, as well as automobile‑­
dominant spatial structures are considered detrimental to sustainability objec‑
tives and to human health and wellness.
The 15‑minute city which is a mixed‑use planning concept that places criti‑
cal daily necessities and services within a 15‑minute walk, bike ride, or public
transit ride from any point in the city.18 Activities like work, shopping, groceries,
education, healthcare, and leisure are accessible to all residents. This brings
to the forefront the need for clear boundary articulations and the replication
of goods and services on smaller scales. The replication of mixes of use could
be alleviated to some degree by merchandise delivery services or by theming
differing non‑residential uses and distributing them over multiple neighbor‑
hoods or settlements. Multiplication is not a new concept as villages across the
world were initially sustainable in this way when automobiles were not used.

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In England for example, 10,000 villages were established in the Anglo‑Saxon

period (410–1066 AD) and were essentially self‑sustaining. However, today,
the 15‑minute walk to goods and services is desirable in urban, suburban, and
peri‑urban contexts where people want walkable communities. The diagram in
Figure 3.5c illustrates the multiplication of a series of 15‑minute settlements as
based on the work of Studio PDP. This could be a good model for future growth
and densification in lower‑to‑moderate density locations.
The benefits of land use diversity and spatial mix include places for social
interactions, uses accommodating critical needs, products, and services, use
of natural resources and accommodating needs locally, with public spaces that
respond to a range of users (children through older adults), reduced travel dis‑
tances, and reduced reliance on the automobile to connect residential districts
to critical life‑support functions. It encourages synergies and accessibilities
3.4 bringing together origins and destinations both in terms of concentrated as
Land Use Diversity
a) Seaside, Florida,
well as dispersed mixes. Research has shown that a higher mix of land uses
b) Titchfield or a balance of residential and retail uses generates more walking activity. They
Village, UK in 1985, include the development of placemaking and community, improved response
c) Titchfield, UK in
to variable external climatic conditions, improved connections, stress reduc‑
1840
(Sources: Shutterstock
tion, increased positive moods, financial benefits, and promotion of pro‑social
and Phillip Tabb) behaviors.

Seaman
Laborer East Street
Laundress
Carpenter Brewery
Dressmaker
School Master
Gardener Butcher
Southampton Hill Boys Academy

Laundress
Bricklayer
Queens Boots & Shoes
Head Post Office
Baker
Bricklayer Independent
Dressmaker Chapel
Retired School
Baker Teachers
Book
Seller Doctor
Carpenter
Fundholder
Grocer Ironmonger
The Square Super Market
Tanner
Laundress
Shoe Maker
Fellmonger
Dressmaker
Tailer
Bugle Inn
Grocer
Accountant
Draper
Shod & Harness
West Street Church Street
Blacksmith Draper Shoe Maker

Butcher

Titchfield Square Non-Residential Functions

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

4. Growth by multiplication
Until the 1800s, the world’s population was less than one billion people; in
1930 it doubled, and 30 years later it reached three billion. By the millennium
it reached six billion, and by 2015 the world’s population measured more than
seven billion people. In that same year over a billion people migrated both
within their own countries or abroad. The world population is projected to
increase by more than one billion people within the next 15 years, reaching
8.6 billion in 2030, and projected to increase further to 9.8 billion by 2050 and
11.2 billion by 2100. Such growth will have an enormous impact on natural
resources and increased consumption.19
“Limits to Growth” was a pioneering report modeling the interactions and
consequences between natural and human‑made systems.20 It was another
poignant warning that the growing world population was reaching the limits
of its carrying capacity of finite planetary resource supplies. The pattern of
exponential growth was analyzed using five variables: world population, indus‑
trialization, pollution, food production, and resource depletion.
An important dimension of growth is the actual method and form of the
growth. According to architect Leon Krier, growth by addition expanded beyond
the human scale.21 This pattern usually begins at a center and expands outward
in concentric circles, either by urban extension, unplanned sprawl, or by infill or
conversion of nonurban to urban uses within the urban area. Isolated growth is
characterized by development existing outside of the primary urban area. In the
industrialized world, this process has been enabled by the automobile, which
provides access to employment, education, shopping, and cultural activities.
However, another growth pattern occurs where community size reaches
rational human limits, and then grows by a system of multiplication. This pat‑
tern suggests an optimum size based on nucleation and pedestrian access
to goods and services. When this size is reached, it shifts to another location
where the nucleation process begins again. Growth by gross addition might
better be achieved through the intelligent multiplication of populations in sync
with the carrying capacities of our local ecological regions. This, too, is referred
to as “systemic constellating urbanism.”22
One of the determining factors for the size of a settlement (campus,
neighborhood, hamlet, small city) is the travel distance for walking and cycling
between an urban or neighborhood center and the farthest outlying dwellings.
According to the National Household Travel Survey, the average distance in
the United States for a walking trip was 0.7 miles and a travel time of less
than 15 minutes. The average bicycling distance is 2.3 miles and approximately
19 minutes.23 For pedestrians at 15 minute and bicycles between 20‑ and
30‑minute trips, the boundary limit can be determined for nucleated neighbor‑
hoods. The wellness effects of this pattern of urban form and the resulting
pedestrianization are many. Refer to the diagram of Figure 3.5c that indicates a
constellation of small, nucleated hamlets connected by a main road, bike paths,
and pedestrian pathways. They become a network of wholes within wholes.
Settlement land area can be increased in size while maintaining pedestrianiza‑
tion. This occurs with the introduction of public transport systems with access

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 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

3.5 to all residential districts. Transit‑oriented development is not a new idea, and
Growth by
there are compact, walkable, pedestrian‑oriented, mixed‑use communities
Multiplication
a) Biking in the centered around high‑quality public transit systems.
Neighborhood, A polynucleated scheme can occur with urban neighborhoods, subur‑
b) Walking to ban clusters, or with peri‑urban perimeter settlements. Since this describes
School, c) Growth
by Multiplication
horizontal territory, the density can vary. Nucleated settlements and neighbor‑
and the 15‑Minute hoods can accommodate both dispersed as well as concentrated mixes of
Cities Diagram non‑residential uses. Principle benefits are the inclusion of mixes of use, espe‑
(Sources: Shutterstock,
cially if they represent critical, wellness, and sustainable life‑support functions,
Phillip Tabb)
closeness to agricultural land, increased pedestrianization, increased social
interaction, creation of an identifiable sense of place, and increased access to

85 ◻
◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

nature and openspace. The wellness benefits include increased physical, emo‑
tional, and cognitive health, and support of pro‑social and pro‑environmental
behaviors. If there is a variety of non‑residential land uses spread throughout a
network of nucleated settlements, then health services co‑exist.
Figure 3.5c is a diagram of multiple neighborhoods designed to the
15‑minute walking distance. While it is not a real design, it does indicate a
theoretical concept of repeating walkable neighborhoods with nucleated cent‑
ers, non‑residential mixed‑use themes, and a network of bike and pedestrian
paths. Gilston villages near Harlow, UK is a good example of neighborhoods
that are multiplied. It is planned for a buildout of 2,300 homes by Grimshaw
Architects. This network of villages is part of a larger UK plan to relieve over‑
crowding around London and provides for some 200,000 new homes across
the country. The villages and neighborhoods will incorporate a mix of uses
including retail, commercial, institutional, educational, parklands, and employ‑
ment opportunities as well as affordable housing. There will be extended bus
services and extensive bicycle and pedestrian networks. The villages are sur‑
rounded by agricultural land, and portions will be designated for biodiversity
and wildlife habitats.

5. Mobility and pedestrianization

Mobility is an important, if not critical, human need and within the urban
environment, it takes on many different modes from walking, biking and
golfcarts to automobiles, high‑speed trains, and airplanes. From a health and
wellness point of view, those modes that support greater physical activity
are healthier. Automobile traffic is both a curse and a blessing as it creates
danger and stress while also creating convenient and quick connections.
Creating people‑centered city planning, superblocks, pedestrian walkways
and zones, low‑traffic neighborhoods, the 15‑minute city, and car‑free urban
spaces are increasing in numbers across the world.24 The benefits are many
with reduced air pollution and greenhouse gas production, lower stress,
increased access to nature, improved streetscape aesthetics, and greater
safety and opportunities for social interaction. The 15‑minute city concept is
a strategy in which mixed‑use zoning and pedestrian mobility are planned
in such a way as to provide critical daily necessities and services within a
15‑minute walk or 20‑minute bike ride. That is access to shops, schools, doc‑
tors, the gym, parks, restaurants, and other cultural activities. This strategy
aims to reduce automobile dependency, promote healthy and sustainable
living, and increase quality of life.
Pontevedra is a city located in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula in
Spain and has a long history of maritime trade. By the end of the 1990s,
Pontevedra was dominated by automobile traffic and congestion, especially
within the historic city center not designed for it, and was considered dirty
and dangerous. Pontevedra is known for its aggressive urban planning strat‑
egy of pedestrianization of its historic city center and creating an automobile‑­
free environment. The plan incrementally limited the use of automobiles and

86 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

service vehicles and reduced speed limits. One can cross the entire city in
25 minutes. The purpose was to make the city more accessible, especially
to the most vulnerable, senior citizens, children, and those who were handi‑
capped. The city estimates that automobile use has dropped 77% and CO2
emissions have decreased by 66%. Now people walk. Family‑centered ser‑
vices have moved from outside to within the city center. Schools, maternity
and pediatric services, libraries, cultural activities, and children’s boot camps
have either remained or have been relocated into the city center.25 Wellness
benefits include increased physical activity, less noise and stress, abundant
social meeting places, increased birthrates, and greater access to nature.
The Millennium Footbridge in London is another example of a pedestri‑
anization wellness strategy. Opened in 2000, it functions to connect Bankside
with the City of London 1,066 feet (325 meters) across the river Thames link‑
ing on axis with St. Paul’s Cathedral on the north side and the Tate Modern
and Globe Theater to the south. No vehicles are allowed to use it; therefore, it
is less dangerous and polluting. Approximately 2,000 people are on the foot‑
bridge at any given time. The wellness benefits are its accessibility to important
places on both sides of the Thames, the reduction of greenhouse gasses, the
ensuing physical activity, and access to the outdoors. The most obvious well‑
ness strategy is the accessibility and connections created by the function of
the bridge crossing the river Thames, and other strategies are also present
including openness to fresh air, views of the river, a place to meet, and chewing
gum art. Refer to Figure 3.6b.
A pedestrian strategy in the US is Nevada City Cohousing. This is a
multi‑generational rural community in the Sierra Foothills near Nevada City,
California. Located on 11 acres (4.45 ha) of land, it accommodates openspace,
gardens, walking trails, residences, and commercial buildings. Cohousing is a
form of community where there is private ownership of homes while sharing
certain community aspects of life. Common to the shared activities are com‑
munal meals, greenhouses, laundry, guest facilities, shared equipment, mail‑
room, and childcare. Typically, cohousing projects are pedestrian‑oriented, and
automobiles are peripheral with the exception of emergency vehicle access.
There are no garages and circulation throughout the community occurs with
landscapes and paths. The streetscape is a living space and is friendly and
encourages interaction with nature and among the residents. The wellness
strategies include strategic connections with nature and one another promot‑
ing pro‑individual, pro‑social, and pro‑environmental behaviors. The wellness
benefits include positive associations with physical and mental health, and
quality of life, life satisfaction, and well‑being. There is a sense of community,
a decrease in isolation especially for seniors, and increases in social support,
safety, and economic security. This example suggests that not only cohousing
communities, but also those that are pedestrian in character with close ties to
nature can produce the positive effects. Refer to Figure 3.6c.
In the United States there are approximately 1.2 million miles of urban
roads and streets. The proportion between rural and urban roads varies from

87 ◻
◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

3.6
Pedestrianization
state to state. Pedestrianization is a reassessment of the function of the com‑ a) Pontevedra City
Center, Spain,
mute and the character of streets that connect residential properties. This
b) London
presents a huge opportunity for pedestrian places. If no longer dominated Millennium
by automobile access, the streets can become environments that are safe, Footbridge,
friendly, more natural, and full of life and vitality. They become social spaces c) Nevada City,
California Cohousing
and opportunities for casual encounters and connections to nature. Refer to
(Sources: Alamy,
Figure 3.6c for a pedestrian street image for the Cohousing Development in Wikimedia Commons,
Nevada City, California. Streetscapes that are human in scale, with wide side‑ and Charles R. Durrett)

walks, that are treelined with places to sit, include on‑street parking, and have
slower automobile speed limits are safer with far fewer serious accidents and
higher rates of survival from lifelong debilitating illnesses.26
Commuting to work by automobile can produce negative health effects,
including elevated stress, increased blood pressure, increased exposure to air
pollution, and possible accidents.27 Average US commute time is nearly an hour
(52.2 minutes) per day. Due to reduced exercise, there is an increase in weight
along with sleep disorders. Long commutes can cause poor prolonged posture
and musculoskeletal problems resulting in compressed veins and arteries in
the legs as well as vertebrate compression. Commuting can lead to unhappi‑
ness, bad moods, lower life satisfaction, and have adverse effects on socializa‑
tion.28 According to Psychology Today, research has shown that long commutes
have caused depression and can replace healthy time with family and friends.29
With nearly 90% of daily trips in the US taking place in personal vehicles, it is
no wonder that pedestrianization and compact mixed‑use communities are a
welcome alternative.
The pedestrianization concept of “free‑range parenting,” while contro‑
versial is gaining momentum. The concept is not a new one, in fact for gen‑
erations even centuries, children were allowed to play freely often without
parental supervision. In our modern society however, the issue is one of
safety versus growth and freedom. The answer lies within the contexts where
support and safety exist, and free‑range parenting might be encouraged. For
pedestrian‑oriented neighborhoods that are populated by people, neighbors,
and other children, free‑range parenting can occur with safety nets. Not every
parent will agree, but for those who do, there can be advantages. Benefits
include promoting self‑confidence and self‑sufficiency, engaging with nature
and active play, and improving social and communication skills. The negative
consequences are usually cited as increased risk of harm without constant

88 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

supervision, a lack of supportive community environments, and the possibility

of neglect ensuing government interventions.30
The benefits of pedestrianization include a reduction of automobile use,
possible decreases in congestion, crashes, injuries, pollution and noise, and
increases in physical activity, lower blood pressure, increased respiratory func‑
tion, improved cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness, increased positive mood,
increased safety, boosts in immune function, while supporting cultural and spir‑
itual connection to place, and promoting pro‑social behaviors and pro‑(urban)
environmental behaviors.

6. Livable communities
Cities are now considered healthier than suburban living in terms of human
well‑being, with socializing, reduced obesity, engagement with more exer‑
cise, a more balanced lifestyle, happiness, and livable urban neighborhoods
as the prime elicitors. They provide opportunities for aging in place, promo‑
tion of physical activity, have greater accessibility, and have closer access to
employment. Livable communities can occur in either cities or suburbs, and
have goods, activities, and services that support daily living and are accessible
by walking or biking. A wellness community is a group of people living near
one another sharing common goals, interests, and experiences in proactively
pursuing a holistic lifestyle across its many dimensions.
In 1958 Evarts Loomis, considered the father of holistic medicine, pur‑
chased land southeast of Los Angeles and opened the first holistic live‑in
retreat called Meadowlark which functioned for 33 years. The guests could
participate in art and music therapy, classes on yoga and meditation, acupunc‑
ture treatments, bodywork, biofeedback training, and therapeutic fasts, all of
which led to a deeper understanding of illness and healing.31
Another example is the city of Boulder, Colorado that has often been seen
as an attractive college town nestled up against the foothills of the Rocky
Mountains. With a well‑defined city center and university district, the city is
further defined by fairly distinct neighborhoods. It is also known for its intel‑
lectual diversity and cultural amenities. In 1971, Boulder residents voted for
a population growth cap thereby limiting growth by addition, but rather by
multiplication and densification from within. Boulder is a walkable community
with a greenbelt surrounding the city and trails and bike paths throughout the
city. The Mapleton Hill Neighborhood is one of the oldest, established in the
1880s, and has been designated a Historic District. There is a strong sense
of community within the neighborhood with its variety of historic styles and
types of architecture, picturesque streets and neighborhood school, and close
access to mountain trails and the downtown. There are 500 dwellings, one of
the oldest elementary schools, hospital facilities, the first public library, and
200 silver maple trees and mature landscaping. Wellness occurs with a strong
sense of community, sense of place, access to nature, quiet friendly streets,
and access to surrounding amenities. Mapleton Hill is known for its tree‑lined
Mapleton Boulevard that passes through the neighborhood and into the foot‑
hills beyond, Figures 3.7a/b.

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

Trilith is a new neighborhood and mixed‑use development launched in 2016 3.7

Livable
and being realized outside of Fayetteville, Georgia southeast of Atlanta. When
Neighborhoods
complete, it will be comprised of 1,400 homes and nearly 400,000 square feet a) Mapleton Hill
of commercial space near the Marvel Studios. There are 600 single‑family dwell‑ Neighborhood,
Boulder, Colorado,
ings, 100 townhomes, and apartments. Residential plot sizes are relatively small
b) Mapleton
ranging between 1,800 and 3,200 square feet. The smaller dwelling types fit a Avenue, c) Trilith
growing market of smaller households. Some 70% of homes are apartments. Openspace,
More than half of the residences face onto a green street or park. The final buil‑ d) Trilith Overview
(Sources: Wikimedia
dout is estimated at 5,000 residents. The architectural language is inspired by
Commons, Lew Oliver,
European vernacular village designs. Garages are in the rear of dwellings and and David Cannon
de‑emphasized. Planned by planner Lew Oliver, Trilith won the 2021 Congress Photography)

for the New Urbanism Award in the Neighborhood District category, Figure 3.7d.
The masterplan is divided into three areas with residential, commercial, and
recreational land uses. There are 235 acres of land dedicated to preservation,
with parks and greenspaces comprising 51% of the development. Trilith Village
includes coffee shops, restaurants, a multiplex, fitness facilities, retail shops,
and community gathering spaces. Nearby are healthcare facilities and the For‑
est School. It is the combination of density, scale, pedestrianization, and access
to the commercial and recreational functions that render it a livable community.
Due to its exurban location and forested land surrounding it, Trilith has a strong
sense of identity. Close by are the Trilith Studios which grew out of the UK‑based

90 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

Pinewood Studio. Now the Studio is being branded as not only an entertainment
venue, but also as a community ecosystem composed of live‑work opportunities.
Both older and newer livable neighborhoods share common characteristics
which include scale, diversity of land use mixes, and varying dwelling sizes and
types. As seen in Figures 3.7a/b, The Mapleton Hill Neighborhood in Boulder,
Colorado is a century old with varying styles and ages of buildings and a strong
integration of nature. Figures 3.7c/d are photographs of the newly constructed
Trilith Community in southeast Atlanta, Georgia. Each of these communities
has a strong identity and sense of place, and is walkable, has a mix of uses,
and has close access to nature. Mapleton is established and Trilith is new, but
both have a human scale that contributes to wellness.
The strategies include passive survivability that focuses on planning and
designing adaptations for adverse weather events and natural disasters, includ‑
ing power outages, extreme temperatures, drought, viral transmissions, and
terrorism threats. Critical life‑support systems are kept intact and maintained
throughout the debilitating event. These add to the livability of a community.
Other strategies include the incorporation of land use mixes appropriate to the
scale of a small community, the creation of identifiable boundaries and coher‑
ent networks of pathways and pedestrian sidewalks, the provision of outdoor
public pedestrian spaces, the inclusion of nature within, and more friendly
and safer streets. The specific benefits of such strategies include increased
activity, lower blood pressure, increased respiratory function, cardiovascular
and pulmonary fitness and positive mood, increased safety, boosts to immune
function, enhanced cultural and community sense of place, and promotion of
pro‑social behaviors.

7. Parks, greenspaces, and streetscapes

Around 2009, most of the developed world was urban, making parks and
greenspaces greatly appreciated within the urban environment. They provide
access to nature, blue spaces, recreation, and urban agriculture as well as other
biophilic benefits. The three primary biophilic principles derive from the inter‑
actions of the nature‑human‑built environments, and often are influenced by
urban parks and openspaces. As in any triad, one part interacts with the other
two creating multiple relationships. The positive outcomes of nature affect
humans in beneficial ways, and it is from nature that the built environment
materializes. Human interactions are influenced by both experiences of nature
and the built environment. According to Kaplan and Kaplan, landscapes today
that resemble savannas or are parklike are preferred.32
Greenspaces are undeveloped landscapes, wild places, protected natu‑
ral areas, openspace reserves, wetlands, and water and greenways moving
through the urban fabric. Building landscaping, greenroofs, gardens, tree‑lined
streetscapes, and urban agriculture are also considered greenspaces. While
not strictly “green,” plazas, squares, courtyards, and promenades contribute to
health effects through social interaction. The wellness benefits of parks, greens‑
paces, and biophilic environments are well documented. According to the Urban
Institute, parks and greenspaces intrinsically support healthy and productive

91 ◻
◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

lifestyles, contribute to resilient and cohesive communities, and produce posi‑

tive health outcomes, such as a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
cancer, and heart disease with averted health expenditures. In addition, they
can help reduce stress levels and improve mood. Benefits occur with mental,
emotional, social, and environmental wellness with physical health impacted the
most.33 The inclusion of parks and greenspaces has economic benefits including
increased property values, tax revenues, increased tourism and branding poten‑
tial, improved environmental health, and improved aesthetics.
Probably one of the most well‑known parks is Central Park in the center
of Manhattan, New York City, Figure 3.8a. Designed in 1858 to address the
recreational needs of the rapidly growing city, its purpose was to give urban
dwellers an experience of the countryside, access to nature, bridal paths, a
meandering stream and lakes, skating rinks, a zoo, and a variety of landscapes.
Designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the park has more than
18,000 trees that today provide a habitat for wildlife, cooling the heat‑island
effect, and is aiding in carbon sequestering. The park encourages walking in
fresh air and an escape from the confines of internally conditioned air. The park
is sometimes referred to as the “lungs” of the city. During COVID‑19, the park
provided a newfound place of refuge.
James Oglethorpe established Savannah, Georgia in 1733, which has
long been an excellent example of early American planning. Originally it was
planned with four squares named after each ward, and by 1851 there were
20‑established squares. It is for these 24 nature‑filled squares located evenly
throughout the original town fabric that Savannah is most recognized. Each of
the squares measure approximately 200 feet (61 meters) from east to west,
but they vary from north to south from approximately 100 to 300 feet (30–
91 meters). Buildings located along the east‑west sides of the squares typi‑
cally house civic functions, while north‑south blocks are residential (tythings),
­Figure 3.8b. The key wellness strategy is to incorporate and/or preserve parks
and greenspaces at the beginning of the planning process allowing for ade‑
quate inclusion and meaningful integration.
The Forsyth Park designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted is located in the center
of Savannah and was one of 20 proposed squares in the 1840s. Figure 3.8c
shows Forsyth Park which is Savannah’s oldest and largest park with 30 acres
(12 ha) of land. Its amenities include tennis and basketball courts, grassy fields,
scenic wheelchair‑friendly paths, an amphitheater, a fragrant garden for the
blind, and a quaint café. Lush greenery and Spanish moss‑draped live oaks sur‑
round the perimeter of the fountain, as well as many park benches, so travelers
and locals can sit back, relax, and take in the fountain’s majestic charm. The
dispersion of the parks within the urban fabric of the older city allows for easy
access to their physical, social, and environmental benefits.
In 2010, the automobile‑dominated street of Lancaster Boulevard, Cali‑
fornia was transformed into a vibrant pedestrian streetscape, and is becom‑
ing a central hub, shopping district, and community focus in the heart of its
downtown, Figure 3.8d. Designed by David Sargent and Elizabeth Moule, it

92 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

3.8
Parks and
Openspaces
a) Central Park,
Manhattan,
b) Savannah,
Georgia Park Plans,
c) Forsyth Park,
Savannah, Georgia,
d) Lancaster,
California
Streetscape
(Sources: Shutterstock,
Phillip Tabb, and
Wikimedia Commons)

93 ◻
◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

comprised a three‑quarters of a mile (1.2 kilometer) segment. Streetscape

strategies include creating or reinforcing a sense of place, spurring social
and economic opportunities, providing shading, carbon sequestering, street
vendors, new pedestrian lighting, bike lanes, wayfinding signage, gateway
markers, verges, and paved sidewalks. They can be “sticky,” in that they are
streets posing a challenge to get through, not because of barriers or block‑
ages, but because of so many enticing opportunities to participate in public
life. Streetscapes are safe, accessible, sticky, and beautiful providing a wealth
of health, wellness, and biophilic benefits.

8. Urban agriculture
Urban farming is a local food system of growing plants and raising livestock in
and around cities, as opposed to traditional rural areas. Today, 800 million people
around the world rely on urban agriculture for access to fresh, healthy foods. Urban
agriculture comprises 15 to 20% of the global food supply. Urban agriculture, which
is considered a complement to rural agriculture, includes different scales from
commercial agricultural facilities to household‑level production and is widely prac‑
ticed by society in areas of rapid urbanization, cities, suburbs, and towns. Urban
agriculture is versatile, allowing for different crops to be grown. This provides urban
communities with direct access and control over nutritious and locally‑produced
food, which creates jobs and boosts the local economy. Urban farming is also good
for the environment and positively impacts household food security.34
Urban agriculture occurs in several ways including agriculture along streets
and in derelict sites, urban land secured for agricultural allotments, growing
on building rooftops, and vertical farming. They include farmers markets, rural
cooperatives, aquaculture, hydroponics, beekeeping, urban fisheries and for‑
ests, animal husbandry, as well as indoor growing practices. Urban farms
typically tend to utilize intensive production techniques on smaller land bases,
including vertical growing and rooftops. Principal food products are fresh veg‑
etables, herbs, fruit, and meat and poultry. In the United States the average
urban and peri‑urban farm site size is nine acres.35 Regenerative urban agri‑
culture is based upon principles of using natural resources (sun, water, soil,
biodiversity, and human social interactions).36
Most grocery stores have food that travels as much as 1,500 miles to
reach the shelves. The concept of a 100‑mile diet proposes the idea of ending
global purchasing in favor of eating locally by only obtaining food produced
within a 100‑mile radius of your home. People engaging with the 100‑mile diet
are considered “locavores.” The strategy is simple, either growing or purchas‑
ing locally grown food including produce, fresh meat, and dairy products. Prin‑
cipal benefits include a lower carbon footprint, less wasteful, fresher food with
higher nutritional value, and support for the local economy. This concept also
suggests starting home or community gardens. It can reduce “food‑miles”
or the distance between food sources and home destinations. According to
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 88% of Americans use the automobile to
get to the grocery store at an average distance of 2.2 miles. Dispersing urban
agriculture can reduce these numbers.37

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 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

3.9 Vertical farms are not new as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were the
Urban Agriculture
first known vertical farms. In Armenia, a hydroponic tower was constructed in
a) Urban Allotments
in Long Island, NY, 1951. More recently, vertical farms were expanded upon by Dickson Despom‑
b) Rooftop Farming, mier. Vertical farming allows for the conservation of land resulting in higher
c) Vertical Farming crop yield per square foot of land, reduced water usage, can produce food
in Singapore
year‑around, can be dispersed and located in denser urban areas and nearer to
(Sources: Wikimedia
Commons and residential districts for easier access, and easier controls against pests.38 Some
Shutterstock) disadvantages include high initial costs, the need for specialized equipment,
technologies, and processes, and can be energy intensive. Refer to Figure 3.9c
for a rooftop vertical farm.
The strategies include appropriate site locations and urban agriculture
zones with easy access to residential districts in city centers and suburbs,
encouraging community engagement, and integration and distribution of urban
agriculture from farms to parks to gardens. Urban agriculture can absorb and
help reduce rainfall runoff. The specific benefits include improved response
to variable external climatic conditions, improved nutrition and food security,
expanded educational opportunities for children, promotion of biodiversity,
CO2 sequestering, improved indoor‑outdoor access, stress reduction, a focus
and sense of community, and financial benefits to lower supply chain energy
consumption. Indoor urban agriculture need not be as sensitive to seasonal
changes. They can support pro‑social and pro‑environmental behaviors.

9. Rural-urban transect
A transect is a transverse section through a landscape originally used for ana‑
lyzing natural landscapes and ecological zones for biodiversity, and for sur‑
veying waterline perimeters and water bodies. They were used in the 19th
century by Sir Patrick Geddes for valley sections to identify the most favorable
places for human habitation. Applied to urban planning, the rural‑to‑urban tran‑
sect serves to spatially organize urban density along a continuum from low to
high density, and to transition green and open spaces along the transect with
greater amounts at the perimeter and more public spaces at the center. It is an
ordering device designed to create a smooth and fluid transition of a buildup
of the built urban form. It can function in small hamlets, neighborhoods, vil‑
lages, small towns. and even cities although at the larger scales it may be an
over‑simplified approach, may lose identity due to scale, and may become too
“single zoned.” In the 1980s the transect was utilized by New Urban planners,
such as Leon Krier and Duany Plater‑Zyberk. Their work created zones of vary‑
ing density from rural areas to low‑density zones to increasing density of built

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

form and larger mixed‑use building types at the neighborhood or settlement

center.39 What renders the transect a wellness strategy is its accommoda‑
tion of cross‑rural agricultural land with vibrant cross‑urban cultural activities
and opportunities for cross‑pollination. The transect incorporates areas of high
environmental, agricultural, or scenic quality, a variety of residential (varying
housing types) and commercial spaces (higher densities, pedestrianization,
retail, mixed use, workplaces, and civic uses) into a distinct yet fluid sequence
of spaces. It allows for choice and equity with varying choices of where to live
along the transect.
The natural transect in Figure 3.10a shows the transition downhill from the
conifer forest to grasslands, and finally to deciduous trees along the streambed
and the river water. Density increases as the rural road enters and approaches
the village center.40 The point at which a hamlet is entered is called the “thresh‑
old of dispersion.” Buildings are placed closer to the road and closer to one
another. Conversely, the landscape does the reverse with buffers between
the road and dwellings at the perimeter. Then they progress to the center with
mature trees along paths and walled‑in gardens with connections to the village
center occurring in the rear. The transect with greenspaces, bus stops, and the
central village square are considered “third places,” a concept addressed by
Robert Putnam that are social spaces separate from home and work offering
crucial civic engagements and community building.41 These third places provide
opportunities for re‑engaging lost social capital. Pictured in Figure 3.10b is an
aerial view of a rural‑urban transect in Lasowice Village, Poland showing the
lower density at the edge and a build‑up at the center. The greater density of
built forms and indoor‑outdoor spaces contribute to a sense of community.
What makes these villages so compelling is the fluid transition, the role of
architecture in defining space along the transect, and the inclusion of landscape
elements from rural land to village centers.
The rural‑to‑urban transect is an intentional spatial strategy with specific
elements of design. First is the changing relationship between the progres‑
sion of a predominant natural, agricultural or landscape environment to the
increasing density of built form. The material character of the transect along
streets can vary from rural to urban outdoor rooms. The transect provides three
contexts: the rural, transitional, and the urban. Each of these contexts require
specific strategies and offer differing sets of benefits with some occurring
through each context. The specific wellness benefits from this strategy are
access to nature and agriculture, exposure to biophilic attributes, access to
social and cultural spaces, experience of sticky streets along the transect,
and urban wayfinding. The transect accommodates differing street types and
parking solutions that in turn affect pedestrianization and public safety. In com‑
munities supporting passive and active solar energy collection, the transect
can help inform varying levels of solar access as a function of the density of
built form and area requirements of solar collection. At the rural end of the
transect, a high degree of solar access can be achieved for all buildings while
at the urban end, shorter setbacks and verges, higher buildings, and increased
shading can be problematic generally limiting access only to top floors and

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 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

3.10 rooftops. The transect provides biophilic and sustainable benefits as well as
Rural‑Urban
synergistically connecting nature to people. It solicits pro‑individual, pro‑social,
Transect
a) Natural Transect, and pro‑environmental behaviors at the urban scale. Refer to figure 3.10c which
b) Lasowice Village, is a rural‑to‑urban transect diagram adapted from Andrew Thorburn, Leon Krier,
Poland Transect and Andras Duany and Brian Falk.
c) Rural‑to‑Urban
Transect
(Sources: Wikimedia
Planning and urban design scale summary
Commons, Shutterstock,
and Phillip Tabb) The planning scale offers opportunities for specific design strategies to incorporate
health and wellness benefits that range from positive responses to ecological and
hydrological cycles, climate change mitigation, reduction of greenhouse gas emis‑
sions, and encouragement of physical activity through greater pedestrian connec‑
tions and networks. This scale offers the opportunity to create a more seamless
connection between urban (climatic forms, renewable infrastructure, mixes of use,
and the positive effects of densification) and nature (parks, green streetscapes, and
urban agriculture). This scale also sets the scene and physical context within which
the other scales are emplaced (architecture, interiors, and landscapes). Due to the
larger impact of the planning scale, wellness design strategies and opportunities

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◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

can quite easily be addressed with both existing and new construction. The out‑
comes at this scale contribute to pro‑individual benefits through intimate and
everyday wellness strategies, contribute to pro‑social benefits through fostering
community and family and friend gatherings in public settings, and contribute to
pro‑environmental benefits through protection from negative climatic effects and
positive interactions with urban nature. It must be noted here that implementation
of these wellness design strategies does not guarantee positive health outcomes
but can provide greater opportunities for them to occur. Table 3.1 was originally
developed by Gove Depuy and Phillip Tabb.42

PLANNING SCALE STRATEGIES

1. Mitigating natural disasters and climate change.

2. Renewable infrastructure.
3. Land Use diversity.
4. Growth by multiplication.
5. Mobility and pedestrianization.
6. Livable communities.
7. Parks, greenspaces, and streetscapes.
8. Urban agriculture.
9. Rural‑urban transect.

STRATEGY DESIGN WELLNESS WELLNESS REFERENCES

INTENTIONS STRATEGIES OUTCOMES
Mitigating Natural Plan for climate Location, orientation, Physical harm https://www.niehs.nih.
Disasters and oriented landuse, siting, weather reduction due to gov/research/programs/
Climate Change and networks mitigation strategies, disaster mitigation climatechange/
and settlement settlement and climate health_impacts/mental_
form responses to geometry, density, responses to health/index.cfm https:
weather and local networks and form extreme weather //www.nasa.gov/
ecological flows. responses, land conditions, CO2 feature/esnt/2021/
Mitigate natural use, densification, sequestering, reducing‑emissions‑
disasters. Give reforestation and increase biodiversity, to‑mitigate‑climate‑
identity and sense land reformation, and increase to change‑could‑yield‑
of place. reduction of hard healthy natural dramatic‑health‑
surfaces, and areas, and fostering benefits‑by‑2030
provisions for nature. pro‑environmental
behaviors.
Renewable Plan for efficient Systems for energy, Stress reduction, https://adelphipsych.sg/
Infrastructure network water, waste improved biodiversity, surprising‑effects‑of‑
responses to disposal, police and improved efficiency, power‑outages‑on‑mental‑
utility services, fire protection, and provision of critical health/
energy, water telecommunications. life‑support utilities https://www.apa.org/
and waste Designs for during power monitor/2020/04/
management, and efficiency for greater outages and natural nurtured‑nature
become a visible accessing and disasters. Providing
nature‑benefit. utilizing renewable opportunities for
Plan for efficient sources. access to natural
transportation. processes.

98 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

Growth by Plan for reducing Accommodate Improved access to Donella Meadows,

Multiplication dependence on growth by optimizing nature, increased Dennis Meadows, and
the automobile, size according pedestrianization Jorgen Randers, Limits
decrease carbon to cycling and and social to Growth (Chelsea,
emissions, walking distances. interactions, and VT: Chelsea Green
increase Insure landuse increased sense Publishing, 1972).
opportunities mixes with critical of community.
to experience non‑residential Encourages stress
nature and meet uses. Nucleate reduction, increased
with community settlements physical activity
members. and create an and pro‑social and
interconnected pro‑environmental
network. behaviors.
Land Use Response to Incorporation critical Reduction of https://www.nature.
Diversity wide range of land use mixes automobile travel, com/
human needs supporting heathy improved air quality, scitable/knowledge/
including life and sustainable increase social library/the‑characteristics‑
support functions, lifestyles, creating interaction and causes‑and‑
a rich mix of uses, easier access to community, increase consequences‑of‑
activities, and goods, services and access to nature, sprawling‑103014747/
building types, amenities, clustering improved mood, https://www.mdpi.com/
and reduction and densifying to increase physical 2071‑1050/13/23/13460
of sprawl and create easy access. activity, and stress
single‑use reduction, and
development. supporting pro‑social
behaviors.
Mobility and Providing multiple Provision of multiple Improved https://www.
Pedestrian‑ization modes of modes of transport, cardiovascular researchgate.
travel, efficient reduced emphasis health, reduced net/publication/
connections, on automobile obesity, improved 303891478_Benefits_
transit‑oriented travel and parking, mood and cognitive of_
catalysts, with increase bike health, increase pedestrianization_and_
concentration and pedestrian activity, increase warrants_to_
on biking and connections. community pedestrianize_an_area
pedestrianization. Increase access to interactions, and
nature. supporting pro‑social
behaviors.
Livable Creating safe Providing coherence, Sense of community https://www.urban.org/
Communities & places that foster high opportunities and pro‑social sites/default/files/
Agrihoods community, and appropriate behaviors, improved publication/32821/
chance scale, boundaries mood, lower blood 412648‑Benefits‑of‑
encounters, and and sense of pressure, reduced Living‑in‑High‑
walkability, mixes place, providing a stress and anxiety, Opportunity‑
of use and human diversity of building reduced noise Neighborhoods.PDF
scale, and support types, integrating pollution, increase https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.
of mixes wellness nature within, pedestrianization, gov/books/NBK568862/
lifestyles. and densifying for activity and access
pedestrianization. to nature.

99 ◻
◼ WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES

Parks, Providing Provide greenspaces Increased access https://www.urban.org/

Greenspaces and adequate access around perimeter to nature, increase sites/default/
Biophilia to openspace for of settlements and physical activity and files/2022‑03/
recreation and within a network opportunities for the‑health‑benefits‑of‑
social interactions. inside. Provide social interactions. parks‑and‑their‑economic‑
To encourage greenspaces along Encouragement impacts_0.pdf
going outdoors streets to encourage of pro‑social and
and increasing walking and pro‑environmental
physical activity. shading. behaviors. Stress
Increase carbon reduction.
sequestering.
Urban Agriculture Provision of urban Providing land Increase nutritional https://foodsecurity.org/
farms, allotments, with easy access value of food, uahealthfactsheet/
community and vertical plant‑based diet, https://www.fs.usda.
gardens, tiny farming, planned reduced energy gov/
forests, food for food security consumption for Internet/FSE_
forests, and and reduced food transport, improved DOCUMENTS/
remediable miles, planned air quality and CO2 fseprd865482.pdf
landscapes for community sequestering, and
that are easily involvement and increased access
accessible. education, and to nature, reduced
planned for seasonal stress around food.
and extended
growth.
Rural-Urban Creating Varying building Increase access to Thorburn, Andrew,
Transect integrated links front and side‑yard nature and physical “Planning Villages,”
between rural land setbacks, density activity, support Estates Gazette
and urban centers of bult form, of outdoor social Limited, London, UK,
through intentional relationship to functions, increase 1971. https://oroeditions.
transitional zoning, curbs, parking, pro‑social and com/product/
building types, and street plantings, pro‑environmental transect‑urbanism
streetscapes. urban plazas, and behaviors.
surface materials.
Table 3.1
Planning and Urban Design Scale Strategies
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

NOTES
1. John R. Ehrenfeld, Sustainability by Design (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008).
2. Capolongo, Stefano, Andrea Rebecchi, & Andrea Brambilla, E‑collection – Urban Design
and Health, (Accessed November 17, 2023), https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/pages/
urban_design_and_health
3. Hammond, Robbie & Omar Toro‑Vacay, Wellness and Cities: Urban Infrastructure Just
Might Save Cities, (Accessed November 23, 2023), https://www.globalwellnesssummit.
com/wellness‑cities‑urban‑infrastructure‑just‑might‑save‑cities/
4. Rockefeller Foundation‑Lancet Commission on Planetary Health, Safeguarding Human
Health in the Anthropocene Epoch: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/
PIIS0140‑6736(15)60901‑1/fulltext
5. Global Wellness Institute, Wellness in Singapore, (Accessed November 8, 2023), https://
globalwellnessinstitute.org/geography‑of‑wellness/wellness‑in‑singapore/
6. Hayes, Denis, Better, Faster, More, (Accessed December 10, 2023), https://bullittcenter.
org/vision/message‑from‑denis‑hayes/

100 ◻
 WELLNESS URBAN DESIGN STRATEGIES ◼

7. Baum, Fran & Matthew Fisher, Critical Public Health, (Accessed June 28, 2023), https://
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09581596.2010.503266
8. Tabb, Phillip, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future (New
York, NY: Routledge, 2021), p. 9.
9. DePuy, Gove and Phillip Tabb, “Chapter 3 Wellness Strategies,” Wellness Architecture and
Design Pathways, Global Wellness Institute, 2023.
10. Baum, Fran & Matthew Fisher, Critical Public Health, (Accessed June 28, 2023), https://
www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09581596.2010.503266
11. NASA, (Accessed November 2, 2023), https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/
12. EPA, Impacts of Climate Change, (Accessed November 2, 2023), https://www.epa.gov/
climatechange‑science/impacts‑climate‑change
13. Tabb, Phillip, Elemental Architecture: Temperaments of Sustainability (London, UK: Rout‑
ledge, 2019).
14. Ibid.
15. Tabb, Phillip, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future (New
York, NY: Routledge, 2021).
16. Ibid.
17. Tabb, Phillip, Solar Village Archetype: A Study of English Village Form Applicable to Energy
Integrated Planning Principles for Satellite Settlements in Temperate Climates, Doctoral
dissertation, Architectural Association School of Architecture, London, UK, 1990.
18. Schauenberg, Tim, (Accessed October 12, 2023), https://www.dw.com/en/15‑minute‑cities
‑what‑are‑they‑and‑how‑do‑they‑work/a‑64907776
19. United Nations, World Population Projected to Reach 9.8 Billion in 2050, and 11.2
Billion in 2100, (Accessed December 20, 2023), https://www.un.org/en/desa/
world‑population‑projected‑reach‑98‑billion‑2050‑and‑112‑billion‑2100
20. Meadows, Donella, Dennis Meadows, & Jorgen Randers, Limits to Growth (Chelsea, VT:
Chelsea Green Publishing, 1972).
21. Krier, Leon, Houses, Palaces, Cities (London, UK: Architectural Design Editions, Ltd.,
1984).
22. Tabb, Phillip, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future (New
York, NY: Routledge, 2021).
23. National Library of Medicine, (Accessed January 11, 2024), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pmc/articles/PMC3377942/
24. Harrington, Holly, Is the 15 Minute City Having its 15 Minutes of Fame, or is it
Here to Stay? (Accessed December 10, 2023), https://studiopdp.com/think‑blog/
is‑the‑15‑minute‑city‑having‑its‑15‑minutes‑of‑fame
25. van Uffelen, Chris, Pedestrian Zones: Car Free Spaces (Salenstein, CH: Braun Publishing,
2015).
26. Hathaway, Billy, Fehr, & Peers, On the Park Bench: A Public Square Conversion, (Accessed
July 18, 2023), https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8GKDNzoOfinu_7tkDgweBq
‑GHNZ8sP5v
27. How Long Commutes Can Affect Spine Health, (Accessed January 21, 2024), https://
www.flexispot.com/spine‑care‑center/how‑long‑commutes‑can‑affect‑spine‑health
28. Acton, Brian, The Negative Health Consequences of Commuting by Car,
(Accessed January 20, 2024), https://www.coreproducts.com/blogs/news/
the‑negative‑health‑consequences‑of‑commuting‑by‑car
29. Wei, Marlynn, Commuting: “The Stress That Doesn’t Pay,” (Accessed Janu‑
ary 21, 2024), https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/urban‑survival/201501/
commuting‑the‑stress‑that‑doesnt‑pay
30. Skenazy, Lenore, Free‑Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow
(New York, NY: Jossey‑Bass, 2021).
31. Ardell, Donald, High Level Wellness: An Alternative to Doctors and Drugs, and Disease
(Emmaus, PA: Rodale Press, 1977), pp. 20–24.
32. Kaplan, R. & S. Kaplan, The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective (Cam‑
bridge, MA: Cambridge University Press, 1989).

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33. Cohen, Mychal, Kimberly Burrows, & Peace Gwam, Health Benefits of Parks and their
Economic Impacts, (Accessed October 10, 2023), https://www.urban.org/sites/default/
files/2022‑03/the‑health‑benefits‑of‑parks‑and‑their‑economic‑impacts_0.pdf
34. Nelson, Noelle, How Urban Farming Can Help Reduce Poverty, (Accessed March 25,
2023), https://borgenproject.org/urban‑farming‑can‑help‑reduce‑poverty/
35. Pressman, Andy, Lydia Oberholtzer, & Carolyn Dimitri, Urban Agriculture in the
United States: Baseline Findings of a Nationwide Survey, (Accessed April 21, 2023),
https://attra.ncat.org/publication/urban‑agriculture‑in‑the‑united‑states‑baseline‑­findings‑
of‑a‑nationwide‑survey/.
36. Massy, Charles, Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture, A New Earth (White River
Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018).
37. Ploeg, Michael Ver, Lisa Mancino, Jessica Todd, Dawn Clay, & Benjamin Scharadin, Where
Do Americans Usually Shop for Food and How Do They Travel to Get There? Initial Find‑
ings from the National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, (Accessed
November 17, 2023), https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/43953/eib138_
erratasummary.pdf
38. Despommier, Dickson, The Vertical Farm: Feeding the World in the 21st Century (New
York, NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2010).
39. Duany, Andres & Brian Falk, Transect Urbanism: Readings in Human Ecology (San Fran‑
cisco, CA: ORO Editions, 2020).
40. Thorburn, Andrew, “Planning Villages,” Estates Gazette Limited, London, UK, 1971.
41. Putnam, Robert, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (New
York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2001)
42. DePuy, Gove & Phillip Tabb, “Chapter 3 Wellness Strategies,” Wellness Architecture and
Design Pathways, Global Wellness Institute, 2023.

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ARCHITECTURE SCALE STRATEGIES

Health and wellness strategies at the architectural scale involve a variety of design
interventions. It should be noted that different locations, functions, building types,
and scales require site‑ and project‑specific design responses. They include the
climate responsiveness of the building form and modulation in response to vary‑
ing weather conditions, the characteristics and functions of the building envelope,
the efficiency of conventional building systems and the incorporation of renewable
technologies, the encouragement of increased indoor‑outdoor relationships, and
the inclusion of sacred placemaking strategies. According to Carol Venolia, healing
environments stimulate positive awareness of ourselves, enhance our connections
with nature, culture and people, allow for privacy, are safe and do us no physical
harm, provide meaningful stimuli, encourage times of relaxation, allow for pro‑
ductive interactions, contain a balance between familiarity and flexibility, and are
beautiful.1 Health and wellness benefits from the strategies at this architectural
scale range from improved comfort and respiratory function to stress reduction
and improved mental health. They benefit in particular ways with physical, psy‑
chological, mental, social, spiritual, economic, and environmental outcomes. The
architectural scale strategies in this section include climate‑responsive form, build‑
ing envelope and smart façades, healthy building systems, indoor‑outdoor access
to nature, nudge design strategies, healing water, passive survivability, and spiritual
dimensions of wellness.

1. Climate responsive architectural form

Climate change and environmental degradation are also the consequences
of our contemporary condition, a situation the public has recently recognized.
Climate neutrality and carbon neutrality promote the reduction of emissions‑­
producing activities, improving efficiency, incorporating renewable energy tech‑
nologies, and phasing out the use of fossil fuels. Design responses to climate
can support sustainability and promote health and wellness outcomes.2 ­Climatic
responses to architecture take into consideration seasonality, sun direction
(sun path and position), self‑shading factors, and environmental ­factors, such
as wind, rainfall, humidity, mildew and mold, under‑ and over‑heating, and the
destructive hazardous events and vulnerability caused by earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, tornados, cyclones, hurricanes, tsunami surges, drought, wildfires,

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-4 103 ◻

◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES

avalanches, monsoons, and flooding. Natural disasters occur globally while

often regionally distributed affecting vulnerable populations. Human popula‑
tions are distributed throughout all climatic locations. The majority of global
populations live within temperate climate zones and urban areas. There are
40% living in low‑elevation coastal areas. Therefore, climatic design approaches
should especially address temperate, urban, and coastal areas where most
people live. Location, resiliency, preparedness, and climatic design responses
are necessary for the protection of human life. According to the UN Depart‑
ment of Economic and Social Affairs, close to three in five cities worldwide
with at least 500,000 inhabitants are at high risk of a natural disaster.3 Refer to
Figure 4.1 for contemporary climatic designs in contrasting polar, hot‑humid,
and temperate climatic regions.
Climatic design considerations at the architectural scale focus on siting,
orientation, primary, secondary and tertiary building form responses, spatial
arrangements, circulation, and material choices. Siting is usually in response
to topography, sun orientation, exposure to prevailing winds, and the types and
amounts of precipitation. Over- and under-heating contexts will influence the
degree of compactness for the conservation of heat or the open fragmenta‑
tion encouraging natural ventilation. Orientation plays an important role in solar
energy gain and solar protection. The roof design is important for self‑shading
in hot climates and solar access in cold climates. The secondary and tertiary
responses typically address fenestration shading and protection, and envelope
material choices are particularly important where moisture is prevalent and
there is a need for fire protection. Wellness is affected by the degree to which
the building encourages the biophilic effect and indoor‑outdoor flows, access to
daylight and solar control especially for glare, indoor thermal comfort, reduction
of carbon emissions, and reduction of climate anxiety to the locus of climate
and weather disasters and climate change.4
The Borgafjall Hotel, built between 1948 and 1950 and designed by archi‑
tect Ralph Erskine, is located in Borgafjall, Sweden. It represents an example
of a climate‑driven design for an extreme cold context. The roof forms of the
building provide wind and snow protection while the southern façade opens
up for passive solar heating. In contrast, Renzo Piano designed the Jean‑Marie
Tjibaou Cultural Centre in New Caledonia, which was built in 1998. The design
identifies the Kanak culture links between the landscape and built structures.
Located within a subtropical climate zone, the wind‑generated forms present
a functional, yet symbolic and historic memory of the place. Architecturally,
the design features a series of wooden pavilions aligning a ridge along the
peninsula with well‑defined concave inner spaces on the leeward sides, while
simultaneously being protected by the convex curvature of the windward
sides.5 The 8 House in Ørestad in Copenhagen, Denmark was designed by the
Bjarke Ingels Group and represents a temperate climate response to both over‑
and under‑heating conditions. The combination of the U‑shaped building form,
abundant façade glazing, and balcony overhangs help encourage and control
solar energy while encouraging indoor‑outdoor relationships.

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With a huge inventory of cities, infrastructures, and buildings already in

place, it is difficult to turn back the clock and rechoose locations and spatial
structures that are a more natural disaster and climate change free. However,
for ongoing new development, safer and healthier choices can be made. Each
year, worldwide, natural disasters force millions of people from their homes.
4.1 Climate migration is occurring, and projections for 2050 predict there will be as
Climate Responsive
Wellness Strategies
many as 12 billion climate refugees.6 So this influx of new development could
a) Borgafjall Hotel redefine land reform in existing urban, suburban, and exurban locations with
Cold Climate, well‑oriented planning and design considerations.
b) Tjibaou Cultural
Wellness strategies include the creation of climate‑responsive building
Center Hot‑Humid
Climate, c) The forms appropriate in both under‑ and over-heating contexts and include form,
8‑House Temperate orientation, fenestration schemes, and solar energy responses, as well as
Climate
material choices in response to dynamic climatic and weather conditions. Well‑
(Sources: Wikimedia
Commons and
ness strategies also include responses to natural hazard mitigation and passive
Shutterstock) survivability designs. The health benefits are increased energy, mental clarity,

105 ◻
◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES

decreased stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and increased posi‑
tive moods. Environmental benefits include improved biodiversity, improved
microclimate, use of local and historically significant materials, and increase in
pro‑social and pro‑environmental behaviors.

2. Building envelope and smart façades

Façades are the interface between the interior and exterior of a building. They
represent the face of the building and are their most striking and visible parts.
Smart façades mediate both positive and negative environmental forces and
include solar energy gain, heat gain/loss, access and use of natural light, ven‑
tilation and views to nature, reduction/elimination of unwanted air pollution,
noise, high winds, intruders, and views. Key to a wellness‑oriented facade is its
ability to respond to natural elements and modulate both positive and negative
environmental conditions. This happens through its components (passive or
active), which adjust and adapt to different conditions, responding to changes
that occur on the outside and inside of the building.
The Bosco Verticale, or Vertical Forest is a pair of residential towers com‑
pleted in Milan, Italy in 2014, Figure 4.2a. Their heights are 364 feet (111 meters)
and 249 feet (76 meters), respectively. Together they host 900 trees in planters
and on terraces and balconies positioned around their façades. The towers
were designed by Boeri Studio with consultations from horticulturalists and
botanists. The buildings were conceptualized as a hope for trees that simul‑
taneously house humans and birds. The buildings are self‑sufficient by using
renewable energy from solar photovoltaic panels and filtered wastewater to
sustain the buildings’ plant life. These green technology systems reduce the
overall waste and carbon footprint of the towers and provide carbon sequester‑
ing. The Vertical Forest is a prototype design for an emerging format of archi‑
tectural biodiversity and carbon sequestering. It creates a direct opportunity
for interactions between humans and living species. The wellness strategies
are its living and weather modulating façade and the positive consequences
of human‑nature interactions.
The Futurium is a building for exhibitions and events in the heart of Berlin,
Figure 4.2b. The façade is made up of more than 8,000 panels (casted glass).
The 70cm × 70cm large elements consist of varyingly folded metal reflectors
and textured glass with a ceramic print. Under constantly shifting lighting con‑
ditions, they generate an ever‑changing cloud image. The enclosing envelope
and smart façade provide a mediating function with varying ambient con‑
ditions. Benefits include more responsive climate control, thermal comfort,
increased productivity, and energy conservation. Using its geometrical shape,
the roof collects the entire rainfall in the manner of a catch basin. The water
is drained at the lowest point of the roof, collected in a cistern, and used for
cooling down the building. Nearly the entire surface of the roof is covered in
solar‑energy panels for the photovoltaic (electricity) and solar thermal (heat)
systems.7 The health and wellness outcomes include climate change miti‑
gation, use of natural resources, and encouragement of pro‑environmental
behaviors.

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4.2 The Interface Headquarters is a 40,000 square foot (3,716 square meter)
Building Envelope
renovation of the original 1960 office building completed in 2018, and is located
and Smart Façades
Strategies a) Bosco in mid‑town Atlanta, Georgia. It was designed by Perkins and Will, Figure 4.2c.
Verticale, Milan, It was conceived as a workplace forest, in which its façade is made with
Italy, b) Futurium, 307 glass panels sheathed in semi‑transparent images of the nearby Pied‑
Berlin, Germany,
c) Interface
mont Forest. In addition, the building features a green roof terrace fostering
Headquarters, indoor‑outdoor experiences, a 15,000‑gallon rainwater collection and filtration
Atlanta, Georgia system, high energy efficiency, and an open flexible floor plan allowing for
(Sources: Wikimedia
abundant natural lighting. Inside are wellness and restorative rooms and com‑
Commons and Phillip
Tabb) munity gathering spaces enhancing collaboration. This is a good example of a
commercial application of biophilic and wellness‑oriented design principles. It
creates positive spaces for the people who use it, and benefits guests, employ‑
ees, and the surrounding community.
Envelope strategies include the creation of smart modulating façades,
filtering light, shading, views of nature, and creating privacy. They incorporate
climate responsive building orientation, appropriate insulation levels, and vapor
barriers. They avoid thermal bridging, and provide adequate means of egress
and fire‑rated materials. Smart façades avoid rain and water flow through the
envelope, and they provide solar control, design for durability (especially ultra‑
violet degradation, material corrosion, and freeze/thaw), and provide views
and access to the outdoors and nature. Benefits include safety and protec‑
tion from inclement weather, improved comfort, CO2 sequestering, improved
indoor‑outdoor access, stress reduction, and financial benefits from lower
energy consumption, controlled interaction with exterior conditions, and com‑
fort and hedonic subjective well‑being.

3. Building systems
While most of our apparent concerns and efforts to improve the built environ‑
ment were directed toward sustainability, they in fact focused upon correct‑
ing what John Ehrenfeld called “unsustainability” that is the unsustainable
technologies, buildings and design practices, and continued consumer‑oriented
living styles. The term “unsustainability” refers to mainstream values and con‑
sumption patterns that continue to dominate the production, use, and disposal
of goods, and are the proximate cause of the damage to the environment.8
Since we spend most of our time within buildings, it is important to create
environments that support wellness, and physical, psychological, and social
health. Building systems typically moderate indoor air conditions and comfort,

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dispose of waste, and provide light, water, and energy. Initially, renewable
technologies were introduced in architecture one system at a time, however
now they are considered in a more wholistic way integrating systems including
renewable solar and geothermal energy, energy storage, water collection and
management, waste‑to‑resource systems, low‑impact hydroelectricity, biogas,
and high‑yield organic agriculture. According to the Harvard School of Public
Health, the nine evidence‑based strategies that constitute heathy buildings
are ventilation, air quality, thermal health, moisture protection, dust and pests,
water quality, unwanted noise, natural light and views, and safety and security.9
Renewable systems include geothermal heating and cooling, photovoltaic
electricity production, rainwater collection and filtering systems, solar thermal
systems, and passive heating systems, Figures 4.3a/b. The wellness benefits
of these natural resources and delivery systems include improved sustain‑
ability, increased resiliency, greenhouse gas reductions, reduced air pollution,
improved atmospheric health, and improved human health (lung, throat and
airway function, reduction of water‑borne illnesses, and occupant comfort). In
addition, clean water improves the productivity and nutritional value of urban
agriculture and domestic food gardens. The combination of these systems con‑
tributes to passive survivability and the ability to maintain critical life‑support
systems during catastrophic events and power shortages. Conventional build‑
ing heating and air conditioning systems, water supply and waste disposal, and
electricity and artificial lighting can be made more efficient and responsive to
human health and wellness.
The Kendeda Building in Atlanta, Georgia is considered a holistic green
building receiving the first Living Building Challenge Certification in Geor‑
gia. The design prioritized occupant health and comfort. The building fosters
regenerative systems, green design principles, and a concerted effort to relate
humans with nature. By incorporating salvaged materials during construction,
the building diverted more waste from landfills than it sent. Specific design
attributes include efficient and renewable mechanical and electrical systems,
rainwater collection, elimination of construction waste by using reclaimed and
locally sourced materials, sunshading, daylighting, and the intentional expres‑
sion of and interactions with nature and the renewable systems. The environ‑
mental benefits include the elimination of hazardous “Red List” chemicals,
reduced energy consumption and CO2 production, and encouragement of
pro‑environmental behaviors. The health benefits include increased energy,
mental clarity and focused attention, decreased stress, lower blood pressure
and heart rate, and increased positive moods. Refer to Figure 4.3c.
Passive survivability refers to the ability to maintain critical life‑support
conditions if those conditions have been shut off for an extended period of
time. Passive survivability was introduced by Alex Wilson in the wake of Hur‑
ricane Katrina and was intended for houses, apartment buildings, and emer‑
gency shelters. Passive survivability is a building’s ability to maintain critical
life‑support systems in the event of extended systems failures, especially for
electricity, water, and heating fuel. The wellness system strategies provide a

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4.3 range of healthy, safe, and productive buildings during normal and catastrophic
Healthy Building
events. These systems are responsive to human health, comfort, and satisfac‑
Systems Strategies
a) Solar System, tion, and to direct interactions with and control of them. In larger buildings this
b) Shutters, includes environmental sensors, controls and diagnostic services, and occu‑
c) Kendeda Building pant engagement tools that support wellness and sustainability.
(Sources: Shutterstock
The strategies include climatic design response, abundant natural light,
and Phillip Tabb)
use of renewable resources and efficient building systems, reducing opera‑
tional carbon, encouraging indoor‑outdoor connections, occupant control
of natural ventilation, and use of non‑toxic materials. The wellness benefits
include access to nature, stress reduction, noise reduction, enhanced cogni‑
tive function, increased pro‑environmental education and behaviors, as well
as financial benefits of increased productivity and lower resource and energy
consumption. Further, they include healthy indoor air and water quality, ventila‑
tion, thermal health, moisture, dust and pest control, noise control, lighting and
views, and safety and security.

4. Indoor‑outdoor access to nature

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (2018), the average Ameri‑
can spends as much as 93% of their time indoors with 87% of that time
spent in buildings and 6% in automobiles.10 According to Wayne Ott, the con‑
clusion of his research on human activity found, “We are basically an indoor
species.”11 The relationship between health and human activity reveals impor‑
tant distinctions. Too much time indoors can create physical health problems
caused by inactivity and detachment from the natural world. This can have
deleterious effects, such as breathing indoor polluted air, Seasonal Affective
Disorder, depression, respiratory problems, and insufficient daylight causing
mood swings, and lower levels of energy and alertness. In addition, circadian
disorders can affect sleep cycles. Excessive indoor living increases instances of
eye, nose, and throat irritation as well as higher levels of fatigue. And living in
damp and moldy homes increases the risk of asthma by as much as 40%. We
now are being considered an “indoor generation.” The relationship between
health and human activity can be encouraged with the provision of outdoor
balconies, decks, barrier railing doors, patios, rooms, terraces, gardens, parks
and/or plazas. Further, walls of glass, movable walls, operable windows, and
French doors can encourage a more seamless visual and physical connec‑
tion between indoors and outdoors. Interstitial space occurs in‑between the
two. A final strategy is including house pets which have proven to contribute

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to positive wellness benefits. The indoor‑outdoor relationship is essential in

biophilic design, which in turn provides both health and wellness outcomes.
The Church on the Water is located on the northern island of Hokkaido
near the city of Tomamu, Japan. It was designed by architect Tadao Ando in
1988. This extraordinary architecture blurs the difference between inside and
outside, and between human celebration of the sacred and the profound expe‑
rience of nature. It is an expression of the Celtic notion of a “thin place.” The
pond and clearing of beech trees form a perfect invitation and view of the
serene environment, particularly the element of water. The wellness strategies
are evident in the serene context and openness and direct access to the natural
environment. Within the church, there is an experience of silence and serenity.
The health benefits include increased energy, mental clarity, decreased stress,
lower blood pressure and heart rate, and increased positive moods. Refer to
Figure 4.4a which shows the open‑air connection between the worship space
and the pond.
Farm‑to‑table is another opportunity to connect indoors and outdoors, but
more importantly it connects us to healthy organic nutrition. Grocery stores,
food markets, and farm‑to‑table restaurants are often an overlooked building
type when considering wellness architecture models. Farm‑to‑table also func‑
tions within school cafeterias, faith community activities, and certain corporate
environments. Farm‑to‑table concepts offer great wellness benefits including
improved nutritional value containing no preservatives, less sugar, fats, calo‑
ries, and carbohydrates. They suggest both a direct and indirect connection to
nature through all the senses, and they typically have fresh flavors. Other ben‑
efits include support for the local community and economy, lower and possibly
no transport costs, and close or adjacent farms produce CO2 sequestering and
oxygen production in the ambient atmosphere.
The design strategies for encouraging indoor and outdoor connections
include creating large openings, opening up room corners, creating outdoor
rooms or compelling places in which to engage, connecting indoor and outdoor
rooms, providing carry‑through openings, providing carry‑through materials for
floors, walls and ceilings, and providing patio doors, nana walls, and sliding
glass walls. Outdoor rooms can assume a variety of sizes, functions, and quali‑
ties from walled‑in gardens to conditioned outdoor living spaces replete with
bars and outdoor kitchens, Figure 4.4b. In Europe, the conservatory, somewhat
like a greenhouse, is attached to the main house and functions to mediate
seasonal outdoor temperatures and to accommodate certain domestic activi‑
ties. These strategies lend to potentially greater interactions with nature lead‑
ing to sensory interactions (visual, auditory, haptic, and olfactory) that might
normally be sealed off from daily experience. The dining setup for the Serenbe
ArtFarm features an outdoor farm‑to‑table culinary experience (Figure 4.4c).
Leaving windows and doors open to the outdoor air oxygenates interior
spaces, and when adjacent to natural landscapes they bring in sounds and
fragrances from the outdoors. The benefits include improved respiratory sys‑
tem, stress reduction, increased activity, encouragement of social interactions,

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4.4 enhanced spiritual connection to place, and encouragement of pro‑social and

Indoor‑Outdoor
pro‑­environmental behaviors.
Access to Nature
Strategies
a) Church on the 5. Nudge design and choice architecture
Water, b) Outdoor Nudge theory is about subtly influencing actions and ideas. While nudg‑
Room, c) Serenbe
Farm‑to‑Table
ing tends to steer people in particular directions, it allows them to go their
Luncheon own way. Nudge theory was popularized by Richard Thaler and Cass Sun‑
(Sources: Shutterstock stein in their 2008 book titled “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health,
and Serenbe
Wealth, and Happiness.”12 In architecture, it refers to what is called “choice
Community)
architecture,” making behavioral choices relative to building form language,
design elements, spatial order, circulation, and wayfinding. It suggests that
the choices we make while navigating and/or experiencing a building can
affect our wellness. The concept of choice architecture is closely linked to
nudging where positive reinforcement and implicit suggestions affect deci‑
sions influenced by the way that choices are presented. For the planner
or designer, it involves the arrangement of design elements in such a way
that choices toward wellness are emphasized. For example, choosing stairs
over an elevator or escalator for navigating floors of a building. This depends
upon the number of floors in a building. Other wellness‑oriented nudges may
include encouraging views to nature through well‑placed windows, more
movement inside and out, interactions with climate‑related technologies,
encouragement of energy conscious behaviors, and providing wayfinding
during emergencies.
Building designs and design elements can possess incentives or elicitors
that influence a particular choice. It is a nudge. Nudge designs can be either
overt or subtle. According to Industrial Designer Ed Mitchell, a paper towel
dispenser by Saatchi and Saatchi is an example of an overt nudge. It integrates
an environmental message into a paper towel dispenser, which has a cut‑out
in the shape of South America. It’s filled with green paper towels, which illus‑
trate the continent’s green rainforest canopy. As paper towels are dispensed,
the user sees the continent drained of its greenness. Other examples include
traffic calming with speed bumps, narrow streets, and mixes of modes, or cir‑
culation in cafeterias and retail stores. Admission to theatres, museums, sports
facilities, hospitals, transportation hubs, and sidewalk or subway escalator

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etiquette use nudging techniques to help in public circulation, mapping, and

destination information.
Cues in architecture and our environment have always influenced our
actions or the altering of certain outcomes. Nudge examples and choice archi‑
tecture mean that our decision choices are influenced by the way that choices
are presented. Architecture becomes like a gesture, and nudges help redesign
the choice environment by using deliberate and predictable cues that activate
unconscious processes of thought in decision making. During COVID‑19, for
example, nudges were commonly employed to facilitate social distancing.
Nudge designs can be divisive and therefore should be carefully employed.
According to a New York Times article, nudging should include the following
conditions:13

• All nudging should be transparent and never misleading.

• Nudging should be as easy as possible to opt‑out.
• It should be obvious that the nudging is designed to improve welfare.

For wellness design interventions, nudging is presumed to provide

choices that may lead to wellness behaviors providing health benefits. The
most obvious nudging strategies are aimed at increasing physical activity,
safety, social interaction, wayfinding, reducing overconsumption, and creating
environmental sensitivity. The desired possible wellness benefit is paired with
specific choice architectural languages and devices. The narrow street, tree
buffer, and roundabout slow traffic and protect pedestrian movement on the
adjacent sidewalks, Figure 4.5a. In the three‑story One Mado Building located
in Serenbe Community and further discussed in Chapter 7, a protected elevator
is located and partly hidden outdoors behind a partial wall along with inviting
large spiral stairs in the foreground. The intended nudge is to present the use
of the stairs first and overtly, but, if need be, the partially hidden elevator is
available subtly behind for those who need it, Figure 4.5b. The double‑loaded
corridor that connects the various businesses and offices is also outdoor and
protected from the elements and provides good views of the nearby natural
areas. Nudge and choice architecture can be applied to individual, social, and
environmental behaviors.

4.5
Architectural
Nudging Strategies
a) Neighborhood
Roundabout Traffic
Calming, b) One
Mado Building
Stair, Serenbe,
Georgia
(Sources: Shutterstock
and Phillip Tabb)

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6. Healing water
Water is indicative of life’s beginning and inception and is prominent in creation
stories. According to Celeste Ray, “Fresh waters are not only sites of creation,
but are prototypical symbols of renewal during life.”14 Water is the most abun‑
dant molecule and is necessary for life. According to Abby Phon, the health
benefits of water for the human body include increasing energy, flushing out
toxins, promoting weight loss, improving skin complexion, maintaining regular‑
ity, boosting the immune system, and preventing cramps and sprains.15 Our
bodies are made up of 60% water and as such, have a resonance with other
water sources. Water’s phases are also a fascination with its mesmerizing qual‑
ity from moving clouds, snowflakes, ice cycles, and rippling streams to huge
bodies like ponds, lakes, glaciers, and oceans. Water is needed extensively for
commercial, industrial, agricultural, electrical production, and domestic uses.
Water in architecture usually occurs for plant health, evaporative cooling, heal‑
ing, biophilic, and aesthetic purposes. As a concern, microbial contamination
is by far the largest contributor to the global burden of waterborne disease‑­
transmitting pathogens (cholera, dysentery, typhoid, and polio). Historic exam‑
ples of healing water are natural springs, Roman baths, baptisms, oracle voices
of the “otherworld,” and the healing and nourishing effects of Holy well water.
Therme Vals is a destination spa and hotel located in the hamlet of Leis
in Vals, Switzerland. It was designed by Peter Zumthor, with Marc Lowliger,
Thomas Durish, and Rainer Weitchies, and opened in 1996. Peter Zumthor
and his wife lived in the village for 20 years and the spa was intended to be
a community facility. The design concept was to create a cave or quarry‑like
structure working with the natural surrounding Adula Mountains and com‑
prised 60,000 local Valser quartzite slabs placed in layers.16 While the use of
stone, concrete, and earthen roofs express the solidarity and density of the
element earth, the multiple gaps between the units create a light and open
feeling that is further complemented by the ubiquitous presence of water. The
bathing rooms and spas are half buried into the hillside offering a peaceful
experience. Water for the spas comes from the Graubünden thermal mineral
source beneath the ground. Going to the spa from the hotel occurs through
an underground tunnel that leads to a reception space. Beyond that, you enter
into another corridor made of stone with periodic fountains, which have stained
the walls with their iron mineral contents. Then going through a small passage,
you enter the spas of varying sizes and levels of intimacy. The pools provide a
variety of the ancient benefits of bathing.
The National September 11 Memorial and Museum and the One World
Trade Center in New York City together are another good example of a thin
place working in tandem. The tower is currently the tallest building in the US
and is uplifting and optimistic functioning as a historic place marker and an
expression of verticality. The two pools, echoing the Twin Towers, are in direct
contrast to the levity of the One World Trade Center building, with the ground‑
ing and reverent soulful descent of water in the pool. The 30‑foot granite pool
walls and waterfalls form a boundary for the disappearing water. Designed by

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Michael Arad and Peter Walker, they conceptualized the design as “reflecting 4.6
Healing Water
absence.”17 The emotional effects are known for its concept of hope, its beau‑
Strategies
tiful and inspiring form and space, and its respect for the victims of the 9/11 a) Therme Vals
tragedy. In the past, a Holy well was a community center for not only the nec‑ Outside, b)
essary access to fresh water, but also ascribed certain rituals, guardian spirits, Therme Vals
Inside Pool, c) 911
saints, and votive offerings. While well water is mysterious, it is transforming, Memorial Pool,
life‑giving, refreshing, pure, and constantly in motion. d) Glastonbury
On a more intimate scale another example is Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, Chalice Well
(Sources: Shutterstock
England is a hill with the Chalice Well near its summit, situated within its small
and Phillip Tabb)
stone surround and movable wood and iron opening. Archeological evidence
suggests that the Well has been in constant use for more than 2,000 years. Glas‑
tonbury Chalice Well is considered one of the most spiritual places in England.
The wellness strategies for healing water include design for curative water,
waterfront places, holy wells, and water movement that can lead to hydrologi‑
cal consciousness.18 Designs for rainwater collection, gutters and rainchains
and retention pools, birdbaths, fountains, wells, and reflecting pools, daylit
stormwater systems, and sacred rivers (such as the Urubamba River, Jordan
River, Ganges River, and the Columbia River) contribute to this hydrological
awareness and appreciation. Healing wells and divine waters have long been a
focus of community life, spiritual renewal, and a reminder of our origins. Today
healing waters are most likely to be found inside temples and compounds,
health spas, thermal baths, and wellness retreats. Refer to the two pools in
Figure 4.6 for the Therme Vals, 911 Memorial Pool, and the Chalice Well. The
wellness strategies further include the use of clean, natural or filtered water,
natural ventilation through breezeways, indoor‑outdoor connections, and nature
views. The benefits derive from the physical, emotional, mental, social, spir‑
itual, and environmental pillars, and include access to nature, reduced stress,
lower heart rate and blood pressure, increased feelings of tranquility, positive
emotional responsiveness, improved concentration, perception, and memory.

7. Passive survivability
Passive survivability is an applicable strategy for both natural disasters and cli‑
mate change resiliency. In the event of increases in the duration, frequency, and
intensity of disasters and the consequences of climate change, passive surviv‑
ability involves the ability of a community or building to continue sheltering
inhabitants for an extended period. The term, passive survivability, was coined

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by Alex Wilson in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. According to Wilson,

“Passive survivability can be achieved by incorporating the sustainable design
features that have been so actively promoted by the green building community:
such design features include cooling‑load avoidance strategies, capabilities for
natural ventilation, a highly efficient thermal envelope, passive solar gain, and
natural daylighting.”19 Strategies aligned with survivability include the provi‑
sion of electricity for the running of critical appliances, lighting, water supplies,
access to food, and sustained access to the Internet. Specific technologies
include passive solar heating and cooling, photovoltaic electricity and/or backup
power production, rainwater harvesting, and storage of food supplies. These
systems can be designed at both the community and individual building scales.
Houses, apartment buildings, and public buildings, especially schools and
civic buildings that could be used as emergency shelters, should incorporate
design features that will maintain livable conditions in the event of extended
loss of power, heat, or water. Passive survivability can be achieved by incorpo‑
rating the sustainable design features that have been promoted so actively by
the green building community and alliances. Indeed, these measures are so
important that they may need to be incorporated into building codes. Buildings
can go even further with features such as generating and storing photovoltaic
electricity and collecting and storing rainwater, but the aforementioned passive
survivability measures are most important.20
Passive survivability promotes resilience by enhancing buildings that opti‑
mize a power grid, that can help reduce and shift loads, and are designed and
operated to be resilient to impacts to the power and water systems. Pas‑
sive survivability is safe and provides a reasonable level of functionality during
extended power outages, and loss of heating fuel or water. Further, systems
are responsive to storm events and flooding, and reduce reliance on electricity‑­
driven elevators and air‑conditioning. Furthermore, they are designed with
high‑performing envelope features including daylighting, minimized cooling
loads, the ability for natural ventilation, and protection from storm surges. The
provision of generators, solar water heating and photovoltaic power, on‑site
clean water storage, and provision for the potential of on‑site food production
are also important. Passive survivability wellness manifests in the forms of
building safety and provision of critical life‑support systems during and after dis‑
aster events. Mitigation strategies for disaster‑prone building designs include
a variety of building types, components, construction details, and renewable
building systems. Several design measures follow:

• Adequate anchoring to prevent flotation, collapse, and lateral movement.

• Flood‑resistant foundations and lower elevation materials.
• Building systems which incorporate exclusion technologies and be iso‑
lated from water exposure and accumulation.
• Detachable or retractable secondary building elements like porches, over‑
hangs, and eaves.
• Foundations deeply and securely connected to the ground, and resistant
to high winds.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES

• Avoidance technologies which include connection details are crucial for 4.7
Passive
foundations, structural frames, roofs, and sheathing.
Survivability
• Impact‑resistant windows, doors, and other fenestrations. a) Hurricane
• Passive building systems for water, heat, electricity, and food. Katrina, b) Disaster
• Elevated and protected service equipment. Mitigating Design,
c) Off‑Grid Cottage
Extreme weather inherently poses risks, however, because of the rarity of (Sources: Shutterstock
and Wikimedia
occurrence means systems are less likely to be designed to function in such Commons)
conditions. Climate change is projected to cause a range of impacts, includ‑
ing an increase in the duration, frequency, and intensity of extreme weather
events. Disasters, both natural and human‑made, are an important public
health issue. Mitigation practices can lessen the adverse impacts and harm on
physical health, social disruption, property, economies, and the environment.
Another benefit of designing buildings for passive survivability is a possible
return to the regional diversity and the inborne sustainable characteristics of
vernacular architecture assuming they derive from sustainable practices and
the needs of contemporary culture and technologies. Figure 4.7a shows the
aftermath of Category 5 Hurricane Katrina which caused 1,836 fatalities and
unfathomable damage. Figures 4.7b/c show weather mitigating and off‑grid
designs for affordable homes with passive survivability.

8. Spiritual dimensions of architecture

Spirituality is now recognized as a health and wellness benefit. A spiritual expe‑
rience goes beyond the ordinary and can be mystical or euphoric, where there
is an awareness of synchronicity, the presence of intuitive thoughts, a sense
of ultimate peace and well‑being, and a degree of surrender. This includes
questions about the meaning and purpose of life, such as whether there is
life after death, what are our origins, to where is humanity evolving, what is
grace, and is there a God or a higher Deity. To Lionel Corbett, the sacred expe‑
rience is broad encompassing much from a sense of a presence to a sense
of mutuality and to the union of the soul with the divine.21 These experiences
can be noetic, carrying information or knowledge that later can be assessed
and assimilated. Sacred architecture employs design devices to accomplish
this, typically with uses of form and geometry, orientation, gestures reaching
upward (heavenward), expressed structural systems (biomorphic), generous
and impressive interior spaces, discriminating views (use of stained glass),
abundant natural light, symbolic content, and ritual practice through active par‑
ticipation. While extraordinary sacred spaces can be created, ordinary sacred

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space is also important and, according to Dacher Keltner, “The wonders of life
are so often nearby.”22
While sacred spaces are usually associated with religious traditions and
used for worship, prayer, meditation, and rituals, more contemporaneously
they serve awe and serene emotional experiences, spiritual renewal, and
health and wellness functions. The wellness benefits of sacred spaces and
the therapeutic functions they support include stress reduction, lower blood
pressure, and improved attention span through the experience of calm spaces
and meditation.23 These experiences are often accompanied by a reduction in
John Steele’s “temporal density,” where any given interval of time is filled and
saturated with a myriad of events, processes, information, and thoughts.24
Sacred places can help reduce this density, ground us, support improved
self‑image and a more positive outlook on life, and generate kindness. Sacred
space can inspire hope for the alleviation of pain and a return to wholeness.
Natural sacred sites and strategies for sacred space design include individual
and cultural benefits. These are places set apart from profane and secular con‑
texts that are attributed to transcendent experiences of the unknown, divine, or
a higher power. Sacred buildings can also embody cognitive meaning through
geometry and symbols. Wellness occurs through mediation between the bio‑
physical nature of people and the social‑cultural meanings associated with
particular symbols, geometries, orientations, colors, and iconographic images.
The work of architect Erik Asmussen, particularly at the Vidar Clinic in
Jarna, Sweden, illustrates the supporting role of architecture in the recovery
process. The community is located about 32 miles (50 km) south of Stockholm
near the Baltic Sea and surrounded by biodynamic farms. The Vidar Clinic is a
nontraditional and anthroposophical hospital that was opened in 1985. Until
2019, it functioned with a focus on anthroposophic medicine based on Rudolf
Steiner when it changed from a hospital to a retreat. According to Gary Coates,
the courtyard affords a wind‑protected, sunny outdoor setting for a variety of
activities, Figures 4.8c/d. Thus, the courtyard serves both biophilic, social, and
ceremonial functions that can be considered to serve sacred or spiritual well‑
ness. On the upper level of the clinic, patients and staff can move from one
wing of the clinic to the other either by an indoor passageway or by using the
outdoor bridge. The upper bridge passage is framed by a railing that rhythmi‑
cally moves upward and downward echoing tree branches.
The StarHouse is a community‑oriented building constructed in the
mid‑1990s in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains outside of Boulder, Colorado.
Designed by architect Phillip Tabb, it is a non‑toxic, sustainable building based
upon sacred and astronomical geometrical principles. The StarHouse is particu‑
larly interesting as a thin place because of the intentional nature of the design,
the ceremonial quality of the construction process, and its seasoning through
continued use. The structure is primarily constructed with natural materials,
stone, wood, tree posts from the site, and copper roof. The building was con‑
structed on the basis of non‑toxic materials that were available at that time. The
structure did not have any plumbing or electricity rendering the interior space
as “energetically clean.” The building is used for meditation, dance, music,
theater, weddings, lectures, courses, workshops, and seasonal ceremonies

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4.8
Spiritual Dimensions of Wellness
Strategies a) Outdoor Meditation,
b) Indoor Meditation, c) Vidar Clinic
Maypole Celebration, d) Vidar Clinic
Courtyard Bridge, e) StarHouse
Photograph
(Sources: Wikimedia Commons,
Shutterstock, Gary Coates, and Phillip Tabb)

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES ◼

and celebrations. The StarHouse fosters social and symbolic wellness through
its focus on overall form, significant numbers, cardinal orientation, and celestial
geometry. Ritual meaning can be derived through movement and participa‑
tion in dance, theatrical performances, and music within the space. Refer to
the outdoor meditation spaces and the image for the StarHouse in Boulder,
Colorado in Figure 4.8e.
For the StarHouse, the wellness strategies include sacred space design,
use of significant numbers and sacred geometry, use of natural and non‑toxic
materials, natural light and ventilation, creation of a positive social climate,
and views of celestial phenomena. The benefits include physical, emotional,
mental, social, spiritual, and environmental benefits, access to nature, stress
reduction, improvements in mood, encouragement of pro‑social and pro‑­
environmental behaviors, encouragement of social interactions, cultural and
spiritual connection to place, and improved life satisfaction.

9. Wayfinding
Dementia, a relatively newly recognized health condition, represents overarch‑
ing forms of Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body, and Frontotemporal Demen‑
tia. They involve memory loss, visual and information processing errors, and
experiences of declines in coordination and response time.25 Wayfinding is
an intentional strategy in response to these conditions aided by space, form,
color, signage, and other design elements to help occupants navigate space.
Wayfinding can be an effective tool to intentionally manage the movement and
flow of people, encourage social distancing, improve user experience, and con‑
tribute to a sense of well‑being and security. This is an important design con‑
sideration for complexes, campuses, very large buildings, hospitals, airports,
subways, transportation hubs, and other institutional facilities. Poor wayfinding
results in getting lost, confused, or frustrated while en route to campus or an
interior destination. Emergency wayfinding is critical for indoor evacuation of
buildings, especially during fire or other disasters. Effective wayfinding can lead
to safe and efficient evacuation while poor emergency wayfinding can lead
to confusion and prolonged evacuation times.26 Also important is wayfinding
evacuation during extreme weather emergencies. It is also a common activ‑
ity in daily life as we move through our cities, neighborhoods, and buildings,
especially hospitals, schools, libraries, shopping malls, and airports.
The strategies for effective wayfinding include creating identities at all
destinations (differing visual characters), using landmarks, identifying markers
and cues to provide orientation, spatial clarity and structured circulation, and
eliminating complexity, ambiguity and too many navigational choices. Wayfind‑
ing may not be critical in certain non‑health related circumstances, where won‑
der, mystery, and uncertainty might be desirable (amusement parks, labyrinths,
and mazes), Figure 4.9a. However, wayfinding is generally an efficient and
easier way of navigating space, especially unfamiliar spaces, and as such can
reduce disorientation, stress and anxiety, and improve confidence, productivity
and safety, improved moods and satisfaction for users, healthcare (especially
in dementia patients), and concerned families.27 Social and physical distanc‑
ing, especially during pandemic conditions, are other off‑shoots of wayfinding

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designed to protect people from the spread of communicable diseases such

as COVID‑19, and the wayfinding markers on floors served to enable proper
distancing, Figure 4.9b.
Wayfinding strategies for people with dementia include correct light‑
ing, space, and use of artificial cues, such as signs, landmarks, and include
mobile augmented reality wayfinding devices. According to Dac Kopec, crea‑
tive designs for dementia disorders and Alzheimer’s disease should follow
the serial position effect that supports rote memory.28 This includes space
sequencing, architectural element rhythms, and color clusters. For patients in
healthcare settings, wayfinding serves confused patients and provides ways to
visualize space, separates patients and staff, provides faster emergency assis‑
tance, and clears congested hallways. For streamlined circulation flows there is
limited contact and risk of infection and contagion. Identifiable places form the
building blocks of our cognitive mapping and corridor attributes (width, light,
and directionality) are also important in the wayfinding process. Patients need
to know where they are in a space (navigation origin and identity), whether the
route is clear (navigation is well structured, legible, and coherent), and finally if
the destination is apparent (destination recognition and anchors).29
There are benefits to retail wayfinding such as optimizing store layouts
and product placements for visual and physical access, and ensuring safety
and security in the event of emergencies. For normal navigation of space,
wayfinding is a prerequisite for the successful use of buildings. Wayfinding can
be created with removal of clutter, identification of clear entries and decision
points, reduction of interference, confusion and ambiguity, provision of aiming
strategies or strategic positioning (sight lines and target‑directed circulation),
creation of consistency (hierarchy and contrast), and provision of clear and
understandable signage. Wayfinding can be encouraged with light‑level gra‑
dients toward a destination. Landmarks at the interior scale are identifiable
markers, cues, or anchor points made visible from a distance. These markers 4.9
include sculptures, totems, maps, color and color scheming, digital guides, and Wayfinding
signage. Indoor digital navigation technology is another wayfinding strategy Strategies
a) Wayfinding
in smart buildings. Wayfinding benefits include reduction of stress, improve‑ Cues, b) Physical
ment of moods and satisfaction, increases in physical activity (walking), and Distancing
operational efficiency. (Source: Shutterstock)

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Architecture scale summary

The architectural scale offers a multitude of opportunities for specific design strate‑
gies to incorporate health and wellness benefits that range from the site planning
and building envelope design to the promotion of natural light, ventilation, renew‑
able energy, and access to nature. This scale offers opportunities for financial ben‑
efits through functional space planning, climatic form responses, use of renewable
resources, and building systems efficiencies. Further, spiritual qualities are possi‑
ble creating the benefit of enhanced stewardship, place reverence, and high‑level
wellness. This architecture scale certainly sets the context for the interior scale
strategies that follow. The material aspect of architecture, covered herein, is more
fully addressed in the next chapter on interior wellness under wellness‑oriented
materiality. Wellness outcomes at the architectural scale contribute to pro‑individual
benefits through interactive building wellness strategies, contribute to pro‑social
benefits through fostering social interactions and healthy public spaces, and contrib‑
ute to pro‑environmental benefits through protection from negative climatic effects
and positive interactions with nature. It must be noted that implementation of
these wellness design strategies does not guarantee the positive health outcomes
discussed herein but they can provide greater opportunities for them to occur.
Wellness in the context of this work does not include the important health‑oriented
design determinants for healthcare facilities and hospitals. Table 4.1 was originally
developed by Gove Depuy and Phillip Tabb.

ARCHITECTURE SCALE STRATEGIES

1. Climate‑responsive architectural form.

2. Building envelope and smart façades.
3. Building systems.
4. Indoor‑outdoor access to nature.
5. Nudge design strategies.
6. Healing water.
7. Passive survivability.
8. Spiritual dimensions of architecture.
9. Wayfinding.

STRATEGY DESIGN INTENTIONS WELLNESS WELLNESS REFERENCES

STRATEGIES OUTCOMES
Climate‑ To design to mitigate Form and material Occupant safety, https://webstor.
Responsive extreme weather and responses to thermal comfort, srmist.
Form climatic conditions, varying climate and lower energy edu.in/web_assets/
taking advantage of weather conditions, consumption, reduced srm_mainsite/files/
on‑site renewable especially sun, wind greenhouse gasses, downloads/climatere
resources, and and precipitation, disaster mitigation, sponsivearch.pdf
providing safe and and to earthquakes, improved biodiversity
comfortable spaces hurricanes and storm and pro‑environmental
celebrating the surges, designs for behaviors.
changes of seasons. bioclimatic sustainable.

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES

Envelope & Building envelopes are Design for envelope Occupant safety and https://
Smart the first line against modulation for comfort, lower risks quarryviewbuild
Facades the negative external daylight, sunshading, to natural disasters, inggroup.com/how‑
forces as well as natural ventilation, modulation for building‑envelopes‑
mediating positive and thermal comfort. immediate responses, impact‑your‑health/
interactions with nature Design for maximum reduction of glare, https://www.scnsoft.
and the elements. water and moisture improved indoor air com/blog/smart‑
Intentions are to protection, design for quality, lower energy buildings
protect and to modulate hazards mitigation. consumption, and
the interactions and Provide views to stress reduction.
reinforce the biophilic nature.
effect.
Building Design for efficient Integrating passive Improved thermal https://www.
Systems HVAC and renewable solar heating, ventilation comfort and the csemag.
energy systems, and ample daylighting, ability to fine tune, com/articles/how‑
water collection and renewable energy reducing energy smart‑buildings‑
filtration, clean air and systems, planning for consumption, reaching combat‑health‑
ventilation distribution, passive survivability, carbon neutrality, concerns/
and efficient and providing smart increasing building
non‑toxic mechanical sensors, optimizers and value, improved mood
systems. Design for controls, encouraging and less stress, and
daylighting. occupant interactions providing physical
with systems. safety.
Nudging To provide nudge To suggest behavioral Outcomes are https://www.delve.
and Choice designs and choice choices that support particular to specific com/insights/
Architecture architecture that are wellness attributes, nudges, but generally whats‑a‑
intended to influence especially increase are physical, social nudge‑in‑product‑
the way in which physical activity, and environmental. design
choices are presented social interactions. They often provide https://www.
especially those that Making circulation and safety and wayfinding. nytimes.
effect wellness. wayfinding choices. com/2015/11/01/
upshot/the‑power‑of‑
nudges‑for‑good‑and‑
bad.html
Indoor‑ To design for Multiple indoor‑outdoor Increase activity, https://www.apa.org/
Outdoor indoor‑outdoor passages, operable reduce obesity, reduce monitor/2020/04/
Access to connections facilitating windows, providing stress, improve nurtured‑nature
Nature positive interactions outdoor rooms mood, improves
with nature (views, (balconies, terraces cognitive function,
haptic, auditory, and courtyards), restores attention,
olfactory) and providing windows increases biophilic
eliminate negative with views to nature. effect, and promotes
factors (climate, pro‑environmental
weather, pests, behaviors.
insects, and intruders).
Passive To provide critical Incorporate off‑grid Provision of clean www.buildinggreen.
Survivability life‑support resources technologies for on‑site water, warmth shelter com/feature/passive‑
and functions during water collection and from the elements. survivability‑new‑
severe weather storage, electricity Provides cognitive and design‑criterion‑
events, natural production and thermal emotional security. buildings
disasters and other comfort. If possible Provides physical
power outages. provision of on‑site safety.
Provide safety. food production.

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 WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES ◼

Healing Designs for blue Design for and include Improved physical, https://www.webmd.
Water spaces, aquatic holy wells, curative mental and com/diet/ss/
environments, and water features, spas, emotional wellness, slideshow‑
to preserve and thermal baths, cold increase tranquility, water‑health https://
create healing places plunges, sweat lodges, concen‑tration and www.cdc.gov/
featuring natural views of natural water memory, boosts healthy
springs, rivers, ponds bodies, and provide energy, removes places/healthtopics/
and ocean fronts and for rainwater collection toxins, encourage parks_resources.
built wells, fountains and purification. social interaction, and htm#green
and water features. reduced stress.
Spiritual To design for Designs with sense Creates calm and https://greatergood.
Dimensions spiritual renewal, of entry, boundaries, contentment, berkeley.edu/dacher
transformative and central focus, often self‑empowerment, keltner/docs/shiota.
sanctuary experiences, with significant stress reduction, 2007.pdf https://
provide opportunities geometry, with improved mood, www.researchgate.
for recharge, embodied symbolism, reduction of temporal net/publication/
self‑reflection, living color, with light density, facilitates 15347724_
connectedness and luminosity. Spaces meaningful social Development_of_
to larger context. that are safe and connections, addresses the_Serenity_Scale
Designs that are noise‑free. Spaces that existential questions
ineffable and invite participation. of life, and increase life
indescribable. satisfaction.
Wayfinding Providing clear and Clear spatial Reduced stress, https://www.
structured flow for definitions, direction, improved moods and sciencedirect.com/
functional circulation correct lighting, use satisfaction, increase science/article/abs/pii/
an emergency exiting. of visible cues such as physical activity, and S235271022302034X
Providing clear spatial landmarks and signs, internal operational http://www.ai.mit.
distancing during and removable of efficiency. edu/projects/
pandemics. obstructions. infoarch/publications/
mfoltz‑thesis/node8.
html
Table 4.1
Architectural Scale Strategies
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

NOTES
1. Venolia, Carol, Healing Environments (Berkely, CA: Celestial Arts, 2008), p. 11.
2. Olgyay, Victor, Design with Climate: Bioclimatic Approach to Architectural Regionalism
(Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1963).
3. Majority of the World’s Cities Highly Exposed to Disasters, (Accessed March 15, 2023),
https://www.un.org/development/desa/en/news/population/world‑cities‑day‑2018.html
4. Eco‑anxiety: The Psychological Aftermath of the Climate Crisis, (Accessed March 15,
2023), https://www.iberdrola.com/social‑commitment/what‑is‑ecoanxiety
5. Tabb, Phillip James, Elemental Architecture: Temperaments of Sustainability (London, UK:
Routledge, 2019), pp. 129–130.
6. McAllister, Sean, There Could be 12 Billion Climate Refugees by 2050. Here’s What
You Need to Know, (Accessed July 19, 2023), https://www.zurich.com/en/media/maga‑
zine/2022/there‑could‑be‑1–2‑billion‑climate‑refugees‑by‑2050‑here‑s‑what‑you‑need‑to‑
know
7. Futurium, House of Futures, (Accessed October 20, 2022), https://futurium.de/en/
about‑us/architecture

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◼ WELLNESS ARCHITECTURE STRATEGIES

8. Ehrenfeld, John R., Sustainability by Design (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008).
9. Harvard School for Public Health, Building Evidence for Health: The 9 Foundations of
a Healthy Building, (Accessed February 20, 2023), https://forhealth.org/Harvard.Build‑
ing_Evidence_for_Health.the_9_Foundations.pdf
10. World Health Organization, Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Urbaniza‑
tion and Health, (Accessed September 28, 2022), http://www.who.int/bulletin/
volumes/88/4/10–010410/en/
11. Ott, W.R., Human Activity Patterns: A Review of the Literature for Estimating Time Spent
Indoors, Out‑doors, and in Transit. In: Proceedings of the Research Planning Conference
on Human Activity Patterns (Las Vegas, NE: EPA).
12. Thaler, Richard H., The Power of Nudges, for Good and Bad, (Accessed August 15, 2023),
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/01/upshot/the‑power‑of‑nudges‑for‑good‑and‑bad.html
13. Mitchell, Ed., What’s a Nudge in Product Design? (Accessed August 15, 2023), https://
www.delve.com/insights/whats‑a‑nudge‑in‑product‑design
14. Ray, Celeste (Ed.), Sacred Waters: A Cross‑Cultural Compendium of Hallowed Springs and
Holy Wells (London, UK: Routledge, 2020), pp. 2–3.
15. Phon, Abby, 10 Reasons Why You Should Drink More Water, March 20, 2012, (Accessed
November 22, 2022), https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0–4287/10‑Reasons‑Why‑You‑
Should‑Drink‑More‑Water.html
16. Tabb, Phillip, Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous (New York, NY: Routledge,
2024).
17. Ibid.
18. Ray, Celeste (Ed.), Sacred Waters: Cross‑Cultural Compendium of Hollowed Springs and
Holy Wells (London, UK: Routledge, 2020).
19. Wilson, Alex, (Accessed January 12, 2020), https://www.buildinggreen.com/feature/
passive‑survivability‑new‑design‑criterion‑buildings
20. Passive Survivability: How LEED Helps When the Power Goes Out, (Accessed Octo‑
ber 4, 2023), https://www.usgbc.org/articles/passive‑survivability‑how‑leed‑helps‑when‑
power‑goes‑out
21. Corbett, Lionel, The Sacred Cauldron: Psychotherapy as a Spiritual Practice (Ashville, NC:
Chiron Publications, 2015).
22. Keltner, Dacher, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform
Our Lives (New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2023).
23. Gesler, Wilbert M., Healing Places (Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2003).
24. Steele, John, Geomancy: Consciousness and Sacred Sites (New York, NY: Trigon Com‑
munications, 1985).
25. Kopec, Dac, Person‑Centered Health Care Design (New York, NY: Routledge, 2021),
pp. 199–204.
26. Fu, Meiqing, Rui Liu, & Qipeng Liu, How Individuals Sense Environments During Indoor
Emergency Wayfinding: An Eye‑tracking Investigation, (Accessed December 14, 2023),
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S235271022302034X
27. Clifton, Dave, 12 Benefits of Wayfinding for Campus Environments, (Accessed December
12, 2023), https://spaceiq.com/blog/benefits‑of‑wayfinding/
28. Kopec, Dac, Person‑Centered Health Care Design (New York, NY: Routledge, 2021),
p. 229.
29. Massecuites Institute of Technology, Design Principles for Wayfinding, (Accessed Decem‑
ber 15, 2023), http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/infoarch/publications/mfoltz‑thesis/node8.
html

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5 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

INTERIOR SCALE STRATEGIES

Wellness strategies that are directly related to place have numerous opportunities
with the design of interior spaces in buildings. On average, Americans spend nearly
90%of their time indoors.1 This was never more evident than during the COVID‑19
pandemic when stay‑at‑home, lockdowns, isolation, and quarantine were wide‑
spread throughout the world. Modern amenities, emergent technologies, more
humane workspaces, and larger domestic dwellings have undoubtedly made con‑
temporary life easier. However, there are health risks associated with too much
indoor living. They include the reduction of physical activity, exposure to indoor
air pollution and dampness, decreased exposure to daylight and fresh air, and the
reduction of access to nature. Health and wellness strategies at the interior design
scale involve a variety of design interventions that address these issues. They are
the inclusion of biophilic principles and nature within interior spaces, provision of
gathering places that foster social healing, plentiful daylighting strategies, incorpo‑
ration of natural ventilation and access to fresh air, the use of natural and non‑toxic
materials and finishes, strategic introduction of healing color, and the design of
thin place principles and inclusion of sanctuary spaces. Health and wellness ben‑
efits from the strategies at this scale range from reduced contamination and res‑
piratory ailments to mental clarity and improved circadian rhythms. They benefit
in particular ways as discussed in Chapter 2 with physical, psychological, mental,
social, spiritual, economic, environmental, and spiritual outcomes. The interior scale
strategies in this section include incorporating nature within, daylighting strategies,
natural ventilation strategies, wellness‑oriented materiality, living color, and thin
place sanctuary spaces.

1. Incorporating nature within

Incorporating nature in architecture has strong ties to the biophilic effect, and
within thin places it is often one of the most powerful elicitors of health and
wellness. Nature provides positive health and wellness outcomes. Nature
within includes views to places of natural scenery – vast, unusual, colorful, and
beautiful landscapes, places that are compellingly serene – intimate, person‑
able, familiar, and small‑scale spaces, and places of memory, that are historic
landscapes, important landmarks, and places of cultural significance. While
nature has both beneficial and destructive effects, for interior places nature

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-5 125 ◻

◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

is safe, welcomed, and beautiful. Examples are views to flora and fauna, the
geology of a region, water features (streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, and oceans),
and celestial phenomena. There are two major causes of decreasing contact
with nature especially in urban and interior environments. The first is the dimin‑
ishment of natural land in which to view nature, and the other is the increas‑
ingly limited access to the remaining urban parks and landscape gardens. The
experience of nature is a health and wellness benefit and for nature to be
incorporated indoors increases daily access to it.
The Eden Project is located in Cornwall, UK and was designed by Nicho‑
las Grimshaw and completed in 2000. It features two large biodomes that
cluster with smaller domes. The biomes are enclosed within hexagonal and
pentagonal plastic cells that can be inflated or deflated to adjust the insulation
levels responding to fluctuating outside temperatures. They enclose multiple
complexes covering more than 3.9 acres (1.56 ha) of land, and housing over
100,000 plants. The tectonic form language is biomorphic and encloses the
world’s largest man‑made rainforest. The goal of the project was to restore
the human‑nature bond. The biophilic features include access to nature, water,
plants, the earth, sensory connections, refuge, living color, natural light, and
numinous experiences. The Tropical Biome was the world’s largest enclosed
greenhouse covering more than four acres of land, with over 100,000 repre‑
senting 5,000 species from many of the climate zones of the world. The Eden
Project is an immersive experience, sustainability model, teaching tool, and
protector of nature. While the interior was specifically programmed for flora
and fauna, it represents an exaggerated example of the interior power and
beauty of nature.
The dwelling shown in Figures 5.1c/d has been designed for health and
wellness and was designed by architect Phillip Tabb. It has a small footprint
with minimal impact on the site and has a total of 1,650 square feet (153 m2)
of enclosed space. The primary functions occur on the main level which is
surrounded by coniferous and deciduous trees. With its 10.5‑kW/h photovol‑
taic system (35 panels) and Tesla battery wall, it can function at net zero. The
south‑facing living spaces are passively solar heated in winter. The walled‑in
garden serves as a natural focus with its peach trees, flowers, edible plants,
and reflecting pool. The design reinforces direct views with year‑around access
to the garden.
The wellness strategies for integrating nature inside buildings include pro‑
viding abundant views outside to natural settings and the garden, introducing
sunlight for daylighting and triggering circadian rhythms, providing natural fresh
airflow especially to stimulate olfactory senses, viewing and hearing the pres‑
ence of water, providing continuity with nature’s colors and material connec‑
tions, and including indoor vegetation. This scale also encourages bringing the
outdoors inside for direct experiences. The walled‑in garden also serves as a
sanctuary, contemplative, and thin place.
The health benefits of the strategy of nature within are increased energy,
mental clarity, decreased stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and
increased positive moods. There are further benefits of the Eden Project with

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5.1
Incorporating
its positive financial contributions to the local economy. Environmental ben‑
Nature‑Within
Strategies a) The efits include improved biodiversity, improved microclimate, and increased pro‑­
Eden Project environmental behaviors. In addition, nature and plants experienced within
Exterior, b) The
indoor spaces improve indoor air quality due to “phytoremediation” or contami‑
Eden Project
Interior, c) Tabb nant scrubbing from indoor air. However, care should be taken regarding pest
Residence Aerial infestations and possible allergies. There is also evidence that bonds between
View, d) Tabb people and their pets are linked to health benefits, including increased longev‑
Residence Walled‑in
Garden
ity. Animals can serve as a source of comfort and support, and research is
(Sources: Wikimedia showing that connections with animals can build a bridge for social interac‑
Commons, Shutterstock, tions.2 And finally, plants may improve one’s outlook on life and boost feelings
and Phillip Tabb)
of being more alive and active. There is evidence that indicates making nature
more visible within a building elevates the spirit.

2. Daylighting strategies
Natural and artificial lighting create ambiance, enhancing colors and textures, and
highlighting architectural features. Light impacts health and performance, and is
expressed in many forms related to luminosity, inspiration, the ethereal, and the
numinous. Fluid luminosity refers to the changing qualities of light, whether it
is due to fluctuating conditions, differing sources, color, or architectural design.
Natural light affects both our eye function and our inherent circadian rhythms.

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It is natural, dynamic, and can be direct, filtered, diffused, or reflected. It can

form pools of light, define shapes, and provide warmth. Daylighting provides the
full spectrum of natural light, and natural daylighting reduces AC and electricity
demands. Natural light can reduce mildew and mold build‑up. It is also linked to
an increase in work satisfaction. The positive health outcomes include boosting
vitamin D, warding off seasonal depression, improving sleep, producing sero‑
tonin, reducing eye strain, and expediting healing. Light is expressed in many
forms and is related to luminosity, the ethereal, inspiration, and the numinous.
Considering daylight, it can be facilitated through the use of windows, transparent
doors, skylights, light shelves, dormers and roof lanterns, skyspaces, and glass
roofs. According to Louis I. Kahn, silence is immeasurable while light is the giver
of presence.3
Light brings visibility to interior spaces. It manifests in multiple ways
including naturally filtered, diffused, or directed to illuminate significant places
as well as artificial lighting. The night sky is mysterious and thought provoking.
Light also marks the passage of time from the changes of seasons to the hours
of the day. Both the quantity and quality of light are in effect. Light in concert
with shadow gives definition giving cues about depth and position. Light elicits
both awe and serene emotions often in very differing ways through its differ‑
ent qualities. Light ranges from the more stimulating sunlight and storm light
to moonlight and starlight. Light, color, and temperature can affect emotions
and relaxation, and help improve sleep and regulate blood pressure.4 Properly
designed sunshading devices will not only reduce heat gain in summer but
will help prevent exposure to harmful UV light. Great care should be given to
the relationship between access to daylight and the density of built form. As
our need for accommodating greater populations, and as we spend most of
our time indoors, daylight is not only required by codes, but is necessary for
wellness. Poor lighting can create glare, headaches, eyestrain, fatigue and eye
damage, and affects sleep quality and circadian rhythms, vitamin D deficien‑
cies, physical safety, and human psychology including stress and moods.
The work of architect Erik Asmussen, particularly at the Jarna Community
in Sweden, illustrates the artistic use of natural light and shading patterns. The
corridor leading into the Vidar Clinic dining room is partly defined by a wall of
windows with a biophilic, rhythmic pattern on the floor (tree branch‑like), Fig‑
ure 5.2c. Asumssen utilizes another wonderful daylighting strategy for indoor
double‑loaded corridors by providing periodic public open spaces adjacent to
the passageway and connecting to the outdoors, thereby providing natural light
inside. The Oculus Building in New York City houses the World Trade Center
Transportation Hub and is another inspiring use of daylight, Figure 5.2d. It is an
excellent example of the illuminating qualities of natural light. The transparency
of the structure allows light to flood through into the grey and white marble
floors below, and a retractable skylight that runs the length of the Oculus’ spine
will open each September 11 to honor the memory of the victims. The oper‑
able skylights or roof windows at the top of the spine help facilitate the stack
effect. Natural light reduces the need for electrical energy for lighting and in

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5.2
part functions to illuminate the elliptical floor and space for the movement of
Daylighting
Strategies 200,000–250,000 commuters per day to 13 subway lines. Refer to Figure 5.2e.
a) Nelson‑Atkins The Nelson‑Atkins Museum of Art, designed by Steven Holl and located
Museum Exterior, in Kansas City, Missouri originally opened in 1933, and now houses more than
b) Nelson‑Atkins
Museum Interior,
40,000 works of art, Figures 5.2a/b. The museum features Asian art, Chinese
c) Main Dining landscape paintings, Chinese ceramics, African works, Egyptian sculpture,
Corridor at the Vidar European Renaissance paintings, and Native American art. The curtain wall
Clinic, d) Oculus
insertion creates an experiential environment of discovery and luminosity. The
Exterior, e) Oculus
Interior new building is covered by glass forms or lenses bringing light to the galleries.
(Sources: Wikimedia The layers of translucent glass that make up the lenses gather, diffuse, and
Commons, Gary Coates, refract light, and glow as if from another world. The wellness benefits include
and Phillip Tabb)
vision benefits, improving physiological well‑being, improving mood, reduction
of stress and anxiety, enhancing the quality of experience, improving attend‑
ance for students, and preventing the growth of fungi.
According to Lisa Heschong, daylighting strategies include increased
glazing levels along with solar control, incorporating apertures like skylights,
clerestories, and light shelves, use of high‑performance glazing, tapering light
levels, provision of reflective interior surfaces to distribute the light, and pro‑
vision of measures to minimize glare.5 The health benefits of daylighting are

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reduced eyestrain, increased Vitamin D production, improved circadian rhythms

and sleep patterns, forestalled seasonal depression, enhanced mental clar‑
ity, increased focus and productivity, and increased positive moods. Further,
they boost the immune system, prevents SAD, improves sleep and circadian
rhythms, improves mood, enhances the spirit of place, have financial benefits
via the Central Place Theory of light, function, and place, and offer historic and
symbolic significance by contributing to the experience of awe.

3. Natural ventilation strategies

Ventilation in buildings is required to bring fresh air in from outside and dilute or
remove occupant‑generated pollutants. While air can be extremely destructive
to buildings, it is also life‑giving to people. The oxygen in the air is necessary
for our survival. It is important for a building to function by repelling polluted
air from building exteriors, expelling unwanted interior air to the outside, and
permitting only healthy fresh air into and through the building. Air is also impor‑
tant in mitigating temperature differences affecting comfort. Experience of
outdoor air can enhance sensory connections to nature and the elements.
Climate‑positive outcomes include carbon sequestering and oxygen production
with abundant forested lands. Sustainability can be improved with the effi‑
ciency of fresh air, natural ventilation, and the use of internal filtering systems
to reduce the need for outside make‑up air.
Some of the benefits of healthy fresh air include boosting the immune
system, providing fresh oxygen, increasing energy, and improving cognitive
function. It is good for digestion, it cleans out the lungs, and it sharpens the
mind.6 Natural ventilation is one of the oldest indoor environmental strategies,
especially when used to stoke firepits and remove smoke. Wall openings and
later windows became ways of providing fresh air, and increased ventilation
rates are critical in larger buildings. The positive qualities of air come from its
low density and its subtlety. Therefore, its influence on architecture is also dis‑
persed and subtle. Christopher Alexander and his colleagues in their seminal
work “A Pattern Language,” spoke of certain patterns that promote air circula‑
tion, such as patterns: #131 flow through rooms, #159 light on two sides of a
room, #163 outdoor room, #180 window places, #194 inside windows, #221
natural doors and windows, and #236 windows that open wide.7 Seemingly
simple design considerations, contribute greatly to the health and quality of
experience in interior spaces, especially in residential design.
Wind‑catchers were a traditional method in North Africa and West Asia for
capturing prevailing wind and redirecting it inward to a building’s interior. Com‑
pleted in 1993, the Queen’s Building is arguably the best‑known example of the
work of Alan Short and Brian Ford in their pioneering efforts to reintroduce the
use of natural ventilation into the design of large buildings. Important functions
for natural well‑ventilated spaces include the idea of “zone‑coupling” where
fresh air obtained from the perimeter of a building is connected to deeper inte‑
rior spaces, and that unwanted air and sick building syndrome symptoms can
be isolated and exhausted out of the building.8 Efficient mechanical air handling
systems also contribute to wellness by replenishing oxygen levels, removing

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dust and other particles, and adjusting temperature and humidity within the
indoor air. Having multiple zones within a building allows for adjustments to the
air quality and temperature based upon dynamic space orientation responses
to the sun, types of activities, and differing 24‑hour use.
The Marika Alderson House, Figure 5.3a, is located in the Northern Ter‑
ritory of Australia and was designed in 1994 by architect Glenn Murcutt. It
features open and operable façades and fins that facilitate natural ventilation
and indoor‑outdoor connections. The vertical fins or blades funnel the horizon‑
tal direction of the breezes into the space while the roof overhangs trap the
breezes. The blades also offer privacy. Openings on all sides of the building
facilitate air movement within and through the space especially along wind‑
5.3 ward façades. The large roof overhangs and fins provide sun and rain protec‑
Natural Ventilation tion especially for the façades and openings. The shelter effect is important in
Strategies contexts with hot and cold winds. The structure is lifted above the ground on a
a) Marika Alderson
House, b) Operable
timber platform allowing for natural ventilation beneath the building. Elongated
Window, building shape and aspect ratio in warm‑humid climate zones can enhance
c) Traditional Wind natural ventilation due to the increase of wind‑exposed façades.
Towers, d) Modern
There are several strategies for natural ventilation. They are stack ventila‑
Exhaust Fans
(Sources: Wikimedia
tion (utilizing temperature differences to generate air movement), top‑down
Commons and ventilation, single‑side ventilation, and cross ventilation (with two or more
Shutterstock)

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◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

operable windows per room). These strategies can be directed or operation‑

alized with opening windows, louvers, and the stack effect. Wind towers,
windcatchers, and wind scoops are used to collect and direct wind inside
buildings for ventilation and evaporative cooling. Natural ventilation can be
augmented with mechanical fans and exhaust and supply (utilizing pressure
differences between outside and inside air) ventilation. Window deflectors
can be employed to provide sun control and breeze venting. Protection from
excessive wind occurs with storm panels and roll‑down shutters. Dynamic
interior air movement versus static air conditions has been shown to produce
positive health effects. The health benefits are increased energy, mental clarity,
decreased stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, reductions in respira‑
tory illness, increased positive moods, increased productivity, lower CO2 emis‑
sions, and increased pro‑social behaviors.

4. Prospect and refuge strategies

The Prospect‑Refuge Theory was developed by Jay Appleton theorizing that
our innate desire for nature has prospects or critical viewing, while at the
same time enjoying safety (refuge).9 To Konrad Lorenz prospect‑refuge means,
one can “see, while not being seen.”10 Prospect creates discerning views of
distant objects, changes in weather, intruders, and potential sources of dan‑
ger. Refuge provides a secure, safe, and protected setting at both the urban
design and architectural scales. While the theory is new, humans gravitated to
survival‑advantaged landscapes, like the East Africa Savannah during the Pleis‑
tocene Period (1.8 million years ago) where periodic trees offered safe views
to surrounding grasslands, Figure 5.4a. While fight or flight are hard‑wired into
human nature, prospect and refuge seem intrinsically a part of us as well.
Called “a womb with a view” by David Buss, prospect and refuge are preferred
habitats.11 It is clear that ancestral conditions are different today and that con‑
cepts of prospect and refuge have evolved quite differently. Modern security
occurs not only with planning interventions and architectural designs, but also
with the use of technology. In restaurants, cozy nooks and intimate settings
are desirable. Refuge can also occur at the community level where residents
can observe suspicious activity. In urban contexts, this includes the provision
of dynamic public places with naturally occurring social surveillance opportuni‑
ties. This strategy implies creating a safe refuge within community commercial
and cultural destinations with natural street and place surveillance. Appropriate
measures for refuge include home sheltering, possibly the need for isolation,
and designs for passive survivability.
Prospect design strategies simply include the provision of windows, out‑
door spaces, and entryways facing sidewalks, driveways, streets, and neigh‑
borhoods. Porches, decks, courtyards, terraces, and outdoor rooms also serve
as prospect spaces. With new technologies, visual surveillance can be aug‑
mented by digital means and home security systems, such as ADT, Google
Home, SimpliCam, Vivint, and Ring to name but a few. Passive survivability
refers to the ability to maintain critical life‑support conditions if those conditions

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 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

have been shut off for an extended period. Passive survivability was introduced
by Alex Wilson in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and was discussed in the
last chapter.12 Essential services include shelter from the elements, electricity,
clean water, and food storage and access to the Internet. Prospect and refuge
are important strategies for passive survivability with ability to see and respond
to extreme weather events and to find safe spaces for refuge. This is a compel‑
ling idea in the face of climate change, natural disasters, and increased extreme
weather events, including inhospitable temperatures, drought, and even ter‑
rorist’s threats. Passive survivability design strategies are context‑driven and
would include the use of on‑site renewable energy sources, daylighting, natural
ventilation, passive solar heating or heat avoidance, rainwater harvesting or
emergency water storage, and backup power sources.
The rapid emergence of the coronavirus was alarming and appropriate
mitigation strategies were evolving along with it. Prospect and refuge emerged
as attributes that could contribute to visual, safe, and supporting settings that
connect to nature. Prospect allows for surveillance and the identification of
danger. The sustainability outcomes occur in the form of passive survivability
potentials when coupled with refuge spaces. Together these strategies pro‑
duce positive health and wellness outcomes, including peace of mind, emo‑
tional security, stress reduction, and reduced boredom. Refuge also provides
safety from potential intruders and suspicious activity, and protection from
inclement weather. Furthermore, refuge spaces can provide solitude, quiet,
and peace when processing stressful or emotional issues.
According to Steven Kellert, prospect and refuge designs provide com‑
forting and nurturing interior spaces.13 During the coronavirus pandemic, as
throughout most of the world, residents sheltered in place, and in some
instances, residents were able to safely engage with the natural surround‑
ings without direct contact with other residents. The wellness strategies of
prospect and refuge were important during the COVID‑19 pandemic, but they
also are important during natural disasters offering a safe haven from danger.
According to David Buss, the evolutionary‑inspired epiphanies afforded the
Savannah ancestors while far less frequent, are still desired. It is within our
power today to recreate through design some of the desirable conditions, such
as the prospect of surveillance and beneficial views of nature, and refuge for
comfort and safety.14 Refer to Figure 5.4a.
The southern Aegean island of Santorini is a striking natural example of
the interaction between the four terrestrial elements and architectural and
urban forms. While Santorini is beautiful and picturesque, it is an expression
of a very long struggle for survival in an isolated and adverse environment.15
And so, it is not surprising that prospect and refuge play an important part in
their “womb‑like” designs. Figures 5.4b/c show the exterior of the south‑facing
dwellings (prospect) that seek warm sunlight with views to the Aegean Sea,
and in more historic time views of intruders to the island. The interiors of a
majority of the dwellings use a barrel‑vaulted design that is comfortable and
safe. The cave‑like dwelling form is protected on three sides and supports

133 ◻
◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

5.4
refuge. The wellness benefits are awareness, perception and protection from
Prospect and
external threats (well‑being), and feelings of safety, support, and protection Refuge a) East
(physical, emotional, and psychological well‑being). African Savanna,
b) Santorini
Prospect,
5. Wellness‑oriented materiality c) Santorini Refuge
The common definition of pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the (Source: Shutterstock)
environment, both natural and human‑made, that cause disease, harm, instabil‑
ity, and destruction. Pollutants usually affect the elemental substances includ‑
ing the earth, water, and air, and can manifest in the very places we live – our
homes, schools, places of work, and our communities. Building materials can
produce indoor pollution and, fairly recently, the incorporation of non‑toxic
materials has been shown to reduce the negative health effects and improve
wellness. Natural materials usually come directly from the environment as
opposed to artificial materials that are man‑made or created through industri‑
alized processes. Natural materiality expresses non‑objective, nonlinear, and
random patterns, and experiencing them creates a semiotic narrative back
to a living source.16 For example, the use of natural wood in interiors (floors,
ceilings, structure, walls, doors, windows, and furniture) reduces the carbon
footprint, possesses an aesthetic appeal, and provides a connection to the liv‑
ing qualities of the trees from which they were harvested. By extension, this

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wood‑derived stimulation can have the physiological and wellness effects of

forest bathing. Research has shown that olfactory stimulation is present with
contact with natural materials.17
Non‑toxic materials are incredibly important in wellness design as they
are environmentally friendly, sustainable, safe, and can produce wellness out‑
comes. The physiological reaction from exposure to chemicals is called “idio‑
pathic environmental intolerance,” and can result in headaches, dizziness, poor
memory, changes in cognition, breathing difficulties, chronic coughs, physical
pain, and digestive issues.18 Care should be given to ensure toxic out‑gassing
of radon, asbestos, formaldehyde, phtalates, and carbon monoxide. Natural
materials include, but are not limited to, wood, clay brick, tile, stone, wool,
bamboo, AshCrete, straw bale, living roofs, smart glass, eco‑paints, and recy‑
cled steel and plastic. Glass functions to frame views, admit solar radiation,
facilitate the greenhouse effect, and prevent internal heat loss.
In 1980, architect E. Fay Jones designed the Thorncrown Chapel in
Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Figure 5.5a. Set in the Ozark Mountains, the
chapel is placed among majestic rock bluffs, stone outcrops, and a densely
wooded forest of oak, pine, and maple trees. The chapel is 24 feet (7.4 meters)
wide, 60 feet (18 meters) in length, and 48 feet (14.6 meters) high. Jones
described the chapel as displaying an authentic “Ozark Gothic” architectural
language. Thorncrown Chapel was inspired by the light‑filled interior of the
13th‑century royal Sainte Chappelle, Paris’s light‑filled Gothic chapel. This
Thorncrown Chapel is constructed mainly of indigenous wood from north‑
western Arkansas. Materials needed to be carried to the construction site
by two people, consequently the main structure was made from 2 × 4s, 2
× 6s and 2 × 12s where the truss framing was assembled on site. All of the
wood was hand‑rubbed with a grayish stain to blend with the bark of the
surrounding trees and stone. The chapel is glass‑enclosed with 425 glass
windows amounting to 6,000 square feet (557 m2) of glass, and the space
is air conditioned. The crisscrossing of the structural framing is the building’s
signature, as is true of other of Jones’ works. As one approaches, enters,
and progresses into the interior space, the play of light against the structure
sparkles with the moving perspective. Another visual inspiration and part
of the architectural experience is the way the chapel’s transparency frames
the surrounding forest.
Log cabins have an ancient history in Europe, and in America are often
associated with the first‑generation home buildings by settlers, however there
is a romantic connection to the building type with its natural materials, humble
origins, and scale. Log cabins are mostly constructed without the use of nails
and thus derive their stability from simple stacking, with only a few dowel joints
for reinforcement, Figure 5.5b. The La boiserie dell’Aula Baratto was designed
by Venetian architect Carlo Scarpa in 1960. The wood‑exposed interior structure
and window framing project a warmth, as seen in Figure 5.5c. The clay tile roof
also gives a warm feeling, an intimate scale, and use of a natural earth‑borne
material.

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◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

5.5
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can
Wellness Oriented
be as much as five times more contaminated than outdoor air.19 This seems Material Strategies
counterintuitive especially in urban and industrial areas. Building materials and a) Thorncrown
chemicals considered to be harmful to human or environmental health have Chapel, b) Log
Cabin, c) Scarpa
been collected and described in the Living Building Challenge’s “Red List.”20 Wood Structure,
They are suggested to be phased out of use because of their toxicity, posing d) Clay Tile Roof
risks to human health and the greater ecosystem. Among materials on the red (Source: Wikimedia
Commons)
list are asbestos compounds, chlorinated polymers, formaldehyde, mercury,
chromium, lead, other heavy metals, organotin compounds, creosote, penta‑
chlorophenol, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Mold causes many health
effects, including allergens, irritants, asthma, and in some cases, potentially
toxic substances (mycotoxins). Generally, mold and fungi are brought indoors
through roofs, windows, pipes, and where moisture has been allowed to seep
inside. Key to mold prevention is moisture control by finding water sources,
increasing ventilation especially spaces with water usage (bathrooms, kitchens,
and washrooms), reducing or preventing condensation, and reducing humidity.21
The health benefits of natural materials are the experience of fresh air
(little negative out‑gassing), reduced respiratory ailments, mental clarity,
improved circadian rhythms, and increased positive moods. Living in non‑toxic
environments can also slow down aging.22 According to Bill Browning, wood

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 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

materials are warm, comfortable, natural, inviting, and beautiful. Wood elicits
visual, olfactory, and haptic experiences. The abundance of natural materials,
and wood in particular, creates a strong connection or semantic process, back
to the living and vital qualities of the trees and forests from which they came.
This semantic processing ties our direct connection to the material thereby
triggering a positive associative response.23 Materials at the interior scale also
include furnishing and furniture made from non‑toxic materials that are durable,
cleanable, bio‑based and bio‑compatible, and have low VOC levels and surface
porosity. How carefully materials and products are used in construction, main‑
tained and stored for internal use contributes to wellness.

6. Living color
Humans are visual creatures and as such color expresses a visible and vital
element of life. Color plays a tremendous role in how we react and respond
to things around us. It can affect the way we feel, how we think, and how we
interact with one another. Colors, which enhance the beauty of nature connect
the user to the outdoors and boosts health and well‑being, subsequentially
affecting a person physiologically and psychologically.24 Color, which is natural
and activated by varying qualities of light, can produce numinous experiences.
It can be experienced as light and properties of surfaces, which change color
over the course of a day. Colors also can have symbolic associations and elicit
certain emotional responses, such as the color red representing passion and
fire, blue with the calmness of the water, and green seen with abundant asso‑
ciations in nature and the plant world. Plant life within building interiors adds
both vitality and living color. Indoor plantings, flower arrangements, living walls,
greenhouses, and atriums provide direct access to the living world of plants
and the colors they possess. Color and light perception changes with age usu‑
ally beginning at age 40.
The healing benefits of color vary from color to color. While not all colors
possess the same meaning and impact across cultures, they do have some
overall emotional commonalities. The warmer colors tend to be more passion‑
ate and stimulate the senses and energy, while cooler colors calm the nervous
system influencing mood and state of mind. Simply put, red is stimulating,
orange is uplifting, yellow is cheerful, green is soothing, blue is calming, and
purple is transforming. Color is used to raise awareness and for safety to allevi‑
ate physical hazards, such as danger, warnings, caution, and biological hazards.
Color has been used extensively in Feng Shui as a notion of living color invoking
a transcendent dimension with regenerative powers. The color goal of Feng
Shui is to create balance and the correct color placement to improve vital
energy. Colors, textures, lighting, and ambiance in physical spaces help define
a sense of space and impact moods, thoughts, and productivity.
St. Gabriel’s Parish Church in Toronto, Canada, according to architects Rob‑
erto Chiotti and Richard Vosko, is a meaningful expression of eco‑theology,
ritual‑centeredness, the relevance of religious teachings in the world today, and
active participation, Figure 5.6a. After its completion in 2006, the new church of
St Gabriel’s became the first church in Canada to receive Gold certification from

137 ◻
◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

5.6
Living Color
the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Green Building
Strategies
Rating. Importantly the use of natural light and color expresses the splendor a) St. Gabriel’s
and constantly changing quality of time as the colored stripes move across Parish Church,
b) Burano Colorful
the interior walls and over the Stations of the Cross throughout the day. This
Canal Street,
change marks the movement of the Earth turning on its axis. The warm colors c) Vidar Clinic
of the yellow and the cool color of the blues are both stimulating and calming. Recovery Room,
The incredibly colorful canal streetscapes in Burano, Italy, illustrated in d) Vidar Clinic
Auditorium
Figure 5.6b are another example of the powerful use of color. It is written that
(Sources: Phillip Tabb,
originally color was introduced to the modest wooden homes in the 15th cen‑ Wikimedia Commons,
tury as a wayfinding guide home from the lagoon seas for fishermen during and Gary Coates)

misty and foggy weather. Another folktale suggests the reason for the diverse
use of color was to distinguish one family home from another because so
many shared common surnames thus creating individual family identity.25 And
because of the island’s isolation and inbreeding, there were a lot of common
names. Today, however, to visitors and tourists the colorful urban landscape is
attractive, walkable, known for authentic lace, an accessible getaway a delight‑
ful half‑hour vaporetto ride from Venice.
The work of architect Erik Asmussen, particularly at the Vidar Clinic in
Jarna, Sweden, illustrates the subtle use of color. According to Gary Coates,
the Vidar Clinic was designed specifically to function as a nurturing therapeu‑
tic environment.26 Pigments were made with vegetable dyes within a bees‑
wax medium as well as mineral dyes. The color quality in the most vulnerable

138 ◻
 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

patients’ rooms, are the softest and most alive. According to the Vidar Clinic
webpage, “A healing process has to encompass the wholeness of body, soul,
social aspects and existential questions of meaning. Elements like presence,
touch, conversation and participation of the patient are essential factors.”27 The
soft colors and natural light illustrated in Figures 5.6c/d are of a typical recovery
room in the Vidar Clinic and the small auditorium space.
The wellness strategies for living color are to introduce color through living
plants and flowers within interior spaces, to provide ample views of outdoor
nature and the color it possesses, and to introduce color pigments that are
made from natural sources with zero volatile organic compounds, such as iron
oxides, clay, crushed stone, and plant‑based. Colors can relate to stimulating or
calming effects by using warm and cool colors. The benefits derived from the
electromagnetic wavelengths of the various colors produce positive wellness
effects, including stimulation and calming of both mood and cognitive function.
Colors also relate to the symbolic and connotative semantic associations com‑
ing through nature. Living color used in this way also contributes to a semantic
associative process where there is an indirect relation between interior color
and exterior living things.

7. Workplace innovation and wellness strategies

Although employment varies greatly, the average American spends just under
eight hours a day or 40 hours a week at work.28 This represents approximately
25% of our time. Despite the rise and interest in remote work, the majority of
Americans (nearly 60%) still work in offices. According to the Pew Research
Center, before the coronavirus outbreak, 20% of the workforce worked at
home, during the outbreak that number increased to 71%, and after the out‑
break more than 50% wanted to continue working from home.29 Meanwhile,
many companies have invested in innovative workplaces intended to enable
employees at all levels to use and develop their skills, knowledge, experience,
and creativity to the fullest while simultaneously enhancing business perfor‑
mance. Among these innovations is a focus on wellness. In research in the
United Kingdom, key characteristics of an innovative workplace include the
following:30

• The simultaneous achievement of high performance with quality of work‑

ing life.
• Creation of a work environment built on fairness, job security, and
advanced opportunities.
• Support of a systemic approach of job autonomy, self‑management, and
teamwork.
• Creation of a workplace culture of continuing engagement.
• Invitation flexibility in workplace time and place.
• Support of accountability, curiosity, creativity, coaching behaviors, and
emotional intelligence.
• Inclusion of caregiving including paid time off and childcare.

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Wellness within the workplace is defined by the Global Wellness Insti‑

tute as the measure of employers’ expenditures to improve wellness. These
occur through services, products, and platforms that increase awareness,
educational programs, incentives that address specific health risk factors, and
encouragement of wellness lifestyles (workstyle practices). They address major
challenges related to stress, burnout, work‑life balance, and mental health.
Workplace wellness programs target a wide range of employee behaviors (e.g.,
lack of exercise, poor eating habits, smoking, lack of sleep) and risk factors
(e.g., chronic illness, obesity, addiction, depression, and stress).31 Benefits of
workplace innovation include attracting top talent, increasing efficiency, reduc‑
ing waste, boosting employee engagement, strengthening customer relations,
and increasing brand value. The major health and wellness benefits include
stress reduction, improved mental health and emotional well‑being, improved
work‑life balance, and financial well‑being.
Examples of workplace innovation have occurred routinely within the Big
Tech or information technology companies, such as Alphabet (Google), Ama‑
zon, Apple, Microsoft, and Meta (Facebook). Google Workspaces, for exam‑
ple, typically encourage “casual collision,” there are abundant common areas
for collaboration, unconventional workspace environments, an atmosphere of
innovation, a dog‑friendly attitude, with hackable (flexible and customizable)
spaces. There is a commitment to wellness, so there is encouragement for
exercise, use of recreational facilities, daycare for infants, provision of healthy
food, and access to nature. Furthermore, there is a culture of work‑life balance,
which in addition to an emphasis on well‑being, supports employee retention
and long‑term engagement, supportive leadership, and happiness impacts. In
addition, the founders intended to promulgate features in the workspaces that
5.7
promote efficiency, good feelings, and environmental awareness. The Goog‑ Google Workplace
leplex (combining “Google” and “complex”) in Mountain View, California is a Wellness Strategies
a) Google
complex of buildings that house 2,000,000 square feet (185,806 m2) of office
Gymnasium,
space, and the playful interiors were designed by architect Clive Wilkinson. b) Google
Workstation
(Source: Shutterstock)

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 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

AI‑powered workplace well‑being tools, including Reclaim.ai, Headspace,

Welltory, Breathhh, Todoist, and MealMind, are intended to monitor giving
real‑time feedback, to guide, and to optimize productivity.32 Figures 5.7a/b
show the Google gymnasium provided to encourage physical activity periodi‑
cally throughout the workday, and a creative office space, which also serves
as a group meeting place.

8. Thin places and sanctuary spaces

Thin places are locations or settings where a thin veil exists between the earthly
world within which we live and the heavenly spiritual world that possesses a
qualitatively different energy. Thin places are often referred to as sacred places,
holy places, sanctuary places, vital places, soulful places, awe places, serene
places, or charged places. Thin places suggest the connection between secu‑
lar and sacred places which can produce strong wellness benefits, such as
elicited by awe and serene emotional responses, inspirating experiences, and
spiritual renewal. According to Dasher Keltner, awe emotions are characterized
by perceived vastness and the need for accommodation (processing the expe‑
rience).33 And according to Kay Roberts, serene emotions are characterized by
calm, contentment, belonging, and beneficence.34 They possess certain ener‑
gies and have characteristics guided by self‑evident principles underlying the
spiritual imagination and source experience whether found in nature or the built
environment.35 Sanctuary spaces foster stillness and peacefulness, and pro‑
vide opportunities for emotional healing and access to deeper feelings. During
the COVID‑19 pandemic, spaces such as these were in high demand in order
to quarantine and recover. In these spaces mitigating strategies occurred at
three scales: 1) limiting person‑to‑person transmission through social distanc‑
ing and sanitation protocols, 2) community suppression through suspension
of mass gatherings and the isolation of high‑risk settings, and 3) regional risk
reduction by limiting public transportation and place‑to‑place travel.36 Scientific
research supports the relationship between inner peace (low‑arousal, positive
mental states) and well‑being where one can experience life happenings with
great clarity.
Sanctuary spaces can occur in varying forms, sizes, and locations from
special alcoves in a bedroom or a home office space to a favorite hiding place
in the woods or vacation spot. They can occur throughout everyday experi‑
ences or through special occasions. They are nurturing and personal. Chil‑
dren’s treehouses or forts are a favorite sanctuary space allowing for intimacy,
comradeship, creativity, and solitude. Places like Google are known for their
unique and varying workspaces that serve to provide privacy, focus, connec‑
tion, and recharge. Sanctuary spaces are also found in natural beauty spots,
spiritual and thin places, therapeutic environments, and wellness retreats. Dur‑
ing COVID‑19, such spaces allowed for isolation and limited physical contact
with fellow employees. The wellness benefits of such interesting environments
include sources for renewal, relaxation, and quiet. Experiences within them can

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◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

reduce stress and overstimulation, can strengthen the immune system, and
can improve mood and positive feelings.
Steeple Dingle is the preservation, careful restoration, and interior reno‑
vation of the 150‑year‑old Kilmalkedar church overlooking the sea at Muirioch,
Kerry, Ireland. The iconic traditional gable form with a steeple made of stone
and slate is contrasted with the unique free‑standing steel and glass structure
inside which now serves as a private residence. It is the contrast between
the new and the old, the church typology and residential function, and the
vernacular and contemporary materials that render this a thin place. The new
loft‑style bedrooms are glazed separating them from the main church space
and thereby creating two internal sanctuary spaces. In addition, the resident
family erected a Hypedome sanctuary space next to it. Both the chapel‑house
and dome reflect wellness designs.
The Solar Egg Sauna is located within an Arctic climate outside of the
northern city of Kiruna, Sweden, and was designed in 2017 by architects Bigert
and Bergstrom. A new contemporary sauna, aptly named the “Solar Egg,” has
been constructed in northern Sweden and is an excellent example of the sanc‑
tuary, wellness, and thin place quality of the sauna. They elicit physical healing
and social connectedness. In the center of the sauna is an iron heart‑shaped
wood‑burning stove made of stones. With general precautions taken when
in use, wellness benefits of saunas include stress reduction, improve heart
health, detoxify heavy metals and chemicals, slow down temporal density pro‑
viding contemplative moments.
The presence and importance of silence cannot be overstated. Silence
facilitates deeper, more self‑reflective, and peaceful moments in the context of
a noisy world.37 Moments of silence can be transitions to transcendent experi‑
ences of awe and serenity. The health benefits are mental clarity, decreased
stress, lower blood pressure and heart rate, reduced cortisol, reduced insom‑
nia, and increased focus and positive moods. Sanctuary spaces are places that
are nurturing, comforting, therapeutic, and provide protection and a safe haven.
They support social healing and can be sacred, these can include workshops,
storm shelters, bedroom alcoves, treehouses, children’s forts, bathtubs, and
even baby cribs. Refer to Figure 5.8 for a view of various sanctuary spaces.

9. Spatial variety and quality

The spatial determinants of wellness are impacted by the immaterial essence
of interior space. Spatial qualities are quite varied as defined by scale, horizontal
dimensions, height, shape and configuration, openness, translucency, porosity,
orientation to light, internal separations (columns, walls, furniture), function and
use, indoor/outdoor relationships, entrances and thresholds, color, materiality,
and other decorations.38 A final spatial determinant of wellness is the planning
for access to health and wellness services (healthcare facilities, hospitals),
nutrition (urban agriculture, markets, grocery stores), and access to nature
(parks, gardens, and playgrounds). Spatial quality affects space functioning,

142 ◻
 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

5.8
sustainability, aesthetics, and access to wellness goods, services, and health‑
Thin Place
Sanctuary Space care facilities.
Strategies Acre and Wyckmans cite four determinants in their definition of spatial
a) Treehouse,
quality. The first is views and the quality includes visibility, visual openness,
b) Solar Egg Sauna,
c) Dingle Sanctuary composition, access to daylight, safety, and privacy. The second is internal spa‑
Dome, d) Dingle tial arrangements that include entrances and thresholds, through‑­circulation,
Home Sanctuary internal space definitions, zoning and interconnectedness, and spatial gen‑
Space
erosity, function or activity. The third is spatial transitions that include clear
(Sources: Wikimedia
Commons, Oisin Havery, boundaries, control and flow of public and private spaces, indoor and out‑
and Triona Butler Havery) door relationships, and spatial domain materiality. The fourth is spatial density

143 ◻
◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

which is spatial complexity, porosity, degree of enclosure, type of use, and

people‑to‑space density.39
The Charles Jencks postmodern house in London has incredible spatial
variety with rooms designed for the seasons, rooms for solar observation,
rooms with views of the moon, and rooms for playfulness, Figure 5.9a. Room
names include Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, the Cosmic Loo, Sundial
Arcade, Solar Stair (with 52 steps), and Moonwell. The house is a re‑working
of the original 1840s late‑Georgian building and was designed upon symbolic
and elemental themes. This interior space has complexity, openness, diversity
of use, and discrete zoning as well as connectedness, symbolism, and spatial
generosity. As discussed in Chapter 6, Charles Jencks’ wife Margaret Keswick
Jencks was the inspiration for the Maggie Centres found throughout Europe
for the treatment of cancer.40
The High Gothic Chartres Cathedral exists today almost as it was some
700 years ago. Known for the housing of the tunic or veil of the Virgin Mary,
reportedly worn during the Annunciation and for the Miracle of Chartres after
the great fire in 1194, the cathedral has been an important pilgrimage site. It
was feared that the veil was lost in the fire, but on the third day after the fire, it
was found safe. The quality of space in the Cathedral is extraordinary with the
labyrinth, vertical space 120 feet (37 m) tall, exquisite stained‑glass windows
(176 windows), and grand colonnades. According to John James, Chartres is an
architecture that enhances structure over form to create spaces held together
in dynamic equilibrium.41 The incredible uplifting spatiality of the nave and the
beautiful west rose window are contrasted with the grounded labyrinth that
was often navigated on pilgrims’ knees, Figure 5.9b.
As wellness strategies, spatial variety accommodates multiple and chang‑
ing personal and cultural needs, and spatial quality is influenced by basic
elements of design and their connections to natural elements, quality of mate‑
rials, and authenticity. In healthcare settings, spatial quality can contribute to
self‑healing through the use of sensory gardens, access to indoor air quality,
and natural light. The wellness benefits to spatial variety and quality include

5.9
Spatial Variety and
Quality a) Charles
Jencks Residence
Interior, b) Chartres
Cathedral Interior
Space
(Sources: Alamy
Stock and Wikimedia
Commons)

144 ◻
 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

responses to a variety of physical, cognitive, emotional, and social needs. In

this regard, architectural space not only contributes to physical health through
spatial quality but also affects emotional and spiritual well‑being. These benefits
are defined further by the experience of awe and wonder resulting in possible
stress and depression reduction, improvement of moods, increased generos‑
ity, and pro‑social behaviors. Spatial quality can extend to interior attractive‑
ness, public image, and users’ well‑being. Positive spatial experiences lead to
what Aaron Antonovsky calls salutogenic designs responding empathetically
and coherently to physical, cognitive, social, and spiritual pillars of wellness.42
Spatial quality refers to one’s ability to experience the space in comprehen‑
sible, manageable, and meaningful ways. And in the context of this work, in
wellness ways.

Interior scale summary

The interior design scale offers opportunities for specific design strategies to
incorporate health and wellness benefits that range from the aesthetic quality
and reduction of contaminating materials and finishes to promoting natural light,
natural ventilation, and direct access to nature. It addresses the materials, colors,
and spaces in which we most intimately come in contact. This scale offers the
opportunity to create a more seamless connection between inside (safe haven
and refuge) and outside (prospect and access to nature). Due to the smaller
impact of the interior scale, wellness design strategies and opportunities can eas‑
ily be addressed with both existing and new construction. They can be focused on
the interior of a single room or an entire building. However, they may be applied
to outdoor “urban rooms” such as plazas, courtyards, and streetscapes. The out‑
comes at this scale contribute to pro‑individual benefits through intimate and
everyday wellness strategies, contribute to pro‑social benefits through fostering
community and family and friends’ gatherings, as well as pro‑environmental ben‑
efits through protection from negative climatic effects and positive interactions
with nature. It must be noted here that implementation of these wellness design
strategies does not guarantee positive health outcomes but it can provide greater
opportunities for them to occur. Table 5.1 was originally developed by Gove Depuy
and Phillip Tabb.

INTERIOR SCALE STRATEGIES

1. Incorporating nature within.

2. Daylighting strategies.
3. Natural ventilation strategies.
4. Prospect and refuge.
5. Wellness‑oriented materiality.
6. Living color.
7. Workspace wellness strategies.
8. Thin places sanctuary spaces.
9. Spatial variety and quality.

145 ◻
◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

STRATEGY DESIGN WELLNESS WELLNESS REFERENCES

INTENTIONS STRATEGIES OUTCOMES
Nature Designs for Incorporating living Can be therapeutic, https://www.
Within introducing nature plants, flowers and encourages physical healthline.com/health/
within buildings images of the natural activity, reduces healthy‑home‑guide/
with either living world , incorporating obesity, improves benefits‑of‑indoor‑
examples or abstract outdoor spaces mood, can trigger plant+H33
representations, or rooms such as a calming effect, https://www.terrapin
providing indoor conservatories, green improves air brightgreen.com/reports/
views to outdoor rooms, greenhouses quality, reduces 14‑patterns/
natural settings and and living walls, and stress, sharpens
events like changes providing abstract attention, may boost
of the seasons, and biospheric design productivity, can
incorporating biophilic elements within the promote longevity,
attributes indoors. interior like tile, screen, helps support
wall covering patterns biospheric values,
and artwork. and improve outlook
on life.
Daylighting Reduce negative Careful building Improves mood, https://www.velux.
effects of artificial orientation and less fatigue, reduced com/what‑we‑do/
lighting, increase placement of windows eyestrain, improves research‑and‑knowledge/
natural light, provide and other apertures, alertness, greater job deic‑basic‑book/daylight/
varying kinds of reduce heat gain and satisfaction, more benefits‑of‑daylight
daylight (direct, glare and provide sun effective learning, https://www.lheschong.
filtered, diffused), control and modulation reduces Seasonal com/visual‑delight
reduce lighting to adjust light levels Affective Disorder,
energy costs, and and quality, incorporate improves sleep, and
to stimulate internal skylights, clerestories provides energy
clock. and skyspaces, and savings and reduction
provide opportunities of greenhouse
for shared daylight and gasses, and helps
zone coupling. regulate cycle of
sleep.
Natural To provide direct Incorporate operable Reduction of https://www.govinfo.
Ventilation access to the windows, patio doors, respiratory illness, gov/content/pkg/
outdoors, provide and walls with careful increase productivity GOVPUB‑C13‑4bff
air quality and placement, stacking and concentration f386c2f003
thermal comfort, effect, movable levels, high user c32b2ebdb2fc1e
provide effective skylights, wind satisfaction, fast abc6/pdf/GOVPUB‑
and economical catchers, encourage refurbishment, C13‑4bfff386c2f003c
ventilation methods, cross ventilation, orient improves air quality, 32b2ebdb2fc1eabc6.
to reduce noise of for natural breezes, provide thermal pdf
conventional HVAC interior zone coupling, comfort, creates https://www.ncbi.nlm.
systems, and to and open space dynamic stimulation, nih.gov/books/
control airborne planning. and reduction to NBK143274/
infections. communicable
viruses.

146 ◻
 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

Prospect To provide ample Site buildings for Improves physical https://www.resilient

and Refuge views outward to advantageous views safety, moods, stress design.org/tag/
perceived threats as to streets, entries and reduction, provides passive‑survivability/
well as to the beauty approaches to the critical resources https://cgscholar.com/
of nature. To provide dwelling. Provide quiet during disasters or bookstore/works/
safe interior spaces sanctuary spaces. extreme weather prospect‑and‑refuge‑
for shelter in place Design for passive events. theory
and internal thin survivability.
place
experiences.
Wellness Reduce/eliminate Where appropriate use Reduced inborne and https://living‑future.org/
Materials indoor air pollution, of natural materials outgassed toxic air, red‑list/ https://
material outgassing, (timber, bamboo, exposure to biophilic www.amazon.com/
provide the warmth stone, clay, earth, effect, supports Cradle‑Remaking‑Way‑
of natural materials, wool, cotton and semantic associative Make‑Things/
enhance biophilic natural pigments), use processes, positive dp/0865475873
effect, provide of recycled materials, emotional response
materials that are and design for healthy and mood, cancer
durable and aesthetic ergonomics, and prevention, protects
pleasing. avoiding Red List vital organs, reduce
materials, biospheric, inflammation, slows
acoustic and appealing. down aging, and
reduced respiratory
illness.
Living Incorporate color Utilize natural Improves cognitive https://foyr.com/learn/
Color that is curative, pigments, color and emotional health, color‑theory‑in‑interior‑
stimulating, calming temperatures, color increases alertness, design/ https://blog.
and restorative, combinations, naturally forms differing mood bluebeam.com/
colors that are recognized color responses depending color‑in‑architecture/
reflective of nature, symbols (safety, on color (stimulating
and aid in wayfinding means of egress, to calming), and
and user experience visual language, and provides symbolic
creating positive information), and color meaning and personal
effects. with light to accentuate preferences.
form.
Workplace To create healthy Indoor‑outdoor Stress and https://workplace­
Wellness and productive connections, spatial anxiety reduction, innovation.eu/
Strategies workplaces that quality, colorful and encourages social what‑is‑workplace‑
support physical, creative interiors, interaction, promotes innovation/
mental, emotional, introducing nature creativity and #:~:text=%27Workplace
social and financial inside and a variety teamwork, and %20Innovation%27%20
benefits. of social and meeting achieves economic defines%20evidence%
places. efficiency. 2D,%2C%20
engagement%20
and%20well%2
Dbeing

147 ◻
 ◼ WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES

Thin To provide spaces Applicable to most Stress reduction, https://www.taylor

Place and and interior building types reduced anxiety, francis.com/
Sanctuary opportunities for provide spaces and improved mood, books/mono/10.4324/
Spaces safe sanctuary rooms that are safe, promotion mental 9781003354888/
experiences, free of distraction, wellbeing, lower thin‑place‑design‑
“calm corners,” accessible and calm, blood pressure, phillip‑james‑
places of spiritual usually intimate and reduction of temporal tabb https://www.
renewal, refuge comfortable with density, awe and sassysisterstuff.com/
transformation, and connections to nature, serene experiences, ideas‑calm‑corner‑
emotional escape. and capable of being and sanctuary from emotional‑escape‑room/
completely isolated. infectious disease.
Spatial The immaterial To provide functionality, Reductions of https://www.
Variety & essence of interior dimensional quality, stress, depression archdaily.com/
Quality space to elicit nobility, soulfulness, and anxiety, 498519/the‑
transcendent an awe and serenity in enrichment of story‑of‑maggie‑
healing experiences spatial experiences. cognitive, emotional, s‑centres‑how‑
through choices, social and spiritual 17‑architects‑
variety and quality. benefits. Creating came‑to‑tackle‑
comprehensible, cancer‑care
manageable
and meaningful
experiences.
Table 5.1
Interior Scale Strategies
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

NOTES
1. Environmental Protection Agency, (Accessed March 30, 2020), https://snowbrains.com/
brain‑post‑much‑time‑average‑american‑spend‑outdoors/
2. The Power of Pets, Department of Health and Human Services, (Accessed March 20,
2023), https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power‑pets
3. Lobell, John, Between Silence and Light: Spirit in the Architecture of Louis I. Kahn (Boul‑
der, CO: Shambala Publications, Inc., 1979).
4. Stern, M. et al., Blue Light Exposure Decreases Systolic Blood Pressure, Arterial Stiff‑
ness, and Improves Endothelial Function in Humans. European Journal of Preventive
Cardiology; 2018.
5. Heschong, Lisa, Visual Delight in Architecture: Daylight, Vision, and View (London, UK:
Routledge, 2021).
6. EnviroAtlas Benefit Category: Clean Air, (Accessed October 29, 2023), https://www.epa.
gov/enviroatlas/enviroatlas‑benefit‑category‑clean‑air
7. Alexander, Christopher, et al., A Pattern Language: Towns, Buildings, Construction (New
York, NY: Oxford University Press, 1977).
8. Tabb, Phillip, Solar Energy Planning: A Guide to Residential Development (New York, NY:
McGraw Hill Book Company, 1984).
9. Appleton, Jay, The Experience of Landscape (New York, NY: John Wiley & Son, Inc., 1975).
10. Lorenz, Konrad, King Solomon’s Ring (London, UK: Methuen, 1964).
11. Buss, David M., The Evolution of Happiness, (Accessed August 25, 2023), https://labs.
la.utexas.edu/buss/files/2015/09/TheEvolutionofHappiness.pdf
12. Wilson, Alex, (Accessed January 12, 2020), https://www.buildinggreen.com/feature/
passive‑survivability‑new‑design‑criterion‑buildings

148 ◻
 WELLNESS INTERIOR STRATEGIES ◼

13. Kellert, Stephen R., Judith H. Heerwagen, & Martin Mador, Biophilic Design: The Theory,
Science, and Practice of Bringing Building to Life (New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2008).
14. Buss, David M., The Evolution of Happiness, (Accessed August 25, 2023), https://labs.
la.utexas.edu/buss/files/2015/09/TheEvolutionofHappiness.pdf
15. Kellert, Stephen R., Judith H. Heerwagen, & Martin Mador, Biophilic Design: The Theory,
Science, and Practice of Bringing Building to Life (New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.,
2008).
16. Ikei, Haumi, Chorong Song, & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, Physiological Effects of Wood
on Humans: A Review, https://jwoodscience.springeropen.com/track/pdf/10.1007/
s10086‑016‑1597–9 (on‑line publication: September 10, 2022).
17. Miyazaki Y., Y. Motohashi, & S. Kobayashi, (1992), Changes in Mood by Inhalation of Essen‑
tial Oils in Humans II. Effect of Essential Oils on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, R–R Inter‑
vals, Performance, Sensory Evaluation and POMS (in Japanese).
18. Kopec, Dac, Person‑Centered Health Care Design (New York, NY: Routledge, 2021),
p. 110.
19. EPA, Indoor Air Quality: What are the Trends in Indoor Air Quality and their Effects on
Human Health? (Accessed January 20, 2024), https://www.epa.gov/report‑environment/
indoor‑air‑quality
20. Red List Index, (Accessed October 23, 2023), https://www.iucnredlist.org/assessment/
red‑list‑index
21. EPA, Ten Things You Should Know about Mold, (Accessed January 20, 2024), https://www.
epa.gov/mold/ten‑things‑you‑should‑know‑about‑mold
22. 13 Ways Less Toxic Living Will Benefit You, (Accessed March 20, 2023), https://www.
nontoxicforhealth.com/less‑toxic‑living.html
23. The Nature of Wood: An Exploration of the Science on Biophilic Responses to Wood,
Terrapin Bright Green, (Accessed March 15, 2023), http://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/
wp‑content/uploads/2022/01/The‑Nature‑of‑Wood_Terrapin_2022‑01.pdf
24. Whitehead, Jennifer, Ways Biophilic Design Promotes Human Health and Well‑­being
(Accessed November 14, 2023), https://uca.edu/art/2021/03/30/ways‑­biophilic‑design‑
promotes‑human‑health‑and‑well‑being/
25. Italian Curiosities: Why are Burano’s Houses for Colorful? (Accessed November 14, 2023),
https://italoamericano.org/why‑are‑buranos‑houses‑so‑colorful/#:~:text=Legends%
20say%20that%2C%20because%20of,them%20more%20visible%20and%
20recognizable.
26. Coates, Gary, Erik Asmussen, Architect (Stockholm, Sweden: Byggforlaget, 1997), p. 129.
27. Food Studio, Vidar Clinic: A Place to Nurture and Heal, (Accessed February 20, 2023), https://
foodstudio.no/blog/column/the‑vidar‑clinic‑a‑place‑to‑nurture‑and‑heal‑your‑whole‑being/
28. Mazur, Caitlin, What is the Average Work Hours in the US? (2023), (Accessed October 9,
2023), https://www.zippia.com/advice/average‑work‑hours‑per‑week/
29. (Accessed October 8, 2023), https://www.pewresearch.org/social‑trends/2020/12/09/
how‑the‑coronavirus‑outbreak‑has‑and‑hasnt‑changed‑the‑way‑americans‑work/
30. Workplace Innovation Europe, (Accessed October 8, 2023), https://workplaceinnova‑
tion.eu/what‑is‑workplace‑innovation/#:~:text=%27Workplace%20Innovation%27%
20defines%20evidence%2D,%2C%20engagement%20and%20well%2Dbeing.
31. Food Studio, Vidar Clinic: A Place to Nurture and Heal, (Accessed February 20, 2023), https://
foodstudio.no/blog/column/the‑vidar‑clinic‑a‑place‑to‑nurture‑and‑heal‑your‑whole‑being/
32. Wells, Rachel, (Accessed October 9, 2023), https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/
2023/10/08/6‑ai‑wellbeing‑tools‑for‑work‑you‑should‑try‑this‑mental‑health‑month/?sh=3
525defc38f8
33. Keltner, Dasher, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and It Can Transform Your
Life (New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2023).

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34. Roberts, Kay & Cheryl Aspy, Development of the Serenity Scale (PubMed: Journal of
Nursing Measurement, 1993), pp. 155–156.
35. Xi, Juan & Matthew Lee, Inner Peace as a Contribution to Human Flourishing: A New
Scale Developed from Ancient Wisdom, (Accessed October 20, 2022), https://academic.
oup.com/book/39523/chapter/339352679
36. Tabb, Phillip James, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future
(New York City, NY: Routledge, 2019).
37. Tabb, Phillip James, Biophilic Urbanism: Designing Resilient Communities for the Future
(New York City, NY: Routledge, 2019).
38. Qi, Zhen, Qiong Huang, & Qi Zhang, Contribution of Space Factors to Decision on Comfort
and Healthy Building Design, (Accessed December 12, 2023), https://www.researchgate.
net/figure/Building‑space‑factors‑related‑to‑comfort_tbl1_336443324
39. Acre, Fernanda & Annemie Wyckmans, Dwelling Renovation and Spatial Quality: The
Impact of the Dwelling Renovation on Spatial Quality Measurements, (Accessed Decem‑
ber 14, 2023), https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212609015000023
40. Medina, Samuel, The Storey of Maggie’s Centres: How 17 Architects Came to Tackle
Cancer Care, (Accessed December 15, 2023), https://www.archdaily.com/498519/
the‑story‑of‑maggie‑s‑centres‑how‑17‑architects‑came‑to‑tackle‑cancer‑care
41. James, John, The Master Masons of Chartres (Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK: Boydell &
Brewer, 1982), p. 5.
42. Mittelmark, Maurice & Georg Bauer, Chapter 2, The Meanings of Salutogenesis, (Accessed
December 14, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK435854/

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LANDSCAPE SCALE STRATEGIES

Health and wellness strategies at the landscape scale involve measures for con‑
nections to landscape environments and urban outdoor spaces. This can happen
through creation and inclusions of parks and greenways, public plazas and court‑
yards, designs for edible gardens and tiny urban forests, healing gardens and
wells, forest bathing, and contemplative landscapes at the smaller scale, as well
as responses to agriculture, forest reformation and reforestation efforts. The expe‑
rience of a good landscape can affect personal, social, and environmental health.
According to Catherine Ward Thompson, “the importance of the landscape appears
to be as relevant as ever in the context of modern urban lives.”1 Ward Thompson fur‑
ther connects landscapes and health as early as the Persians and Ancient Greeks,
and later in Mediaeval landscapes including paradisal and health‑oriented environ‑
ments. Landscape strategies benefit in particular ways with physical, psychological,
mental, social, economic, environmental, and spiritual outcomes.
The landscape scale strategies in this section include access to greenspaces in
the forms of parks, public greens, open spaces, farms, and water and waterways as
well as other natural areas, the design for edible landscapes and urban agriculture,
salutogenic environments, and the design for healing gardens and contemplative
landscapes that possess energetic qualities and historic or symbolic significance.
There are certain landscape patterns, like biophilic attributes, that contribute to con‑
templative and wellness experiences. According to Agnieszka Olszewska‑Guizzo,
these landscape models include landscape layers, landforms, biodiversity, color and
light, physical and visual connections, archetypal terrestrial elements, and character
and sense of solitude.2
The landscape benefits stimulate positive awareness of ourselves, enhance
our connections with nature, culture and people, are safe and do us no physical
harm, provide meaningful stimuli, encourage times of relaxation and physical exer‑
cise, allow for productive interactions, contain a balance between familiarity and
wonder, and are beautiful.3 Health and wellness benefits from the strategies at
this landscape scale range from improved mood and respiratory function to stress
reduction and improved mental health. There are many pathways linking natural
environments and landscapes, and health and well‑being.

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-6 151 ◻

◼ WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES

1. Green spaces and parks

Creating a healthy balance between built and natural environments is impor‑
tant, which means maintaining healthy edges to settlements, responding
to ecological flows through urban and suburban land, integrating agriculture
and made landscapes in the forms of parks, greens, playgrounds, and green‑
ways, and creating landscaped streetscapes. Since the majority of Americans
describe themselves as living in urban areas (27%) and in suburban areas
(52%), this represents nearly 80% of the population who live further from rural
and natural areas (21%).4 And as much as 87% of Americans spend time inside
buildings and 6% inside automobiles, so it is no surprise that we are an “indoor
culture” susceptible to “nature deficit disorder,” especially among children.5
Tree canopies in urban areas have been shown to have health benefits by
promoting lower obesity levels, better social cohesion, lower blood pressure,
alleviation of heat stress, noise pollution reduction, reduction of street‑level air
pollution, and the economic benefit of an increase of property values.6
Biophilia is an emerging planning and design concept that supports
greater access and connections to nature. It is the confluence of fields of
natural and social sciences, philosophy, anthropology, public health, evolu‑
tionary psychology, environmental engineering, planning, urban design, land‑
scape architecture, architecture, and interior design. Biophilia is defined as
the love of life. Biophilia’s epistemology derives from the two Greek terms
bio meaning “life,” and philia meaning “affection or friendly feeling toward.”
It is the inborn affinity human beings have for other life forms. According to
Kaplan and Kaplan, landscapes today that resemble savannas or are parklike
are preferred.7 Biophilic environments can reduce anxiety, anger and fear, are
known to lower pulse‑rate and blood pressure, improve the immune system,
and boost the length and quality of sleep. Planning and design with biophilic
principles is an effective wellness strategy.
Singapore is possibly the most biophilic city worldwide. Biophilic planning,
architecture, and landscape architecture play important roles in Singapore’s efforts
to become greener. The biophilic patterns that are most present in Singapore
are human‑nature connections focusing on abundant connections to and direct
experiences of the natural environment, with manifestations of plants, animals,
water features, geography, and responses to seasonal changes. As mentioned
in Chapter 3, Singapore has envisioned itself as a garden city, which initially took
the form of a tree‑planting initiative and national parks system. Later the vision of
a garden city changed from a “garden in the city” to a “city in a garden,” bring‑
ing gardens, natural green spaces, and biodiversity to every resident. With this
conceptual shift, the Singapore Park Connector Network was created and today is
an innovative “green matrix.” The Park Connector Network ties together six loops
with a network of jogging, cycling, skating, and walking pathways.
As mentioned in Chapter 3, James Oglethorpe established Savannah, Geor‑
gia in 1733, which has long been an excellent example of early American planning.
In the USA, Savannah, Georgia is most recognized for its original development
around 24 nature‑filled squares located evenly throughout the town fabric. Typi‑
cally, the squares are surrounded by four residential and four civic blocks, and
together each square is known as a ward. Two of the squares were demolished

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 WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES ◼

leaving 22 active squares today. All of the squares measure approximately 200
feet (61 meters) from east to west, but they vary north to south from approxi‑
mately 100 to 300 feet (30–91 meters). Buildings located along the east‑west
sides of the squares typically house civic functions, while north‑south blocks are
residential (tythings), refer to Figure 6.1b. The wellness strategies provide access
to nature, integrated mixes of use, and places of casual encounters providing
pro‑individual, pro‑social, and pro‑environmental benefits.
Similar to the distributed parks of Savannah is the concept of “tiny for‑
ests,” which are small biodiverse urban forests. Typically, no larger than bas‑
ketball or tennis courts they are made of native plants and are based on what
is called the Miyawaki method of planting.8 Originally developed by ecologist
Akira Miyawaki in the 1970s, the Miyawaki method is an afforestation tech‑
nique for cultivating four fast‑growing species near one another. The purpose
is to foster layers of the tiny natural forest as the plants compete for sunlight.
Benefits include carbon sequestering, mitigating heat and flooding, and provid‑
ing shade. Although not in an urban context, Figure 6.1c shows a tiny forest
surrounding a Shinto shrine in Sasayama City, Japan. Tiny forests have been
planted in Japan, across Europe, in Africa, throughout Asia, and in North and
South America, Russia, and the Middle East. They provide distributed access
to nature (due to their small size), bird habitats and soundscapes, butterflies
and other colorful insects, carbon sequestering and clean air, and help reduce
the heat island effect.
Strategies are simply to provide ample green space with easy access,
especially in the initial planning stages of development in both cities and subur‑
ban environments. Tradeoffs can be made with the densification of urban devel‑
opment and the land use provision of green open spaces. Further, rethinking the
role of the automobile and the institution of more pedestrianization will provide
opportunities for increased greenspaces. Green space multifunctionality is also
important emphasizing recreation, social interactions, cultural heritage, food‑
scapes, aesthetics, and ecological functions. Benefits include access to nature,
6.1
Nature and
CO2 sequestering, noise reduction, stress reduction, and pro‑­environmental
Greenspaces behaviors. Developed by Stephen and Rachel Kaplan experiences of nature
a) Singapore result in attention restoration which provides improved focus, increased ability
Garden Networks,
to concentrate, and recovery from mental fatigue.9 This includes the concept
b) Parks of
Savannah, Georgia, of increasing “soft fascination” or our attention held by less stimulation and
c) Tiny Forest activity. And finally, tiny forests are an effective strategy for creating carbon
(Sources: Shutterstock sequestering and relief from urban concrete jungles.
and Wikimedia
Commons)

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2. Blue spaces
Blue spaces as defined by the European Commission are outdoor environ‑
ments that prominently feature water either directly (in, on, or near water) or
visually (ability to hear, see, or sense water). Blue spaces and aquatic environ‑
ments include coastlines, rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls, fountains, and other
water features. Waterway restoration is aimed at a variety of rivers, estuaries,
and streams in restoring natural conditions, functioning and habitat, improving
biodiversity, regeneration, and recreation. Blue spaces also include urban open
spaces designed to sequester greenhouse gasses and absorb heat, reducing
the urban “heat island effect.” Sailing, rafting, surfing, swimming, ice skating,
skiing, or even walking in the rain allow for direct contact with the natural forces
of the motion of wind and water. These immersive experiences contribute to
blue space wellness outcomes, including improvements in physical and mental
well‑being. And according to Mathew White, proximity to water is associated
with at least a 10% premium in house prices.10
The prime substance of a blue space is water. In planning and landscape
architecture it is associated with waterbodies and waterways. Because of the
hydrologic cycle, water is constantly moving and transforming. Rivers, lakes,
reservoirs, and wetlands supply us with fresh water for drinking, growing food,
and producing energy. In addition, water elicits numinous experiences because
of its mysterious underworld nature, emotional energy, and healing qualities.
Clean water hydrates, flushes out toxins within the body, prevents water‑borne
illnesses, and raises sanitation levels.
Hot springs and natural geothermal springs occur worldwide. Hot springs
are known to possess remarkable healing powers. Holy wells are found
throughout the world on six of the seven cotenants. Holy wells in different
forms occur in a wide variety of cultures, religious environments, and historical
periods. In Ireland alone, there are nearly 3,000 wells. Wells are unchanging
and are life‑giving, homes of spirits, and sources of wisdom, renewal, proph‑
esy, and wellness. Today, however, wells do not serve a necessary function
unless in remote areas where public utilities are not available. They are not in
everyday use anymore; however, they do still serve as sacred place destina‑
tions and places of renewal.
Good examples are the Glastonbury Chalice Well and its cascading pools
which are considered one of the most spiritual places in England, and the Salk
Institute’s infinity pool. Glastonbury Tor in Somerset, England is a hill with the
Chalice Well near its summit, with its small stone surround and movable wood
and iron opening. Down slope from the Well are gardens and two overlapping
pools formed by Vesica Pisces geometry (two overlapping circles). The Salk
Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, California was designed by Louis I.
Kahn and opened in 1965. Located between two of the laboratory blocks is a
large plaza with a single infinity pool directed to the Pacific Ocean, Figure 6.2b.
For Kahn, at sunset the infinity pool combined the Empedoclean terrestrial ele‑
ments (fire, water, earth, and air) into a transformative silent space.
Seas, lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and tributaries have become pol‑
luted and are cause for waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery, and

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6.2
Blue Spaces
hepatitis. In addition, long‑term exposure to contaminated water can lead to
a) Glastonbury
Vesica Pools, UK, cancer and reproductive issues. Living closer to blue space is associated with
b) Salk Institute statistically significantly higher physical activity levels, and larger amounts of
Blue Space
blue space are also associated with higher levels of activity.11 So, it is important
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)
to restore and maintain these essential resources serving our wellness as well
as planetary health. Blue spaces stimulate healing, promote calmness and bet‑
ter sleep, and encourage physical activity. According to Glasgow Caledonian
University, blue spaces lower risks of stress, anxiety, obesity, cardiovascular
disease, mental health, and premature death.12 Blue spaces occur almost every‑
where, even in the rain. According to Jantra Jacobs, walking in the rain exposes
one to cleaner air, promotes exercise, can prevent overheating, can help shift
perspective, and the scent of rain, sometimes called “petrichor,” is calming.13
Urban waterways are common in most cities across the world. Throughout
history, cities and towns have often been established along the banks of rivers,
because these waterways provided a source of drinking water, and power, fol‑
lowed by connecting roads, and transport links to other communities. In the
United States, 40% of the population lives near the coast, and about 15% live
near the Great Lakes. Urban infrastructure within these areas impacts 60% of
all freshwater fish, mussel, and crayfish species in North America, over 1,200
species altogether. It has contributed to local extinctions of 260 species, some‑
times at great distances from city boundaries. Therefore, waterway restoration
is an important wellness strategy not only for the environment, but for human
health as well.

3. Waterway restorations
The San Antonio Riverwalk is a 15‑mile restoration and flood management
project and is considered the largest urban ecosystem in the United States
providing a serene and pleasant way to navigate the city. It is filled with mixes
of use including restaurants, cafés, shops, the Alamo, historic districts, and
vital nightlife all with pedestrian access. It represents both an individual and
city‑wide wellness intervention with a host of benefits, refer to Figure 6.3a.
The Los Angeles River Master Plan recognizes the Los Angeles River as a
body of resources of regional importance and recognizes that those resources

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◼ WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES

must be rendered less dangerous yet protected and enhanced as a blue space.
Since the mid‑1980s there has been a renewed interest in the river as a valu‑
able natural asset for the entire Los Angeles basin. As a multi‑use resource,
the river can serve both ecological as well as human needs in a much broader
sense than it does today. Along its banks, many new, job‑producing facilities
could be developed, and new recreation sites can be provided for people living
in the basin.
Residents of Los Angeles have been stuck in a concrete landscape, espe‑
cially along the Los Angeles River. The new Greenway of Los Angeles is an
example of serene network urbanism, and will connect our neighborhoods,
ease our commutes, build healthier space, invest in the communities, and
restore the river’s natural beauty. However, the Greenway is more than just a
pathway for transportation—it will be a destination in itself, charting new pos‑
sibilities from bike‑in movies to yoga classes. The Greenway is a new way of
living for Los Angeles, connecting beautiful neighborhoods, connecting natu‑
ral landscapes, and connecting to one another. Instead of crowded streets
and honking horns on your morning commute, imagine chirping birds, flow‑
ing water, and numerous coffee shops along the way to work. Families have
longed for more open space for recreation. The Greenway creates healthier
spaces where families can ride bikes, play in parks, and breathe fresh air along
the water. It lowers the risk of flooding and death due to drowning. The LA
River acted as a flood control channel until January 1st of 2014, and now is
getting a new use as a navigable waterway. New public events along the river
have already begun, like bike‑in movie nights, Figure 6.3b.
The wellness strategies that include blue space and waterway resources
of regional importance recognize that those resources must be rendered less
dangerous yet protected and enhanced as wellness places providing not only
needed greenspace to inner cities, but also a more vital network of connectiv‑
ity for both people, increasing their recreational possibilities, as well as provid‑
ing for better animal habitats. While some water bodies bring risks to humans, 6.3
Waterway
the benefits of blue spaces include improved water quality, improvements Restoration a) San
to the natural environment, increased accessibility for human activity (insto‑ Antonio, Texas
ration), reduced obesity, increased cognitive restoration, increased positive Riverwalk, b) Los
Angeles River
mood and happiness, increased respiratory health, and enhanced pro‑social
Revitalization
and pro‑environmental behaviors. (Source: Wikimedia
Commons)

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4. Edible landscapes and foodscapes

While many homeowners spend weekends maintaining traditional lawns and
landscapes, there is an opportunity to have life‑giving and food‑producing land‑
scapes with positive benefits. Edible gardens can take several forms from
gardens, to orchards, streetscapes, and micro farms. Edible gardens provide
healthy food and great accessibility. Typical among these gardens are fruit
trees, culinary herbs and vegetables. In addition to producing food, there is a
positive social aspect to creating edible landscapes. Edible landscapes double
as food‑producing gardens, and foodscapes, as well as ornamentals full of
color and seasonal change. Edible ornamentals can provide beauty, shade, and
food production, in addition to helping conserve water, reduce pollution, and
provide habitat for wildlife.
Foodscaping (landscaping with food) is the practice of integrating edible
plants into landscapes.14 Plants include baby greens, kale, lettuces, tomatoes,
beans, peppers, berries (strawberries, cherries, black raspberries), and culinary
herbs (rosemary, sage, parsley, dill, and basil). In addition, they should also
be pollinator‑friendly. Foodscapes encourage interdependence among people,
food, and place. Foodscapes are geographical and spatial and vary accordingly
(including soil types and climatic conditions) with biophysical food products
combined with food management processes (including crop type, water man‑
agement, and agronomic inputs) on local levels. Foodways are the cultural,
social, and economic practices enabling foodscaping. Edible gardens and
foodscaping provide convenience and accessibility, reduce transport energy,
promote food security, and are carbon sequestering.
Edible streetscapes and verge gardens typically parallel streets, sidewalks,
and footpaths. They typically use native plants, are relatively maintenance‑free,
and are water‑wise. They should be able to accommodate rainwater surge and
runoff. Often verge gardens are shrubbery‑laden, textured, succulent, color‑
ful, sometimes rock or stone‑centric, and non‑toxic. Verge gardens should not
interfere with underground services such as water, gas, and sewage pipes
or block easy access to and from the street. Benefits are air filtration, shade,
slowing rainfall runoff, carbon sequestering, and reducing the heat island effect.
The wellness strategies include development planning for domestic gar‑
dens and small‑scale greenhouses, provision for neighborhood community gar‑
dens, foodscape gardens for commercial restaurants’ farm‑to‑table, and creating
streetscapes with edible plants. The wellness strategies associated with edible
gardens include allocating ample space for either public or private gardens,
preparing the soil, growing vertically as much as possible, succession planting,
and extending the growing season. Effective physical barriers should be con‑
sidered to keep out deer, vermin, and other troublesome visitors. Insects can
be addressed with intercropping, planting pest‑repelling herbs, and encourag‑
ing beneficial insects. Having both visible and physical access to the garden is
important for both surveillance and enjoyment. The benefits include engaging in
physical activity, relaxation and lowering stress levels and blood pressure, provid‑
ing healthy nutrition, increasing vitamin D levels by being outdoors, promoting
social interactions, boosting mood, enhancing the biophilic effect, and creating

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enjoyment. Gardening has also been associated with building self‑esteem. The 6.4
Edible Landscapes
benefits of orchards include providing vital greenspace, sequestering green‑ a) Edible Gardens,
house emissions, increasing physical activity through harvesting, and contribut‑ b) Apple Orchards,
ing to food security. Benefits also include agroecology regeneration. c) Picking Apples
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)
5. Healing gardens
While most gardens possess an intrinsic appeal and benefit to humans, healing
gardens suggest improved health and wellness outcomes and therefore are
considered therapeutic landscapes. Therapeutic environments or sanctuaries
are considered safe spaces specifically designed for physical, mental, social,
psychological, and spiritual healing. They are generally plant‑dominated environ‑
ments purposefully designed to facilitate interaction with the healing elements
of nature. Water in the garden also serves as a healing elicitor. Interactions can
be passive or active depending on the garden design and health and wellness
needs. And, most recently, were seen as beneficial during the COVID‑19 pan‑
demic. They serve as places of recovery, and restoration of the mind, body, and
soul. Healing gardens have a long history most likely beginning with ancient
Egyptian, Persian, and Greek cultures with landscapes of medicinal plants.
In the Middle Ages, monastic compounds provided enclosed and protected
gardens for herbal remedies and dietary prescriptions.
With the world’s population now having greater percentages living in urban
areas, it is not surprising that there are negative consequences. Living in cities
is associated with developing higher risks of mood and anxiety disorders, as
well as mental health disorders, than living in a rural environment.15 Living in
rural areas is not without risk due to higher percentage of older adults, higher
rates of obesity, and many rural communities are isolated with less access
to healthcare. However, places with rich views and access to nature reduce
stress and increase concentration with wellness benefits. In this regard, places
supporting healing and contemplative environments are restorative with their
natural geometries, biodiverse qualities, and experiential vitality. Today, con‑
templative landscapes possess certain spatial characteristics that contribute to
their effectiveness that include landscape layering and perspectives, sensuous
landforms, rich biodiversity, vibrant color and light, physical and visual access,
and awe‑inspiring, soulful, and contemplative qualities.

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Healing gardens are used to produce medicinal plants while others may
be grown for ornamental plants and their serenity healing. They are often a
part of hospitals, healthcare, and aging‑in‑place settings. Healing gardens have
appeared worldwide and, according to Roger Ulrich, healing gardens help
reduce pain, improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety for patients and their
families, lower infection occurrence, and improve patient satisfaction.16 Thera‑
peutic gardens often engage in the active and deliberate needs of particular
populations. Where healing gardens, on the other hand, generally aim for a
more passive involvement and are designed to provide benefits to a diverse
population with many differing needs.
Maggie Centres in the United Kingdom incorporate healing gardens as
an integral part of their health and wellness activities for cancer patients. The
first Maggie Centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996 and expanded in the United
Kingdom and Hong Kong. The intention was to provide buildings that uplifted
and supported healing. There was also the desire to create an environment that
was inviting and domestic – a kind of “home away from home.” This extended
to healing gardens as well. The Manchester Maggie’s was opened in 2016
and the building was designed by Foster and Partners and the garden was
designed by the Dan Pearson Studio, refer to Figure 6.5a. It was conceived as
a home away from home and a place of refuge. The garden and greenhouse
were integral parts of the design, and provided a place for gathering, working
together, and enjoying the therapeutic qualities of touching the earth. The gar‑
den has year‑round color and gives a calming transition away from the hospital
and becomes an extension of the kitchen table with people sitting out and
meeting each other in the beautiful surroundings. Benefits occur to patients
in healthcare facilities, their families and friends who visit, and to those who
work in the gardens as a therapeutic process.
Several kinds of healing gardens support healing, enabling, meditation,
rehabilitation, and restoration. Healing gardens can occur in a variety of con‑
texts both indoors and outdoors. Healing is focused on physical, mental, emo‑
tional, and spiritual health. Enabling meditation, gardens focus on physical
recovery and active participatory engagement. Meditative gardens encourage
serenity and calm and are stress‑relieving. Rehabilitation gardens not only
affect human health, but also the land, soil, and surrounding natural environ‑
ment. Restorative gardens are sanctuaries that respond to relieving stress
and traumatic events and supporting spiritual renewal. Beyond the nutritional
values of healing gardens, they provide an intimate and biological relationship
with nature, a context for contemplation, psychological comfort, and decreased
temporal density.
The wellness strategies for healing gardens include the creation of private
and safe gardens with places to walk, sit and gather with others, places of
social support, places with a sense of control, places that encourage physical
activity, and places with beauty and serenity. Benefits include the creation of
places that are serene places, fostering lowered blood pressure, increased
respiratory function, cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness, and greater endur‑
ance. There can be increased social skills, positive moods, and overall sense

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of well‑being and hopefulness, increased safety, boosting of the immune 6.5

Healing Gardens
function, and cultural, social and spiritual connections to place. These promote
a) Maggie Centre,
pro‑social, pro‑spiritual, and pro‑environmental behaviors. Manchester, UK,
b) Desert Healing
6. Forest bathing Garden in San
Marion, California
Our ancient ancestors were hunter‑gatherers whose lives were intertwined
(Sources: Shutterstock
with the wilderness, endless grasslands, dense forests, and vast stretches of and Wikimedia
green landscapes. Deep inside us is an instinctual connection with an under‑ Commons)

standing that much health and wellness can be sourced from nature. Forests
and trees in particular are appealing as they provide oxygen, shelter, food,
building materials, safety, windbreaks, and in some cases water. On a spiritual
level, trees reflect connections with things greater than ourselves and they
ground the earth with heaven. Forests were the source of myths and mystery,
and were often seen as being enchanted. They were home to certain gods
and spirits. Often certain trees were seen as holy and considered worthy of
spiritual respect. Trees can also serve to create a sense of place and place
identity. While forests often elicit a sense of mystery, enchantment, and won‑
der, they also express vitality, strength, protection, and transformation. Forests
are places of contrast as in ground and sky, dark and light, and changes of the
seasons. It is no wonder that there are a multitude of wellness benefits from
experiences of trees and forests.
Although not a new concept, forest bathing emerged in Japan in the
early 1980s by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
as shinrin‑yoku literally meaning “taking in nature” where taking in the quali‑
ties of the forest, its atmosphere, or in a broader sense experiencing all of
nature, is a wellness immersion process. In addition to shinrin‑yoku, forest
bathing is a central exponent of biophilia with the love of and affiliation with
nature. Long‑term benefits derive from the combination of the physical activ‑
ity of slowly walking and becoming increasingly more present with the sur‑
rounding nature, breathing in oxygen‑rich air, and exposure to the presence of
phytoncides or natural oils of the forest. Forest bathing significantly improves
physical and psychological health. Other benefits are stress reduction, encour‑
agement of physical activity, creation of positive moods, improving sleep pat‑
terns, strengthening the immune system, lowering blood pressure, lowering of

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concentrations of cortisol, lowering pulse rate, enhancing the biophilic effect,

reversing the “nature deficit disorder,”17 and encouraging pro‑environmental
behaviors. Forest bathing exposes us to lower levels of salivary cortisol con‑
centrations and higher levels of tree‑produced phytoncides which in turn help
human immune systems with increased levels of white blood cells with NK
(natural killer)‑cell activity.
Forest bathing is recommended for a minimum of 20 minutes a day, while
for the full forest bathing experience, a two‑hour period is recommended in
order to gain the full benefit. Walking quietly, opening the senses, periodic
pauses, and finding a thin place or special spot to stop and attune to the place
can elicit the best results. Two experiences often occur. The first is a serene,
calming, or relaxing experience, safe from negative aspects of nature and
filled with sensual experiences. The second is an introspective, inspiring, or
insightful experience evoking peaceful states of mind and mindfulness. For‑
est bathing can be awakening, instinctual, and evoking a sense of aliveness
and awe. It can also be amplified with therapeutic guided tours and retreats.
With forest bathing caution should be expressed in certain situations, includ‑
ing dehydration and exposure to predatory animals, venomous snakes, ticks,
and other insects.
According to Agnieszka Olszewska‑Guizzo, darker, more dense elements
of nature could be non‑beneficial to health and even dangerous.18 However,
the experience of what is called an “awe walk” and a “wild awe” are both
safe and exhilarating and can be positive for health and wellness. According
to Diane E. Bowler, et al., a meta‑analysis provided some evidence of the
positive benefits of a walk or run in a natural environment in comparison to
a synthetic environment.19 And recent studies show that people who move
6.6
Forest Bathing
to greener urban areas benefit from sustained improvements in their mental
a) Walking in the health.20 Benefits also include stress and tension reduction, improved res‑
Forest (Active piratory system, lowered blood pressure, increased mental activity and pow‑
Experience),
ers of concentration, improved mental health, improved memory, improved
b) Placebound
Forest Bathing mood, endocrine and immune system activity. Furthermore, moving to
(Passive greener spaces, encourages social interaction, which in turn contributes to
Experience)
a spirit of place, and supports pro‑social and pro‑environmental behaviors.
(Sources: Wikimedia
Commons and
Health and wellness benefits can also be derived from desert, meadow, and
Shutterstock) glacial bathing.

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7. Reforestation, afforestation, and carbon sequestering

Globally we are deforesting, and forest loss accounts for around 25 million
acres (10 million ha) of forests each year. This is mainly due to expanding cities
and towns, mineral extraction, transportation and infrastructure projects, and
the need for more ranches and farmland. Most deforestation occurs in areas
of mature rainforests that are especially important for biodiversity, carbon stor‑
age, and regulating regional and local climate effects. At present, there are
three global deforestation hotspots – the Brazilian Amazon, Congo Basin, and
the Bolivian Amazon. This process affects climate (global warming), biodiver‑
sity, and human well‑being.
Reforestation is a natural or intentional way of replenishing existing wood‑
lands but could also suggest the nurturing of other ecological landscapes.
The principal benefits are maintaining healthy ecosystems, oxygen produc‑
tion, CO2 sequestering, climate change mitigation, improving biodiversity and
wildlife habitats, increasing soil fertility, and enhancing and encouraging pro‑­
environmental behaviors. And of course, there are economic benefits from
reforestation. In the United States, there are about 766 million acres of forest‑
land, which absorbs approximately 16% of carbon dioxide each year.21 The pro‑
cess of absorption transforms the carbon dioxide out of the air, binds it up in
sugar through photosynthesis, releases the oxygen, and use the sugar in their
branches and roots. Evergreens, pine, cedar, spruce, and conifers have the
greatest health benefits.
Worldwide, forests comprise approximately 31% of the total habitable
land area. Forest loss is primarily due to population increase with expanding
metropolitan areas, the need for more land‑intensive agriculture, and increasing
consumption. While deforestation is not a new phenomenon, half of the loss,
the size of the United States, has occurred over the past century Figure 6.7a.
Curbing forest loss is a combination of improvement in crop yields, improve‑
ment in agricultural production technology, improving diet with less red meat,
consuming less wood products (paper, packaging), and planting of more trees.
Reforestation strategies include investment in new forests, and afforesta‑
tion, which are nature‑based assets. The Heathland New Forest located in Hamp‑
shire in the south of England is the largest pasture and forestland in the south
of England, and the beautiful forest of Estonia is shown in Figure 6.7b. It was

6.7
Reforestation
a) Deforestation in
Lacanja, Mexico,
b) Forest in Estonia,
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)

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 WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES ◼

established in 1079 as a Royal Forest. The benefits are not only for carbon‑dioxide
absorption, but for the nurturing of abundant wildlife and biodiversity. Carbon is
released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide and is absorbed by the soil
and vegetation, including trees. According to an Earthday publication, forests are
home to an estimated 80% of the world’s terrestrial species.22
Urban forestation, simply put refers to trees we live with daily, from yards,
streets, parks, school yards, along waterways and flood plains, and suburban
forests. It is defined as the planting, maintenance, care, and protection of
tree populations in urban settings. Urban reforestation is an attractive strategy
addressing carbon sequestering, the heat island effect, and shaded human
outdoor spaces and streetscapes. With more than half of the world’s popula‑
tion living in urban areas, the combination of heat released by human activity,
hard surfaces like streets, pavements, parking lots, and absorptive building
materials, rooftops, and unobstructed solar radiation is cause for the heat island
effect. Vegetation can reduce this effect, but caution should be given to loca‑
tions with water shortages as urban trees and vegetation can compete with
other critical water needs.
Another strategy along the lines of nature’s restoration is rewilding, a pro‑
gressive approach to conservation biology, ecological processes, biodiversity,
as well as wildlife habitat preservation. It posits a reduced human intervention,
and the creation of natural, resilient, and self‑regulating ecosystems. Intro‑
duced by Michael Soule and Reed Noss, rewilding included the role of large
carnivores. Not without controversy, the concept can bring risks to existing
ecosystems thereby harming biodiversity. The biggest issues with rewilding
are the level of uncertainty associated with the practice of reintroducing spe‑
cies to an area, and the possible dangers to people and livestock. However,
there generally is support for rewilding practices. Some rewilding efforts may
still employ human land management approaches, such as hunting, farming,
forestry, and fisheries, leading to conflict. However, rewilding and restor‑
ing ecosystems can protect against climate change, and provide health and
well‑being benefits through access to vital natural environments.
Strategies include the creation and maintenance of parks, forests, and
other green areas. It is important to preserve forested areas, where possible,
with close daily accessibility. It is the immersion into surrounding forest envi‑
ronments where the felt senses, touch, hearing, smell, sight, and sometimes
taste can be experienced. Afforestation within urban areas is limited by the
availability of land otherwise taken by human land uses for transportation,
infrastructure, buildings, and public spaces. Trees not only reflect environmen‑
tal health, but human wellness as well.23 Both natural and urban forestation
will aid in mitigating climate change, help reduce the heat island effect, and
provide pleasant places within which to recreate, forest bathe, facilitate well‑
ness benefits, or simply enjoy.

8. Incorporating land art installations

Experiencing art in any form engages the senses, stimulates thoughts, and
elicits emotions. Art in the landscape, also known as land art, environmental

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art, or earthworks, was developed in Great Britain and the United States in the
1960s and is a particularly engaging form. Rather than indoors or in galleries,
works of art are created outdoors typically within monumental landscapes,
often in remote locations. The artwork is most often made with local natural
materials, wood, stone, sand, and trees depending upon what is available at
the site. While the initial impetus of the movement was a reaction to the com‑
mercialization of urban indoor art and an intention to connect and inspire social
and ecological change. Often the movement espoused utopian and spiritual
connections to the landscape and to Planet Earth. Land art goes beyond the
viewing of an object in a site but includes the experience beyond the object or
work of art emphasizing the landscape context within which it exists.24 Notable
artists include Robert Smithson, Agnes Denes, Nancy Holt, Maya Lin, Christo
and Jeanne‑Claude, Donald Judd, Andy Goldsworthy, and Mary Miss.
Earth or land art was a movement using the natural landscape as a palette
for environmental artistic expressions. They generally were a reaction to the
commercialization and commoditization of modern art, especially gallery art.
Materials, such as wood, branches, stone, sand, gravel, and soil, are extracted
directly from nature. Often the works were fashioned to elicit an enhanced
awareness of a place or natural phenomena. They tended to honor or amplify
the site from which they were derived. This art form also centered around
astronomical and celestial phenomena. Earth or land art provides a grounding,
and clarity about the environment, and an immersive experience. Benefits
include reduction of depression and anxiety, stress relief, and reinforced emo‑
tional bonds with the earth and others.
Burning Man is a participatory‑focused event held annually in the Black
Rock Desert near Rock City, Nevada. Beginning in 1991, and as the name sug‑
gests, there is a ceremonial culmination to a week‑long event with a symbolic
burning of a large wooden effigy. Also included throughout the week’s event
are the creations of experimental sculptures, unusual buildings, art cars, and
performances. The principal benefits include physical activity, creativity, social
cohesion, promotion of a strong sense of community and sense of place,
and encouraging the process of giving and decommodification. Moreover, the
event has positive economic benefits to local businesses along the route to
Black Rock City.
Robert Smithson’s “Spiral Jetty” built in 1970 is a 1,500‑foot (457 meter)
spiral arrangement of rocks at the edge of the Great Salt Lake, Utah. It was
inspired by Smithson’s visit to the Pre‑Columbian Serpent Mound constructed
in south‑central Ohio east of Cincinnati. Spiral Jetty is entirely constructed of
local mud, basalt rocks, and salt crystals. Due to the changing water levels of
the Great Salt Lake, the sculpture is both visible and submerged. The geometry
utilizes a counterclockwise spiral emerging out from the shore. Visitors are wel‑
come to walk along the jetty and experience the pink color of the saltwater algae
and the oolitic sand. The benefits include physical activity, connections to nature,
contemplative moments like those when experiencing a labyrinth, and stress
reduction. The site was chosen because of its vast surroundings and the Golden
Spike monument marking the 1869 completion of the transcontinental railway.

164 ◻
 WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES ◼

6.8
Land Art
Experiences
a) Burning Man,
Nevada b) Spiral
Jetty, Utah
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)

Strategies for land‑art wellness include encouraging works by local art‑

ists who can connect to site‑specific and culturally relevant works of art. They
create places that inspire either awe or serenity emotions, and reinforce con‑
nections to nature through the juxtaposition of the art piece and natural con‑
text or features of the site. They often amplify or bring attention to important
natural features of a site, and invite engagement. Further, it is important to
invite participation with these works of art and the communities at large. Par‑
ticipation is central to the Burning Man events in Nevada, Figure 6.8a, and
nature is inseparable with the Spiral Jetty in Utah, Figure 6.8b. The benefits
of land art projects include mindfulness of natural conditions, appreciation of
the good in nature, experience of beauty, stress release, promoting healthy
thinking and creativity, evoking biophilic effects, cognitive stimulation through
direct engagement, promoting physical activity, and supporting pro‑social and
pro‑environmental behaviors.

9. Soundscapes
Noise is unwanted or harmful outdoor sounds created by human activities that
are typically caused by air and automobile traffic, railroads, loud construction
and industrial sounds, sirens, street repairs, and even recreational activities.
With increased urbanization and development comes increased anthrophony
or human‑made noise. People exposed to sudden loud or prolonged noises
can damage the auditory nerve. Hearing loss, according to the CDC, is the
third most common chronic health condition in the United States. The neg‑
ative effects include sleeplessness, raised blood pressure, increased heart
rate, hearing loss, nonauditory physiological effects, increased occurrence of
hypertension, cardiovascular disease, negative moods, depression, cognitive
fatigue, increased stress, and high levels of annoyance.25 Soundscapes are an
antecedent environmental noise and can be either natural or human‑generated.
The term, “soundscape,” currently is credited to Michael Southworth in 1969
who studied the sonic environment in cities. Natural sounds can be generated
by biospheric sources, such as wind, stream water, ocean waves, singing birds,
grazing sheep, and wind chimes. Soundscapes can also be caused by human
conversations, music, and sounds of children playing. The association between
positive soundscape perception (e.g., happiness, serenity, calmness, etc.) and
positive health effects (e.g., increased recovery rates, reduced stress‑induced
mechanisms, etc.) is one of the key interests in soundscape research.26

165 ◻
◼ WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES

Acoustic ecology or ecoacoustics is a movement started in the late 1960s

by musician R. Murray Schafer that promoted mediated sound among animals,
humans, and nature. His work also included the idea of soundwalks, with a
focus on tuning into and listening to the environment. Strategies to create
natural and human‑made soundscape settings can contribute to the wellness
effects of forest bathing, blue spaces, healing gardens, and meditation and
sanctuary spaces.27
Research has shown that noise pollution (unwanted or unpleasant sound)
in the built environment not only drives hearing loss, tinnitus, and hypersen‑
sitivity to sound, but can cause or exacerbate cardiovascular disease, type 2
diabetes, sleep disturbances, stress, and mental health and cognition prob‑
lems, such as memory impairment and attention deficits.28 Noise is associated
with negative human and ecological values, especially when it is derived from
anthropogenic sound sources. The major causes of urban noise pollution are
airplanes, ground transportation, traffic, industrialization, construction activi‑
ties, and social events. Some natural noises can be unwanted as well, including
thunderstorms, lightning, crashing waves, and high winds. Sound perception
enables most species, including all known vertebrates, to surveil their sur‑
roundings, and for humans this includes from wild to urban environments.
Soundscapes can offer acoustic environments generally consisting of natu‑
ral sounds (geophony) and animal vocalizations (biophony). They also include
pleasant sounds produced by human activity (anthropophony). The wellness ben‑
efits include stress and anxiety reduction, relaxation, improved sleep, and calm‑
ing heart and breathing rates. Sound therapists and mental health professionals
incorporate nature sounds and white noise as a part of therapeutic interventions,
particularly for conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and PTSD. Research has found
that natural soundscapes produce decreased stress annoyance and improved
health outcomes (decreased pain, lower stress, improved mood, and enhanced
cognitive performance).29 They can improve concentration boosting productiv‑
ity, improve communication with higher‑quality interactions, and provide privacy.
Soundscapes with environmental triggers are considered restorative with reduc‑
tions in arousal. Since people spend most of their time inside, nature‑based
interior soundscapes help mask unwanted noise (AC systems, construction, traf‑
fic, copy machines, and distractive speech), and can produce wellness effects
including improved breathing, heart rate, and reduced muscle tension.30
Running through the heart of the city of Idaho Falls, Idaho is the Snake
River and a series of waterfalls, Figure 6.9a. The waterfalls were originally a
series of rough rapids and later were modified to accommodate surge water
from upstream. Friendship Park, also known as Pedersen Sportsman’s Park, is
an urban oasis overlooking the waterfalls where the sounds of the falling water
are hypnotic and restorative. Within the park are water features, rocks for cross‑
ing ponds, and shaded areas where you can just sit and enjoy the view. Refer to
Figure 6.9a. Natural sound sources comprise ocean surf, waterfalls, rain, gentle
tree breezes, wind‑blown grasses, and animal vocalizations and calling behav‑
iors such as certain insect chirps, grazing sheep, songs of humpback whales,
and cooing and birdcalls as might be imagined by robins in Figure 6.9b. More

166 ◻
 WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES ◼

6.9
Soundscape
Environments
a) Idaho Falls,
Idaho Sounds of
Waterfalls, b) Robin
Singing
(Source: Wikimedia
Commons)

than single animal vocalizations are wholistic models of soundscape ecology

that introduce an entire chorus or spectrum of life.31

Landscape scale summary

The landscape design offers opportunities at varying scales and for specific design
strategies to incorporate health and wellness benefits. They range from the aesthetic
and wellness qualities of experiencing the natural environment to engagement with
healing gardens and land art installments. This includes forest bathing, incorporation
of foodscapes, and purpose‑built healing gardens. Landscape wellness occurs at an
important scale because it is accessible and most often surrounds or is within the
cities, neighborhoods, campuses, and buildings within which we live. This scale can
impact each of the other scales (planning, architecture, and interiors) with their interac‑
tions with nature and green spaces. The wellness outcomes at this scale contribute
to pro‑individual benefits through intimate and everyday experiences of the various
forms of nature. They contribute to pro‑social benefits by fostering community and
family and friends’ gatherings, with casual encounters, and through gardening and for‑
est bathing. They contribute through pro‑environmental benefits with protection from
negative climatic effects, reforestation, and positive interactions with nature. Reimag‑
ing our responses to population growth, urban development, transportation modes,
consumption patterns, agricultural practices, and renewable and hybrid energy sources
will help protect and revitalize our natural and urban landscapes for future generations.
The strategies are intended to positively influence a project’s intentions and
goals, site selection, conceptual design processes, and design details. They repre‑
sent a pathway to achieving wellness design. Further, they are intended to suggest
solutions for healthy people, healthy places, and a healthy planet. To Wilbert Gesler,
“healing and place are inseparable.”32 This also would include wellness. Note that
the strategies were not meant to be exhaustive, but rather a broader set of health
and wellness indicators spreading across the planning, architecture, interior, and
landscape design scales informing wellness best practices. What is important is
access to the wellness strategies in terms of frequency (how often), duration of
exposure (how long), and intensity (how much and the quality) of the interaction.

167 ◻
◼ WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES

The resulting individual, social, and environmental outcomes are interactive and
mutually supportive of one another and designed to influence the planning and
design processes at varying scales. The wellness strategies are intended to be
concrete examples resulting in positive additions and changes within the built envi‑
ronment. It must be noted that implementation of these wellness design strategies
does not guarantee positive health outcomes, but it can provide greater opportuni‑
ties for them to occur. Following is a listing of the strategies presented in this paper.
Table 6.1 was originally developed by Gove Depuy and Phillip Tabb.33

LANDSCAPE SCALE STRATEGIES

1. Green spaces and parks.

2. Blue spaces.
3. Waterway restorations.
4. Edible landscapes and foodscapes.
5. Healing gardens.
6. Forest bathing.
7. Restoration and sequestering.
8. Land art installations.
9. Soundscapes.

STRATEGY DESIGN WELLNESS WELLNESS REFERENCES

INTENTIONS STRATEGIES OUTCOMES
Parks & Green To protect and Connect parks Stress reduction, https://www.cdc.gov/
Spaces provide parks, and greenways to increase activity healthyplaces/healthtopics/
plazas, pockets existing ecological and strengthen parks.htm https://
and green flows, connect muscles, montgomeryplanningboard.
spaces that circulation through increase calming, org/wp‑content/
are accessible, greenspaces to improves mood, uploads/2019/01/
regenerative existing urban oxygenated air, Attachment_A_EPS_
and climate fabric, provide a decrease cortisol Design_Guidelines_
responsive, and variety of activities, levels, supports Working_Draft.pdf
safe. Provide allow for natural biospheric values,
the greening of or “wildspaces,” and promotes
streetscapes as consider seasonal pro‑social and
appropriate to changes. Add tiny pro‑environmental
climatic context urban forests. stewardship and
and urban ecology. behaviors.
Blue Spaces Preserve existing Create blue Stress reduction, https://www.healthline.
rivers, lakes, spaces that are increase activity, com/health‑news/
waterways, accessible, safe, increase calming, spending‑time‑
and incorporate with spatial variety improves mood and in‑blue‑spaces‑
fountains, wells and low negative mental wellbeing, linked‑to‑better‑
and water features environmental increases sensory mental‑health https://
in planning and impact, easily experiences and www.sciencedirect.
design. Encourage manageable, emotional arousal, com/science/article/pii/
aquatic activities. sustainable, and and increase S1618866719304625
create an elicitor of pro‑environmental
a sense of place. behaviors.

168 ◻
 WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES ◼

Waterway To preserve Maintain Improvements https://www.anthropo‑

Restorations biodiversity, animal constant natural to the natural cenemagazine.org/2017/08/
habitats, and connection among environment, urban‑effects‑on‑­
provide healthy the biological increase human rivers‑have‑long‑reach/
recreation. communities, activity, reduced
eliminate obesity, increase
pollutants entering cognitive function,
watershed, and increase positive
integrate human mood and
activity. happiness, increase
respiratory health.
Edible Provide ample Design public Providing access https://www.nature.
Landscapes and and accessible and private to nature and org/en‑us/what‑we‑do/
Foodscapes urban agriculture, foodscapes, that natural processes, our‑priorities/
community are sustainable, increase of urban provide‑food‑and‑water‑­
gardens, regenerative, and biodiversity, sustainably/
allotments, and accessible, provide healthy nutritious food‑and‑water‑stories/
individual kitchen edible edges, food, reduced regenerative‑food‑systems/
gardens to provide design for extended “harvest‑to‑table,”
organic nutritious growing seasons, advancing equity
food integrated provide protection in nutrition,
to ornamental from vermin and plant‑based diet,
landscapes. pest, and consider and promotes
sustainable water pro‑social and
sources. pro‑environmental
behaviors.
Healing Protect and Create safe, Stress reduction, https://journals.sagepub.
Gardens provide outdoor protected, fresh air, increase com/doi/10.
healing spaces and identifiable and activity, improved 1177/1937586715606926
plant‑populated accessible places mental wellbeing, https://journals.sagepub.
landscapes, that of refuge and increase of positive com/doi/10.
function as places prospect, design for emotions and 1177/1937586715606926
of refuge and privacy and spatial mood, increases
recuperation. variety for diverse “presence,”
Design for physical therapies supports decrease
accessibility and and emotional of cortisol levels,
ease of navigation. settings, minimize and promotes
intrusions, include pro‑social and
water, and provide pro‑environmental
ease of circulation behaviors.
and clear sense of
entry.
Forest Bathing Health Provide sensory‑rich Direct access to https://www.nation‑
connections such circulation network nature, increase algeographic.com/
as forest bathing. and contemplation sensory experience, travel/article/forest‑­
Trail systems “sit‑spots,” include sense of presence, bathing‑nature‑walk‑health
to be safe and historic, geologic and physical
interesting with a topologic and water activity, increase
variety of spatial features, paths mindfulness, stress
experiences. should be safe with reduction, and
Protecting thin optimum gradients. decrease in blood
places. pressure.

169 ◻
◼ WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES

Reforestation Preserve existing Protect existing Direct access to https://www.livescience.

Afforestation forests, encourage forests and nature, supports com/forest‑bathing
and Carbon reforestation, biodiverse lands, decrease of https://www.mdpi.
Sequestering encourage urban encourage new cortisol levels, com/1660‑4601/18/4/2067
afforestation, and forests and urban biospheric values,
limit horizontal afforestation, and pro‑social and
low density urban limit urban growth pro‑environmental
growth. with focus on behaviors.
infill, densification,
streetscape and
limit urban hard
surfaces.
Land Art Preserve natural Provides places Stress reduction, https://www.
Installations and historic land for interaction and improve mood, americansforthearts.
and earth art gives voice to and improve thinking, org/2018/08/30/
works. Purpose to highlights spiritual, empathy and five‑reasons‑why‑public‑
raise awareness environmental and life satisfaction, art‑matters
of social or social issues, and can form social
environmental can connect and cohesion and
issues, and to focus attention to cultural identity,
augment rather beneficial healing and promotes
than disrupt qualities of nature. pro‑social and
environment. pro‑environmental
behaviors.
Soundscapes To provide noise Reduce or limit Stress and https://www.ted.com/talks/
masking and unwanted noise, anxiety reduction, bernie_krause_the_voice_
access to soothing reserve healthy improve cognitive of_the_natural_world/
and restorative ecosystems, performance, transcript
natural, animal provide positive moods, and
and human‑made sound‑producing concentration
sounds. features like and increase
fountains, trees, productivity, an
and rain roofs. improve sleep.
Table 6.1
Wellness Landscape Scale Strategies
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

NOTES
1. Thompson, Catherine, (Accessed October 10, 2023), https://www.sciencedirect.com/
science/article/abs/pii/S0169204610002860
2. Olszewska‑Guizzo, Agnieszka, Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative
Landscapes (New York, NY: Routledge, 2023).
3. Landscape Institute, Public Health and Landscape: Creating Healthy Places, (Accessed
March 25, 2023), https://landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows.net/www‑
landscapeinstitute‑org/migrated‑legacy/PublicHealthandLandscape_CreatingHealthy‑
Places_FINAL.pdf
4. Bucholtz, Shawn, Urban. Suburban. Rural. How do Households Describe Where
They Live? (Accessed November 6, 2023), https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/
pdr‑edge‑frm‑asst‑sec‑080320.html
5. Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature‑Deficit Disorder
(Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2008).

170 ◻
 WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES ◼

6. Urban Canopy, Trees are Essential to Healthy Communities, (Accessed April 25, 2023),
https://www.urbancanopyworks.com/services‑of‑urban‑trees.html
7. Kaplan, R. & S. Kaplan, The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective (Cam‑
bridge, MA: Cambridge University Press, 1989), p. 48.
8. Collis, Leo, These ‘Tiny Forests” are Popping Up in Cities Around the Country – And
They’re Having a Shocking Effect on Communities, (Accessed January 8, 2024), https://
apple.news/ARwhwqrJHT36s3tbehHAOlA
9. Ackerman, Cortney, What is Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory (ART)? (Accessed April
24, 2023), https://positivepsychology.com/attention‑restoration‑theory/
10. European Science‑Media Hub, A Scientist’s Opinion: Interview with Dr Mathew White
about the Role of Aquatic Environments on the Health of Urban Populations, (Accessed
October 10, 2023), https://sciencemediahub.eu/2020/04/14/a‑scientists‑opinion‑intervie
w‑with‑dr‑mathew‑white‑about‑the‑role‑of‑aquatic‑environments‑on‑the‑health‑of‑urban‑
populations/
11. National Ocean Service, (Accessed October 8, 2023), https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/
facts/population.html
12. Living Near a Blue Space can Reduce Mental Health Conditions, (Accessed October
10, 2023), https://www.gcu.ac.uk/aboutgcu/universitynews/living‑near‑a‑blue‑space‑can‑
reduce‑mental‑health‑conditions#:~:text=Living%20near%20a%20blue%20space%20
can%20reduce%20the,of%20the%20most%20deprived%20areas%20in%20
North%20Glasgow.
13. Jacobs, Jantra, 5 Reasons why Walking in the Rain is Good for Your Health, (Accessed
November 16, 2023), https://www.pacificprime.co.uk/blog/5‑reasons‑why‑walking‑in‑the
‑rain‑is‑good‑for‑your‑health/
14. A Landscaping Just as Good as Beautiful, (Accessed October 10, 2023), https://garden‑
culturemagazine.com/foodscaping‑a‑new‑way‑to‑create‑a‑garden/
15. Olszewska‑Guizzo, Agnieszka, Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative
Landscapes (London, UK: Routledge, 2023).
16. Natural Design for Better Health: An Interview with Dr. Roger Ulrich, (Accessed
October 12, 2023), https://naturesacred.org/natural‑design‑for‑better‑health‑an‑interview‑
with‑dr‑roger‑ulrich/
17. Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature‑Deficit Disorder
(Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2008).
18. Olszewska‑Giozzo, Agnieszka, Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces (London, UK:
Routledge, 2023), p. 133.
19. Bowler, Diane E., Lisette M. Buyung‑Ali, Teri M. Knight, & Andrew S. Pullin,
2010, (Accessed February 13, 2020), https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/
articles/10.1186/1471–2458‑10–456?dom=prime&src=syn.
20. Alcock, Ian, Mathew White, Benedict Wheeler, Lora Fleming, & Michael Depledge,
Longitudinal Effects on Mental Health of Moving to Greener and Less Green
Urban Areas, (Accessed January 12, 2020), https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/
es403688w?cookieSet=1
21. Durkay, Jocelyn & Jennifer Schultz, The Role of Forests in Carbon Sequestering and Stor‑
age, (Accessed April 20, 2023), https://www.ncsl.org/environment‑and‑natural‑resources/
the‑role‑of‑forests‑in‑carbon‑sequestration‑and‑storage
22. Fact Sheet: Reforestation, (Accessed August 26, 2023), https://www.earthday.org/
reforestation‑fact‑sheet/
23. Evans, Karen, Why Forest Bathing is Good for Your Health, (Accessed April 21, 2023),
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_forest_bathing_is_good_for_your_
health
24. Cichick, Sage & Matthew Rohn, A Report on the Value of Land Art and Biophilic Design
to Draw Students into the St. Olaf College Natural Lands and Enhance an Environmen‑
tal Ethos on Campus, (Accessed April 20, 2023), https://wp.stolaf.edu/art/files/2013/10/
Rohn‑StOlafLandArtReport.pdf

171 ◻
◼ WELLNESS LANDSCAPE STRATEGIES

25. Buxton, Rachel, Amber Peterson, Caludia Allou, & George Wittemyer, A Synthesis of
Health Benefits of Natural Sounds and their Distribution in National Parks, (Accessed
December 14, 2023), https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2013097118
26. Cui, Peng, Tingting Li, Zhengwei Xia, & Chunyu Dai, Research Effects of Soundscapes on
Human Psychological Health in an Old Community of a Cold Region, (Accessed November
20, 2023), https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9223413/
27. Schafer, R. Murray, The Soundscape: The Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World
(Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1993).
28. Dutchen, Stephanie, Noise and Health, (Accessed December 12, 2023), https://magazine.
hms.harvard.edu/articles/noise‑and‑health
29. Buxton, Rachel, Amber Peterson, Caludia Allou, & George Wittemyer, A Synthesis of
Health Benefits of Natural Sounds and their Distribution in National Parks, (Accessed
December 14, 2023), https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2013097118
30. Benway, Evan & Fran Board, How Natural Soundscapes Contribute to Comfort
and Health in Design, (Accessed December 18, 2023), https://designwell365.com/
technology/commercial‑integration/how‑natural‑soundscapes‑contribute‑to‑comfort‑
and‑health‑in‑design/
31. Krause, Bernie, The Voice of the Natural World, (Accessed December 15, 2023), https://
www.ted.com/talks/bernie_krause_the_voice_of_the_natural_world/transcript
32. Gesler, Wilbert M., Healing Places (Lanham, MD: Roman & Littlefield, 2003), p. 1.
33. Dupuy, Gove & Phillip Tabb, “Wellness Strategies, Chapter 3,” Wellness Architecture and
Design Pathways, Self‑published, 2023.

172 ◻
7 CASE STUDY 1 – MADO
NEIGHBORHOOD

MADO WELLNESS NEIGHBORHOOD AT SERENBE, GEORGIA, USA

Health and wellness benefits and strategies across all scales are present in this
award‑winning development project located southwest of Atlanta, Georgia. Mado
is part of a larger constellation of biophilic neighborhoods comprising the hamlet of
Serenbe, Georgia. The name, Serenbe, combines the terms “serene“ and “being,”
suggesting the essential connections to a vital natural environment.1 Serenbe was
initially described as a community among the trees and now is being considered
one of the first truly biophilic residential developments. In 2008, Serenbe received
the Inaugural Sustainability Award from the Urban Land Institute. Serenbe is consid‑
ered an exemplar of land preservation, creative mix of uses, density, agrarian urban‑
ism, connectivity, and walkability. It is also known for wellness and active living,
green architecture and construction practice, and its association with biophilia. The
initial goals for the project included land preservation, a sensitivity to the existing
environment, community formation, integration of the arts, diversity of inhabitants,
inclusion of sacred geometry, and as a 21st‑century wellness model of intentional
environmentally‑oriented development.

SERENBE COMMUNITY

Serenbe is located in the heart of the Chattahoochee Hill Country, which occurs
near the end of the Blue Ridge Mountain range. Most of the surrounding land encir‑
cling Atlanta has been developed, with the exception of a southwestern strip that
includes most of South Fulton County. Chattahoochee Hills is planned for 40,000
dwellings and 65,000 people. While Serenbe shares some of the tenets of the New
Urbanism, it stands apart from this movement in some important ways as it has
created its own unique qualities and brand of authenticity. Serenbe is in harmony
with the land, is farm‑to‑table, is sustainable and authentic, supports active living,
attracts a diverse population, and creates a permanent, vital, and alive sense of
community.
Within the city of Chattahoochee Hills, Serenbe is considered a mixed‑use
hamlet which is defined as a development on greater than 250 acres (101 ha),
with 70% preserved openspace, offering housing, employment, and commercial
opportunities (6–25% must be commercial), has limited block sizes encouraging
pedestrianization, and is visually buffered from existing roads.2 Serenbe hamlet is

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-7 173 ◻

◼ CASE STUDY 1 – MADO NEIGHBORHOOD

composed of a series of connected neighborhoods where there is a similar offering

of differing dwelling types, but the non‑residential land uses vary with dissimilar
themes or different focuses. For example, Selborne neighborhood is themed toward
the arts (culinary, visual, and performing); Grange neighborhood is concerned with
agriculture and equestrian activities; Mado neighborhood is oriented to health and
wellness; Spela is related to family and play and has a large 400 feet by 400 feet
(122 × 122 meter) park in the middle of it; and the Education Neighborhood (yet to
be named) is oriented to education, schools, study‑away, international studies, and
continuing education. As of 2023, Serenbe has a population of more than 1,000
residents. The final buildout for Serenbe is planned for 1,800 dwelling units, a popu‑
lation of 3,500 residents, and 2,000 acres (809 ha) of land including the affordable
neighborhood. The masterplan illustrated in Figure 7.1 was designed by Phillip Tabb,
and shows the various neighborhoods with Mado in the center.
What can be seen is the multiplication of sensuous omega forms with their
double‑loaded spatial structure, and large areas of forest protected within the
omega and surrounding the built portions. The spatial organization allows each
home to front onto the omega street where social interaction largely occurs, and
backs onto the forest edge with both visual and physical access. The thematic 7.1
focus for the various neighborhoods contributes to land use diversity, varying iden‑ Serenbe
tities, and vitality of each place. The concept of constellating urbanism is initiated Community
Masterplan 2021
in Serenbe and is based upon Leon Krier’s concept of growth by multiplication
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

The Inn at
Selborne Hamlet focuses
Serenbe.
9 on the arts (culinary,
visual and performing).

10
1
Education Hamlet focuses
on education and
outreach programs.
Crossroads is
24-dwellings.
12 2
8 The Art Farm
is for making.
The farmettes are
5-10 acre plots.
Mado Hamlet
focuses on
health and
wellness.
MADO Grange Hamlet
4 focuses on
agriculture.

7 Serenbe Farms
12 25-acre
3 organic
farm.

Fulton County
Coweta County
11 Cedar Creek
12
KEY
5 1 Selborne Hamlet 7 Serenbe Farms
2 Crossroads 8 Art Farm
Spela Hamlet 3 Grange Hamlet 9 The Inn at Serenbe
focuses on 4 Mado Hamlet 10 Farmettes
play. 5 Spela Hamlet 11 Overlook
6 Education Hamlet 12 Openspace

0 100 300 600

2021 SERENBE COMMUNITY MASTERPLAN June 2023 N Hectare Acre

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rather than sheer addition.3 Systemic Constellation Theory, originally developed by

psychotherapist Bert Hellinger for family dynamics, suggested that independent
yet interconnected parts of a system create a combination of actions affecting the
collective whole.4 For Serenbe, this means that the interrelated neighborhoods, and
the individual placemaking practices they employ, support even greater constellat‑
ing, synergetic, and programmatic relationships, Figure 7.2a.
The masterplan for Serenbe supports the concept of development by mul‑
tiplication. Multiplication is reinforced further through the theming of the neigh‑
borhoods apex mix of uses. The differences established by the themes create an
interdependence. Each of the three neighborhood sites is positioned in a slight
land‑formed bowl at the interface between sloping forested portions of each of
the naturally formed sites and the flat meadows or waterways below. Rather than
“gating“ or isolating each of the omega neighborhoods, there was an effort to cre‑
ate porous and open‑ended entrances and exits with between three and four ways
into the neighborhoods. A path system was created to connect the neighborhoods
through the woods and floodplains. This created a sense of place and allowed for
both the ridge tops and valley bottoms to be free of development.5 The configura‑
tion of neighborhoods forms the overall community with their interrelated themes
and support functions. Using the zoning mechanism of “transfer of development
rights,” Serenbe is able to offer varying densities and housing typologies including
farmettes (approximately 1 unit per 10 acres), cottages (4 units per acre), live‑work
units (12 units per acre), townhomes (8 units per acre), and apartments (20 units
per acre).
The omega design used in Serenbe derives from nine geometric and diagram‑
matic stages representing the morphology of its form. The first stage is the pure
circle which represents the circularity of bounding and place‑containing geometry.
The second stage is creating another concentric circle within the center effec‑
tively creating a “donut” in which the center is preserved, and development occurs
between the circumference of the outer circle to the inner circle. The third stage is
the stretching of the circle into an elongated oval along the north‑south axis. This
allows the form to nestle into each site and to position residential lots adjacent to
one another along the north‑south axis. The fourth stage is the important opening of
the south end of the oval creating a “U‑shape.” This allows for free movement in and
out of the omega for energy, fresh air, local animal inhabitants, and people. The fifth
stage is the U‑shaped form slightly flaring inward, but not completing the circle and
creating slightly more enclosure and a sense of place. The form then flares outward
creating an inviting entrance or exit to the neighborhood and an omega‑shape, “Ω”.
The sixth stage is the application of the Thorburn transect to the legs of the omega
form. This creates a density and intensity gradient from the rural character of the
site to the more urban nature of the omega apex. The seventh stage is responding
to the thematic character of the neighborhood by the inclusion of the non‑residential
functions and services. The eighth stage is the creation or support of a central fea‑
ture of the neighborhood and site. This usually is the center of the donut or inner
circle and includes a water tributary (Selborne), lake (Grange), pond and wetlands
(Mado), or park (Spela). The ninth stage is the creation of a unique architectural
language for each neighborhood further giving them more character and identity.

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For Mado the language is Scandinavian modern vernacular as developed by Erik

Asmussen. The nine omega form stages are listed below:

1. Pure circle – representing circularity, bounding, and place‑containing geometry.

2. Creating an inner circle or donut shape – where the center is preserved and
undeveloped.
3. Formation of an oval – stretching the circle into an elongated oval along the
north‑south axis.
4. Creating a “U‑shape” – opening the southern end allowing for free movement
in and out of the omega for energy, fresh air, local animal inhabitants, and
people.
5. Flaring the ends – creating more containment and a sense of place and a wel‑
coming sense of entry.
6. Applying the Thorburn transect – creating a density and intensity gradient from
the rural character of the site to the more urban nature of the omega apex.
7. Thematic land use mixes – integrating thematic mixes of non‑residential func‑
tions and services unique to each neighborhood.
8. Creating a central feature – including a water tributary (Selborne), farm and lake
(Grange), pond and wetlands (Mado), or park (Spela).
9. Creating a unique architectural language – giving each neighborhood a more
unique character and identity.

Serenbe did not develop by expanding through addition creating larger and
larger built elements into a single settlement plan. Rather, Serenbe has grown
through a process of incremental multiplication where development has evolved
in carefully controlled and sequenced parts of the plan. Beginning with the west
leg of the Selborne neighborhood, pictured in yellow in Figure 7.2c, Serenbe gener‑
ally expands with the most buildable legs of the omega along with some of the
mixed‑use at the apex. First to be developed in a neighborhood are legs occurring
on flatter, more affordable and buildable land. Neighborhood legs were selected to
develop first because they are double‑loaded making infrastructure more affordable,
and they gave a sense of the streetscape environment. As can be seen in Fig‑
ure 7.2c, the development sequence moves from leg to leg and from neighborhood
to neighborhood beginning with Selborne, Crossroads and Serenbe Farms, Grange,
and eventually moving to Mado, Overlook, Spela, and the Education neighborhood.
Hundreds of homes were not constructed in short periods with single contractors,
but rather were parsed out in an incremental way over years that allowed for mar‑
ket adjustments. This accounted for a variety of architectural languages and styles
allowing for individual expression of architecture from traditional to contemporary.
The Thorburn transect was an observation of English village entrance roads by
Andrew Thorburn in 1971. It was seen as a spatial organization of varying building
densities and landscape distributions in English villages.6 Density increases as the
rural road approaches the village center. The point at which the village is entered is
called the “threshold of dispersion,” often formed by a “pinch point” or tight open‑
ing between buildings or walls. In the transect, buildings are gradually placed closer
to the road and closer to one another. Conversely the landscape does the reverse

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7.2
Serenbe Concept a) Constellation of Neighborhoods, b) Omega Form Language, c) Growth by Multiplication
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

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with buffers between the road and dwellings at the perimeter. Then the dwell‑
ing positions progress to the center with mature trees along paths and walled‑in
gardens. This pattern was use in the Serenbe planning along the omega‑shaped
roads. Planned for the centers or omega apex are public “outdoor rooms” defined
by attached buildings and landscapes. This transect has been applied to Selborne,
Grange, Mado, and Spela neighborhoods. For Mado the transect occurs along the
two north‑south legs of the omega culminating at the apex where the greatest
density and majority of wellness businesses and functions occur. 7.3
Planning decisions were made to reinforce the Thorburn rural‑to‑urban tran‑ Selborne Thorburn
Transect a) Transect
sect, with Serenbe Lane, running north and south through the neighborhood. As
Diagram,
you enter Mado either from Grange neighborhood from the southeast, Spela and b) Selborne Omega
Overlook from the southwest, Crossroads from the northeast or the Inn at Serenbe Leg
from the northwest, the density grows in intensity. The character of the roads (Source: Phillip Tabb)

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change from gravel to asphalt paving with bioswales and no curbs, and finally to
paved roads with curbs and parking. Entering the neighborhood, the houses on
both sides are on estate lots set back from the road with existing pines acting
as natural landscape filters. Further into Mado, cobblestone and raised walkways
and traffic calmer crosses the omega road indicating another transition along the
transect. From this point on, the street has granite curbs and sidewalks on both
sides and is treelined with cottage houses closer to one another and closer to the
street. Also at these street crossings are night streetlights that indicate the points
of crossing. At the beginning of the circular apex, another crosswalk appears and
from this point to the center are attached buildings that align along a widened
sidewalk with townhomes, live‑work units, and commercial businesses on each
side of the street. Outdoor dining occurs in the Halsa Restaurant at the apex, and
the three‑story structures indicate the center or top of the omega. Exterior building
materials change along the transect from predominantly wood at the edge to brick
and stucco at the center. In Mado there is a full range of exterior building colors.
The diagram and omega leg illustrate the Thorburn transect for Selborne neighbor‑
hood, Figure 7.3.

NEIGHBORHOOD THEMES

The process of growth by multiplication has created neighborhoods that are organ‑
ized around a series of interrelated wellness themes. There are certain land uses
common to each neighborhood that include a variety of housing types from estate
homes, cottages, townhomes, live‑work units, and rental units. Common to each
are also restaurants: The Blue‑Eyed Daisy and The Hill (Selborne), The General Store
(Grange), and Halsa (Mado). The Farmhouse Restaurant is in the Inn at Serenbe.
Each neighborhood has a natural openspace in its center. Two omega streets con‑
nect all the neighborhoods, Selborne Lane for the northern neighborhoods and
Serenbe Lane for the southern neighborhoods. Refer to the neighborhood photo‑
graphs in Figure 7.4. The hamlet and neighborhood themes include the following:

• Selborne neighborhood – is oriented toward the arts (culinary, visual, and

performing), and includes the Crossroads. Selborne neighborhood is approxi‑
mately 35 gross acres (14 ha) and 120 dwelling units, and Crossroads is 5 acres
(2 ha) and 24 dwelling units, and two shops started in 2004. These were the
first of the neighborhoods in development.
• Grange neighborhood – is oriented toward agriculture and is approximately
75 gross acres (30 ha) and includes Serenbe Farms, Grange Lake and Swan
Ridge, and 164 dwelling units. This was the second neighborhood developed
with a majority of properties now occupied.
• Mado neighborhood – is oriented toward health and wellness and is approxi‑
mately 75 gross acres (30 ha) including the interior wetlands and 575 dwelling
units. This was the third neighborhood developed with two‑thirds of the proper‑
ties presently occupied.
• Spela neighborhood – is oriented toward play and is approximately 80 gross
acres (32 ha) and is planned for 380 dwelling units in the infrastructure

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construction phase. Overlook is a small cluster planned for 40 homes located

in‑between Mado and Spela currently in the building construction phase.
• Education neighborhood – is oriented toward education and outreach and is
approximately 50 gross acres (20 ha) planned for 500 dwelling units. This neigh‑ 7.4
borhood will feature an automobile‑free environment with designated central Serenbe
parking areas. This neighborhood is in the planning phase. Neighborhoods
a) Selborne
• Affordable neighborhood – is in the conceptual design phase and is oriented Neighborhood,
to affordable and workforce housing within easy access (walking, golfcart, or b) Grange
shuttle) to Serenbe and will accommodate approximately 400 dwelling units. Neighborhood,
c) Mado
This neighborhood will feature an automobile‑free zone in the residential area,
Neighborhood,
a commercial zone that interfaces with Serenbe and the larger community of d) Spela
Chattahoochee Hills, and surrounding forests and parklands. Neighborhood and
Overlook Pocket
Neighborhood
Spela and Overlook take on a different spatial order from the omega forms of
(Sources: Serenbe
the other neighborhoods, Figure 7.4d. Overlook is sited between Mado and Spela Development and
on a slightly sloping parcel of land partly surrounded by Cedar Creek. It has circular Phillip Tabb)

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circumferential circulation connecting cottages and estate homes and a denser cen‑
tral street across its diameter composed of cottages and townhomes. It is similar to
the Crossroads neighborhood in size and all white buildings. Over a bridge lies Spela
with its curvilinear streets, internal green spaces, and the central park. The central
park is a square 400 feet (122 meters) on a side and is planned as a c­ ommunity
focus of outdoor activities including hiking, forest bathing, gardening, picnics, and a
coffee bar. The park serves as a community incubator, a place of recreation and
play, and a carbon sequester. It tends to provide a place of community focus, and
encouragement of pro‑individual, pro‑social, and pro‑environmental behaviors.
The neighborhoods are typically about one‑half mile in diameter with green and
blue spaces occupying the center and surrounded by forest land. The water features
in the omega centers vary with Selborne having a small stream tributary; Grange
having a tributary and lake; Mado having a tributary and wetlands; Spela having a
large central park with Cedar Creek nearby, and the Education neighborhood having
a sloping site down to a stream tributary. The neighborhoods have between three
and four tessellations or connecting access roads into the neighborhood that pass
through the threshold of dispersion or entry point into the density gradient of the
built form. The threshold of dispersion is a space between agglomerated dwellings
and more remote buildings not considered part of the settlement, typically more
than 488 feet (150 meters). In Serenbe rural land is occupied by pastures, pasture
estate lots, forestland, and farmettes. An example of a building sited outside of this
threshold is the Serenbe Stables that is not part of Crossroads or Grange neighbor‑
hood as they lie approximately 500 feet away from each.
Initially home costs in Serenbe were between 400,000 and a million dollars.
Today many homes in Serenbe cost between one and three million dollars, yet
there have been planning strategies to generate greater choice in the context of
economic diversity. Keeping in mind that all buildings need to meet EarthCraft con‑
struction standards and have geothermal systems, while using cheap materials and
over‑simplified housing forms were not allowed. Diversity was achieved with the
planning of a large variety of housing land plots sizes from several acres per farmette
site to as small as 1,000 square feet (93 m2) for live‑work units, and 1,050 square
feet (98 m2) for shotgun houses. Conversely, dwelling sizes vary from thousands of
square feet for estate houses to under 1,000 square feet for the two‑story shotgun
homes. During the economic crisis of 2008–2009, Serenbe introduced what they
called the “nest“ homes, which were made up of smaller single‑family dwellings
tightly clustered together and varying in size from around 1,200 to 1,500 square feet.
In 2021, a conceptual planning effort was conducted to create an affordable
and workforce neighborhood planned to coincide with the construction of new
hotels in Selborne and Mado. The mix‑use neighborhood was initially planned on
a 132‑acre site southeast of Grange for 400 dwelling units and a light commercial
center, Figure 7.5a. While the plan indicates the evolving conceptual design, it is
likely to change over time. The design is a dominant pedestrian plan with golf carts,
emergency vehicles, and pedestrian circulation systems throughout the center of
the site, Figure 7.5b. Each dwelling is planned to have emergency vehicle access.
Automobile access and parking occur in remote lots adjacent to the entries, but not

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entering the residential part of the neighborhood. As of 2024, the conceptual design
is being amended to accommodate more affordable building sites on flatter ground
along the center portion of the site. The commercial area has remained the same
at the southwest corner and has been designed to accommodate a small farm,
grocery store, outdoor market, café, outdoor plaza, gas and electric station, and
live‑work units. The residential area of the neighborhood will have a denser cluster
of dwellings surrounded by forested natural areas, and a linear park. The density
is approximately three units per acre with 50% of the land planned as openspace.
A residential block model along the main interior street was developed with three
tiers of housing types including townhomes along the main interior street, shot‑
gun homes within an intermediate space, and cottage homes at the perimeter,
Figure 7.5c. At the ends of the block are road stubs for emergency vehicles. Golf
cart parking occurs along the main street and dwellings are within the 300‑foot
(91 meter) maximum distance to nature.
In addition to the neighborhoods are several other facilities and amenities
found throughout the community. These include Serenbe Farms, The Art Farm,
Serenbe Stables, the Animal Village, Selborne Recreation Field, the Sculpture
Park at Deer Hollow, Children’s Treehouse, Trampoline Hill, and the Labyrinth.
Each of these in its way, supports wellness activities. The Serenbe labyrinth has 7.5
become a favorite destination for both residents and visitors to the community. Affordable Housing
It was built over a weekend in July of 2003 by family and friends of the devel‑ Neighborhood
Concept
oper. The Serenbe labyrinth is an 88‑foot diameter replica of the one in the west
a) Affordable
nave or Royal Portal of the 12th century Chartres Cathedral in France. However, Neighborhood
it is twice the size and is sited outdoors within a forested area overlooking a Concept Plan,
b) Neighborhood
picturesque pond, Figure 7.6b.
Circulation Plan
A central feature of Serenbe and the second neighborhood, Grange, is the c) Neighborhood
25‑acre certified seasonal organic farm located adjacent to the Grange neighbor‑ Block Module
hood, Figure 7.7a. It provides farm‑to‑table produce to the Serenbe residents, (Source: Phillip Tabb)

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7.6 restaurants, and neighboring CSA farm coops. Since 2004, the Serenbe Farms has
Serenbe Amenities
cultivated 10 acres of farmland and is in the process of nurturing and restoring soil
a) Serenbe Stables,
b) Labyrinth on an additional 15 acres. The farm has produced over 300 varieties of heirloom
(Source: Phillip Tabb) and hybrid vegetables, herbs, and flowers, with over 60,000 pounds of produce
harvested a year. Serenbe Farms is one of the first of only 103 certified organic
farms in the state of Georgia. Serenbe Farms operates within a three‑part mission;
to provide nourishing food for the local and greater community, to offer meaningful
hands‑on education for all generations, and to build community through food and
farming. Both the farm in Grange and the Farmer’s Market are in easy walking or
golf cart distance, Figure 7.7b.
The Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) allows for the creation of density
and especially nucleated neighborhood‑scale developments. One of the challenges
of a TDR is how to capitalize on the lower‑density parcels left as a consequence of
densification. Because Serenbe is interested in providing a wide range of housing
choices and dwelling types, lower density development also fits into the overall
scheme of things. One such way was the development of the more rural areas into
five‑to‑ten‑acre (two‑to‑four ha) parcels for what were called farmettes where buy‑
ers could construct a permanent residence, garage, shed, and either a small farm
or paddocks for horses or other animals. Figure 7.7c illustrates one such farmette
conceptual development plan “H” at Serenbe on a 202‑acre (82 ha) site that also
includes workable farms (in darker green) and home gardens (lighter green). The
density averages one unit per seven and a half acres. Farm homes were clustered
close to the connecting road with a small green (brighter green) to create a sense
of community. Farmettes typically offer larger land plots, more privacy, and greater
access to nature. Figure 7.7d is a photograph of a typical Serenbe pasture estate
with an abundance of openspace surrounding the main structures, a family garden,
a garage, and a swimming pool.

A source of local organic food, a place for nurture and nature, a place to get
your hands dirty, a place of inspiration and reflection, a place to celebrate the
seasons and their bounty, and a farm to create and sustain the future.7

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7.7
Serenbe Amenities
a) Serenbe Farms,
b) Farmer’s Market
c) Farmette H Site
Plan, d) Serenbe
Pasture Estate
(Sources: Phillip Tabb
and Jessica Ashley)

1. Mado wellness neighborhood

The Mado charrette in April of 2007, facilitated by founder and CEO of Serenbe,
Steve Nygren and land planner Phillip Tabb, specifically targeted the design of
the third neighborhood and its theme of the health and wellness non‑residential
functions. Also, it was to be the densest of the neighborhoods. Currently as
of 2024, it has a population of approximately 500 residents. In the center of
the neighborhood is an existing natural wetland and the 100‑year flood plain,
part of the Cedar Creek basin. The eastern leg of the omega is on fairly slop‑
ing forested land while the west leg is on relatively flat land, which is easier to
develop. The name “Mado” comes from the Creek Nation Native Americans
meaning “things in balance.”8 This seemed a fitting name for a focus on health
and wellness. Consequently, the theme for Mado was health and wellness, so
a cluster of activities was determined and dispersed throughout the fabric of
the neighborhood plan. Mado is approximately 75 gross acres (30 ha) including
the openspace center and wetlands, and it is 700 feet (17 meters) wide from the
centerlines of each leg of the omega road. Planned for 575 dwelling units, Mado
is a unique blend of residential dwelling types and health and wellness func‑
tions. It is designed for the age diversity of inhabitants, from infants to seniors.

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The wellness functions, goods, and services include several buildings,

clusters, and landscape features. Rather than concentrating the health and
wellness activities into a single area, there was an attempt to disperse the
functions throughout the neighborhood so that they were more integrated
into the fabric of the place. One Mado Building is a multi‑use three‑story build‑
ing housing many wellness‑oriented businesses, offices, and services includ‑
ing the Halsa Restaurant, Serenbe Fitness Center, Dental Wellness, Flourish
Pediatrics, Center for Positive Change, Serenbe Yoga and Body Works, Preci‑
sion Performance and Physical Therapy, and the Spa at Serenbe. The adjacent
live‑work units provide several independently owned retail spaces on street
level with residential rental units above. The Portal is a wellness retreat posi‑
tioned next to the central pond offering multi‑day retreats that include classes,
nature walks, and healthy meals.
The Serenbe Swim Club is privately owned with membership available to
the community and comprises three pools, cabanas, and eventually will have
a snack bar. The Terra School Campus is located on the northwestern edge of
Mado and houses preschool through 12th‑grade studio classrooms. The mis‑
sion at the Terra School is to inspire each child who enters its doors to find a call‑
ing that will change the world. The goal is to become a flagship school and lay
the foundation for how a school design, environment, and pedagogy can sup‑
port our overall mission. The Mado Aging in Place Wellness Campus is located
across the street from One Mado Building, the Serenbe Swim Club and the
Terra School Campus, and adjacent to the woodland openspace giving occu‑
pants views and access to the vitality of life around them. On its seven‑acre
campus, there will be a variety of living venues and support functions as it
will support intergenerational living. The campus is modeled after Hogeweyk,
the famed “dementia village” in The Netherlands. The design accounts for 40
rental apartments, 24 cottages around a courtyard, 24 individual cottages, a
“wellness club,” restaurant, offices, and retail.
According to landscape architect Alfie Vick, the Mado Food Forest and
Medicinal Garden is a food‑producing public garden that reflects the structure
and diversity of the native Piedmont Forest. The garden is focused on bal‑
ance and well‑being; all the plants are either edible or medicinal, and many of
them are both. Additionally, the garden is designed to engage residents who
live adjacent to it. It is universally accessible, safe, and attractive with several
spaces that encourage social interaction. Most of the vegetation is native, cre‑
ating a food forest that is a microcosm of the surrounding natural ecosystems.
Planning in a “V‑shape” the single‑story residences open to the garden and are
accessible by a ramp connecting the garden to every house.
It has been an objective within Serenbe to create an architectural character
that reflects diversity and individual choice while at the same time respect‑
ing a certain continuity of the overall aesthetic of the community. Like more
established neighborhoods that have evolved over decades, this variable char‑
acter expresses homeowners at varying stages of life, family functions, and
individual tastes. The omega form is powerful enough to accommodate these
differences without damaging its overall unity. For the Mado neighborhood, it

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7.8
Mado Masterplan 2023
(Source: Serenbe Development)

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 CASE STUDY 1 – MADO NEIGHBORHOOD ◼

was decided to reflect the wellness architecture of Erik Asmussen, a Danish

architect who practiced in Sweden from the early 1960s to the end of the
1990s. While difficult to articulate in conventional terms, his work might be
explained in terms like contemporary vernacular, colorful, expressive individu‑
ality with whimsical and playful moments, and as described by Gary Coates,
Asmussen’s architecture was “charming and strangely attractive.”9 Many of
his ideas were influenced by Rudolf Steiner. This design language seemed
appropriate for the architecture of Mado with the design strategies for wellness
carefully integrated into this architectural language.
At the planning scale, Mado situates residents so they have direct connec‑
tions to nature creating source experiences. This “front door“ to nature plan‑
ning approach was selected to amplify the biophilic principles demonstrating
an accessible, inclusive, comprehensive, and integrated approach to residential
development. The omega street is designed to provide easy access to health
and wellness businesses and activities, and to nearby natural areas. Refer
to the Mado site plan which shows the various building types and abundant
amount of openspace, Figure 7.8.

2. Mado wellness planning and design strategies

The Mado neighborhood form and spatial structure possess certain wellness
benefits. The omega design possesses certain inherent characteristics that
contribute to a sense of community and wellness lifestyles. The Mado well‑
ness design is integrated with the overall omega form and within the fabric of
the neighborhood. The curvilinear neighborhood forms resemble the omega or
horseshoe shapes and are characteristic of this particular typology. The neigh‑
borhood forms are not a “U” shape, but they are an “Ω” shape. This creates
a slightly greater enclosure and supports greater containment, Figure 7.2b.
Simultaneously, the open ends of the omega allow for natural ecological
flows – solar energy, water, clean air, residents, visitors, and resident animals.10
The omega shape slowly opens outward to create both a sense of entry and
exit with connections to the neighboring neighborhoods. At the top or apex of
each omega form are a collection and an intensity of mixed‑use activities. They
give a particular focus and identity to each neighborhood – the arts, agriculture,
health and wellness, family and play, and education. The neighborhoods are
connected by a serpentine road system that closely follows the contours and
shapes of the natural landform omega sites.
Health and wellness were considered at the very beginning of the
Mado neighborhood and carried through the omega form, integration of non‑­
residential functions, and architectural character. Direct access to nature has
been an extremely important intention for the development of the master plan
and this is evident in Mado. The design nudges residents and visitors into physi‑
cal activity. Serenbe preserves 70% of the land as openspace with only 30%
dedicated to development. This in turn encourages physical activity, interac‑
tion with nature, and opportunities for chance encounters on a daily basis. In
most instances throughout Serenbe, the serpentine omega roads are limited to

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singled double‑loading, thereby positioning dwellings with a street frontage as

well as direct forest access. With miles of trails throughout the community, resi‑
dents have access to the forestland, streambeds, and other amenities located
within the interstitial spaces of the neighborhood, and are connected to the
adjacent neighborhoods of Selborne, Crossroads, Grange, Overlook, and Spela.
Mado is pedestrian‑oriented and is situated within a one‑half mile diameter
circle, thereby making it an extremely walkable neighborhood. Further, there
are miles of trails located on sidewalks on both sides of the streets, on cross‑
paths between parallel streets, within the inner omega and surrounding the
neighborhood. Serenbe Lane, the primary omega street, is socially active with
pedestrians walking and riding on electric golf carts to and from all the neigh‑
borhood activities. Its density also contributes to its pedestrianization. Instead
of lines and lines of connected housing plots, at Serenbe the plots are periodi‑
cally interrupted with paths connecting sidewalks to the openspace woodlands.
Mado is the densest of the neighborhoods with approximately 75 gross acres
of land and an estimated gross density of 7.7 units per acre, remembering
70% of surrounding land is openspace. The density and compactness of Mado
lend to its pedestrian nature. Walking distances within the neighborhood are
relatively short with the farthest homes being 1,800 feet from the apex which
translates to a less than ten‑minute walk at 3.5 feet per second. A majority of
homes are no more than a four‑ or five‑minute walk to the center. No home is
more than 300 feet from the forest edge. Traffic calming also contributes to its
pedestrianization. Mado has 13 speedbumps, narrow streets, 15‑mile‑an‑hour
speed limit, and car and golfcart parking along the streets that narrows the
traffic flow‑through by slowing traffic down. In addition, parking parallel on one
or both sides of the streets along with perpendicular golf cart parking extends
slightly into the street right‑of‑way.
Mado has a wide range of mixes of use, which creates greater opportuni‑
ties for social interaction and reduces the need for the automobile. This includes
close access to the school, healthcare facilities, healthy food, recreational activi‑
ties, and immersion into the natural areas surrounding the neighborhood. The
wellness businesses, facilities, and amenities are not concentrated in one sin‑
gle place but rather are distributed throughout the fabric of the community
providing greater integration and easier access. While this theme of wellness
has been developed specifically for Mado within the overall constellation of
the hamlet Serenbe, it is highly connected to the other neighborhoods and
the non‑residential functions they house. They attract residents from the other
neighborhoods and from the greater community of Chattahoochee Hills. Mado
is made up of many “sticky urban places“ that support opportunities for meet‑
ing, interacting, chance encounters, and ultimately enhancing social tolerance.
All of the neighborhoods support dark skies to reduce night pollution.
Street and home lights utilize full‑cutoff fixtures directing light downward. This
reduces electrical energy use, provides clearer night skies, and is known for
improving circadian rhythms. Each of the neighborhoods has its own unique
street lighting standard giving further identity to the neighborhoods. There are
several other sustainable approaches to the planning of Serenbe that include

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a vegetated wetland waste system, the use of geothermal heating and cool‑
ing systems, energy‑efficient construction practices, and, in some instances,
solar energy utilization. The biohabitats have been designed and permitted as
a community wastewater collection, treatment, and reuse system. The treated
water is supplied to subsurface irrigation in adjacent pastureland. Through‑
out Serenbe are a combination of practices including bioretention, bioswales,
stream buffers, and wetland protection.
Because of the innovative planning and sustainable building practices, Ser‑
enbe won the Urban Land Institute Inaugural Sustainability Award in 2009. In
Mado it is mandated that all homes incorporate ground‑sourced heat pumps or
geothermal systems providing space heating and cooling. Homes are encouraged
to be solar‑ready, meaning that there is provision of space for photovoltaic panels
to be mounted to roofs. A number of the larger buildings incorporate photovoltaic
systems. Explained later in the chapter, the Terra School provides 105% of its
energy through its rooftop photovoltaic system. Throughout the neighborhood
are stand‑alone charging stations for the growing number of electric golf carts,
bicycles, and automobiles. Energy efficient construction is an important part of
the sustainable strategies for Serenbe. EarthCraft is a voluntary residential green
building program of the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and South‑
face Energy Institute that was created in 1999. In 2004 and 2008, Serenbe was
named Green Building Program of the Year by the National Association of Home
Builders. Serenbe was named Development of the Year by EarthCraft, and was
one of five pilot EarthCraft communities. To achieve compliance, new homes
must meet both EarthCraft and ENERGY STAR certification criteria. This means
achieving passing scores from diagnostic tests for air infiltration and duct leak‑
age. The criteria include resource‑efficient site planning, resource‑efficient design,
energy‑efficient building envelope and heating and cooling systems, and use of
building materials, effective waste management, indoor air quality, and water
conservation. These all contribute to the overall wellness of the community.
Mado provides several places for sanctuary experiences and sacred
moments both within the built portions of the neighborhood and in the sur‑
rounding openspaces. Thin places are locations or settings found in Mado that
seem to possess qualitatively different energies. Thin places are often referred
to as sacred places, holy places, sanctuary places, vital places, soulful places,
serene places, or charged places. According to Mindie Burgoyne, thin places
are places in which a svelte veil exists between our secular world and the
sacred, where an energetic connection and nexus can more easily be made.11
Along one of the tributaries to Cedar Creek on the west side of Mado is what
locals refer to as the large waterfalls. It is considered one of the most sacred
sites in Serenbe. The Blue Pyramid and Outdoor Yoga Field are considered
other thin places in Mado. But most thin places are individually discovered
and possess personal qualities that either elicit awe or serene emotions. (For
a detailed description and discussion of thin places refer to, Thin Place Design:
Architecture of the Numinous.)
The two Mado plans in Figure 7.9 illustrate the disposition throughout
the neighborhood of wellness facilities, services, and activities (represented

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by numbers). As can be seen, there are 15 different wellness sites identified 7.9
Access to Wellness
throughout the plan. These include the openspace and natural areas surround‑
Functions
ing the center of the neighborhood. Other more personal and intimate thin a) Distribution of
places can be found in the surrounding nature and certain gathering spots Wellness Functions,
within the community. The wellness functions are spread throughout the b) Automobile
and Pedestrian
neighborhood providing multiple destination points. The wellness benefits from Networks
these physical design strategies are intended to create a strong sense of place, (Source: Phillip Tabb)
maximize interactions with nature, encourage pedestrianization and physical
activity, increase socialization, and provide community meeting places.
In conventional suburban development, rows and rows of single‑family
plots are arranged along both sides of streets with little‑to‑no spatial variety,
interruptions, or access to natural openspaces. Further, they are lined with
large automobile garages and driveways, and maybe there is access to a trail or
path behind the rear yards. To counteract this monotonous repetition of dwell‑
ing massing and single‑use development, in Serenbe the creation of periodic
breaks between the houses offers a visual and physical relief in the urban
streetscape, also providing access points to the neighborhood’s important
natural areas, features, and amenities. The efficient automobile circulation (in
red) and miles of trails (in blue) are also shown in Figure 7.9b. The pedestrian
network within and surrounding the neighborhood is more than five times the
length of the roads. The purple indicates points of access from the streets
to natural areas and amenities. These points also provide multiple ways of

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7.10 accessing the homes of nearby neighbors, while others provide access points
Cross Access
and offer long views into the site, such as Figure 7.10b and c. Figure 7.10d
Circulation a) Cross
Path Plan b) Night shows a neighborhood meeting place in the center that connects down to the
Lighted Pathway, forest through a series of cascading greens. In Serenbe these access points
c) Between are accompanied with traffic calming street bumps, changes in pavement (usu‑
Dwellings Path,
d) Anders Court at
ally pavers), and night lights for nighttime demarcation.
the Top of the Axis, The plan indicates a good example of pedestrianization along with efficient,
e) Arched Axis to convenient, and emergency access to each dwelling. There is an intentional
Yoga Field and
300‑foot dwelling‑to‑nature maximum distance to nature with most homes
Folly, f) Meeting
Place Along the Way directly adjacent to natural areas. The wellness benefits from these physical
(Source: Phillip Tabb) design strategies are intended to create a strong sense of place, maximize
interactions with nature, encourage pedestrianization and physical activity,
increase socialization, and provide community meeting places.
A survey of Mado residents indicated the positive wellness qualities of
the neighborhood, the sense of community, pedestrianization, easy access to
nature, its density, and its convenience to businesses, food, and other ameni‑
ties. Residents tend to frequent the fitness center, walks in the woods, and
the patronage Creek Retreat (Figure 7.12e). The result – the residents stated
they socialize more. A frequent complaint was the ongoing construction
with its noise, nails left on the street, and increased traffic. Many who have
school‑aged children enjoyed the close connection to Terra School. In addition,
respondents noted they made frequent visits to the woods, Halsa Restaurant,
the Farm Coop, Fitness Center, the Swim Club, and the popular trampoline hill.

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3. Mado wellness goods and services

As the theme for Mado is health and wellness, there are various businesses
and practitioners providing goods and services and numerous outdoor opportu‑
nities for social and nature engagements. One of the first wellness facilities is
the three‑story One Mado Building which houses health and wellness‑oriented
retail and office functions, Figure 7.11a. It was designed by Lorraine Curran
Locus Design. On the ground level are the Halsa restaurant, fitness center, Ser‑
enbe Real Estate, Biophilic Institute, and public restrooms. Halsa is a casual,
neighborhood‑oriented restaurant serving vegetable‑forward healthy food. It
has both indoor and outdoor seating and is a popular year‑round meeting place
for the community and often serves as a coworking space, an Internet café,
and a place for casual business meetings, Figure 7.11c. Offices on the second
and third levels include Dental Wellness, Serenbe Yoga and Body Works, the
Spa at Serenbe, and Precision Performance and Physical Therapy. The fitness
center or “The Gym at Serenbe” is located on the ground level, Figure 7.11b.
One Mado’s dramatic spiral staircase in the foreground and the partially hid‑
den elevator in the background support the concept of nudging encouraging
people to increase their physical activity by using the stairs. Circulation within
the building is open connecting each of the businesses so there is constant
exposure to the outdoors.
One Mado’s exterior deep blue color provides uniqueness and serves as a
place marker. Building exterior colors for Mado have been inspired by the archi‑
tecture of Erik Asmussen with a full spectrum of colorful hues. The deep blue
One Mado Building is diagonal from the pink community pool. Terra School has
a combination of complementary colored buildings. The toddler building is yel‑
low and blue, the elementary and middle schools are purple and peach, and the
gymnasium when completed will be rust and moss green. Other residences
throughout Mado are colorful as seen in Figure 7.17b. (As discussed in Chapter
5, different colors can trigger different emotions, for example blue’s association
with water and the sky suggests calmness which can lower stress levels.)
The Gym at Serenbe is a 2,000‑square‑foot (186 m2) membership facility 7.11
open 24 hours a day. It is outfitted with functional workout strength and mobil‑ One Mado Building
a) Street Façade,
ity equipment, including cardio treadmills, ellipticals, and rowers. Indoor Pelo‑
b) Serenbe Fitness
ton bikes are available for on‑demand classes. Both individual and team training Center, c) Halsa
are available. The Gym has a membership of 300 people and an average daily Restaurant
use population of 90. Directly across from The Gym is the Portal, a wellness (Source: Phillip Tabb)

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retreat for those who enjoy elevated curvilinear design, immersive experiences
in nature, and as a complement to the eight‑treatment spa. Facilities include six
en‑suite double bedrooms, a full chef’s kitchen, living and dining rooms, and a
secluded outdoor courtyard with a hot tub overlooking the Koi fishpond. They
offer multi‑day retreats including daily nature hikes, yoga classes, spa services,
7.12
Mado Live‑Work
healthy meals, and access to many other wellness practices in Mado.
Units Other live‑work units are feathered into Mado, such as The HearingSmiths,
a) Chai Vegan Spa, providing in‑house hearing services with advanced diagnostic and hearing tech‑
b) Studio 13,
nology. Adjacent to One Mado Building is a cluster of three and four story
c) Collier Animal
Hospital, live‑work units. These are semi‑attached and house wellness‑oriented busi‑
d) Bamboo, nesses that occupy the street level floors. Rental offices or apartments are
e) Creek Retreat,
located on the upper two floors. The units vary some in size averaging 3,000
f) The HearingSmiths,
g) Residential square feet. Typically, the ground‑level commercial spaces average about 700–
Entrance 1,000 square feet. The residential components on the upper two levels have two
(Source: Phillip Tabb) bedrooms, two full baths, living and dining spaces, and a kitchen. The residential

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areas are between 1,500 and 2,000 square feet. There are private ground level
entries, a foyer, and stairs with access to the upper levels from the rear or side
of the units. Among the live‑work units are a Vegan spa, Pilates studio, veteri‑
nary hospital, wellness retreat, hearing‑aid shop, an ice cream shop, a bagel
shop, and a cold pressed juice shop. The Creek Retreat accommodates chiro‑
practic, HydraFacial, and cryotherapy wellness services. Additions to come in
the near future include a pottery studio, an ice‑cream shop, bagel shop, and an
interior furnishings and design firm.
The Serenbe Swim Club is located next to Terra School at Serenbe, across
the street from the proposed Aging in Place Wellness Hub, and close to One
Mado Building. It backs onto a large horse pasture and has great southern
sunlight exposure. It is designed by Curran Architects and is privately owned
with membership available to community members. There is a main elliptical
saltwater pool, a heated 4‑lane lap pool (24 meters long), a splash pool for
children (20 feet diameter), canopies and beach chairs, and restrooms and
shower facilities. Soon there will be a snack bar. There are several adult and
youth programs including aqua yoga, pool volleyball, infant swim classes, swim
teams, and private lessons.12 A newly constructed two‑story structure has a
cabana on the pool level and on the street, level below houses the Modo com‑
munity mailboxes. It has a uniquely pink‑colored exterior, refer to Figure 7.13.
Founded in 2010, Terra School at Serenbe is a new state‑of‑the‑art K‑12
campus with preschool, elementary, middle school, high school students.13 Terra
School is founded on Montessori philosophies and practices placing emphasis
on student‑centric learning. The campus plan is composed of five buildings that
accommodate a toddler building with four classroom clusters, two connected
elementary and middle school buildings with a total of eight classrooms, a high
school, and an auditorium‑theater building. The student‑to‑teacher ratio is 10:1.
The proposed high school building has classrooms, a maker’s studio, an organic
farm, and a gymnasium that opens to an outdoor amphitheater. Connecting
each building is a learning playground with gardens, an amphitheater, farm ani‑
mals, and creative play areas. Each classroom has a covered outdoor classroom
separated by large garage doors which encourage indoor‑outdoor learning.

7.13
Serenbe Swim Club
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

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The name, “Terra School,” embodies the fostering a sense of con‑

nectedness to the land and environment of Serenbe. Environmental sus‑
tainability was at the core with geothermal system and Tesla photovoltaic
roofs when complete will provide well more than 100 percent of its energy
needs. Visual monitoring of the energy systems will be an integral part of
the educational experience on the campus with display monitors on the wall
that show a trend of power usage during the day and the water and solar
generation. The original conceptual design work was done by Founder and
CEO of Serenbe Steve Nygren, Land Planner Dr. Phillip Tabb, and students
at Texas A&M University. Later the final architectural work was developed
by local architects Jose Tavel of TaC Studio (Elementary/Middle, Highschool
and Gymnasium) and Lorraine Cunanan (Toddler School). The architectural
language was informed by biophilic principles and the work of Danish archi‑
tect Erik Asmussen who designed the wellness community at Yarna in Swe‑
den.14 At the northeastern entrance to Mado is the Toddler Building that was
designed with a low‑profile roof and presence as if it is emerging out of the
land, and it has playful tree‑like columns supporting the Tesla‑tiled roof. The
color palette unfolds with the Elementary and Auditorium buildings express‑
ing combinations of warm and cool complementary colors. Driving down the
street adjacent to the school brings delight and joyfulness in part due to the
playful forms and colors, Figure 7.14a.
The campus buildings use “micro‑school‑studios“ with inside‑outside
architecture, views of nature, use of stimulating and calming color, integra‑
tion of Asmussen‑like playful biomorphic forms, and soaring roofs completely
covered with Tesla photovoltaic tiles, Figure 7.14b. In the Fall of 2023, there
7.14 were over 200 students, and when completed they anticipate 450 students.
Acton Academy The Toddler Building will accommodate children from ages 6 weeks to 3 years.
Toddler Building
The Elementary School will accommodate kids from 3 years old through the
a) Parent Gathering
at Preschool, eighth grade. Future phases include the High School Building and a gymnasium
b) Tesla Roof, which also can accommodate community meetings.15 The Montessori‑based
c) Bioinspired
school was grown from a resident‑based effort, and when complete will feature
Columns
a 100% geothermal and a 105% Tesla solar shingle campus.16 The bioinspired
(Sources: Jessica
Ashley and Phillip columns for the Toddler and Elementary schools reflect biophilic principles,
Tabb) refer to the two images in Figure 7.14c.

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7.15
The Mado Aging in Pace Wellness Hub is planned as a mixed‑use campus Terra School at
of approximately 88,600 (8,231 m2) square feet of service‑based housing, Serenbe Elementary
street level retail, medical offices and facilities, and a restaurant. The program School
a) Elementary
is in part based on the Hogeweyk Dementia Village in the Netherlands. Hogew‑
School Plan,
eyk is designed with what they call an “innovative and disruptive“ deinstitution‑ b) School Tree­
alized vision with living, dementia care and well‑being all mixed into a single houses (under
construction)
community.17 Similarly, the Mado Aging in Pace Wellness Hub is located in the
(c) School
center of Mado and across the street from the Terra School and Community Playground
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

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Pool to the north, One Mado Building to the east, and the forest and stream
tributary to the west. Taken together these closely knit land uses are intended
to support an intergenerational community. According to Serenbe Founder and
CEO, Steve Nygren, “Intergenerational interactions have always been a foun‑
dational element of life at Serenbe, and facilitated through design decisions
meant to create ‘accidental collisions.’”18
The eldercare campus includes 24 cottages around a protected court‑
yard, 24 individual cottages, 40 independent living apartments, a wellness
club, and a restaurant. Occupants will be served by a concierge program
helping residents access the wellness services and amenities. A key con‑
cept is the use of a central pedestrian spine connecting the clusters, court‑
yard housing, and the main independent living building. The spine serves to
interconnect the facilities within the campus, provide access to the many
greenspaces, create a view corridor to the woods to the northwest, and
provide emergency vehicle access to all occupied buildings in the campus.
The conceptual site plan was developed by Serenbe Land Planner Dr. Phillip
Tabb, and the architecture was developed by DK Levy Architecture+Design
of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Mado’s residential dwelling types vary from attached to detached and
are sited on varying lot sizes according to the Thorburn transect. Dwelling
types include shotguns, semi‑attached (duplexes), townhomes, cottages,
estate houses, rental apartments, nearby pasture estates, and in the Living
in Place Wellness Campus are independent living cottages, courtyard hous‑
ing, cohousing, and apartments. Dwelling sizes vary in size from 1,000 square
foot (93 m2) shotgun houses to well over 4,000 square foot (372 m2) estate
houses. Dwellings aligned along the streets are positioned close to the side‑
walks and all have front porches intended to encourage outdoor living and
social engagement with fellow residents. Most dwellings in Mado have direct
access to the woodland openspace and all within the 300‑foot (91 meters)
dwelling‑to‑nature design strategy. Most of the homes in Mado are quite
colorful. The variability of building typology, size, architectural language, and
color contribute to particularity and identity within the urban context of the
neighborhood. Mado is the densest neighborhood in Serenbe. According to
one Serenbe resident:

The entire vision behind Serenbe is to create a biophilic community, one

that connects its residents with nature. So, in your first year living in one of
the hamlets or neighborhoods, you can expect to get outside often. First,
Serenbe homes for sale are intentionally designed with attached porch and
balcony spaces. Second, they provide residents with the chance to greet
and commune with passing neighbors.19

Many wellness features exist in and around the neighborhood including parks,
gardens, edible landscapes, land art installations, and blue places. The Mado
Food Forest and Healing Garden occurs along the east/west axis connecting
the inner omega forest and the pyramid and yoga field. Designed by landscape
architect Alfred Vick, ASLA the wellness landscape form connects each of the

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7.16
Aging‑in‑Place a) Serenbe Aging in Place Wellness Campus Plan b) Age Diversity
(Sources: Phillip Tabb and Serenbe Development)

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7.17 cascading homes in the “V‑shaped” site with an ADA serpentine walkway
Mado Residential
with a gradient that is less than 5%.20 The homes are single‑story dwellings
Dwelling Types
a) Anders Court with direct access to the healing garden. Shared outdoor gathering spaces
Townhomes, occur along the curvilinear walk promoting outdoor living and socialization.
b) Attached They function as an accessible outdoor living room and neighborhood meeting
Courtyard Houses,
c) Shotgun Homes,
place. At the eastern end overlooking the forested omega center are a trellis
d) Detached Cottage, and Bocce Ball court. In addition, there are 16 varieties of trees with White Oak
e) Contemporary, and Shortleaf Pine being the most prevalent. There are 14 varieties of shrubs
f) Cottage with
with Winged Sumac, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Sweetshrub, and Beautyberry in the
Solar Array
greatest numbers. There are numerous herbs and grasses including Christmas
(Sources: Serenbe
Development and Fern, Purple Coneflower, Showy Evening Primroses, Woodland Aster, and a
Phillip Tabb) variety of kitchen herbs, Figure 7.18. All species are native to the region, and
many have documented edible or medicinal uses. Being relatively enclosed,
the garden is quiet and protected from the street which allows for thin place
experiences.
Each of the neighborhoods in Serenbe have neighborhood mailboxes
designed to encourage interaction. Several have playgrounds associated with
them for children to play while adults get their mail and socialize. In Mado
there is a dog park with benches overlooking the forest. Down the center of
the omega form lies a treelined tributary and wetlands leading to Cedar Creek
to the south of the neighborhood. Mado Park and the Fire Pit lie at the apex of
the omega center and serve both adults and children. Many of these outdoor
spaces function as thin places where transcendent experiences of awe and
serenity can occur.21 A double‑tiered 15‑foot‑high waterfall is located about a

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ten‑minute walk from the southwest of Mado along one of the tributaries that 7.18
Wellness
empties into Cedar Creek. The waterfall is framed by a conifer pine tree and a
Greenspaces
deciduous beech tree. This site is considered one of the most sacred thin places a) Food Forest and
in Serenbe. It is also accessible from Serenbe trail riding. Mado is connected to Healing Garden
the 17 miles of trails found throughout the community in a series of expanding Plan, b) View from
the West
loops. In addition, annually there are 1k (for kids), 5k, and 10k races on the trails,
(Sources: Alfred Vick
Figure 7.19a. Due to COVID‑19, it was closed. However, the tradition continues and Phillip Tabb)
each spring and autumn now called the “Fast Banana Trail Race.” Being only a
minute or so from one’s home to the woods is a real wellness benefit.
With 70% of the land at Serenbe protected and dedicated to openspace,
plenty of space and many opportunities exist to engage with nature. This
includes the farm, pastures, paddocks, parks, greenspaces, and woodlands all
connected with miles of sidewalks and trails. Mado has openspaces surround‑
ing the neighborhood and running through the middle of the omega form. Every
resident is either directly connected to the openspaces or is just minutes away
from them. Experiences through the openspaces allow for exercise, forest bath‑
ing, schoolchildren’s access to the school, education, and play for Serenbe’s
“free‑range” kids, Figure 7.20.
Children referred to by local adults as “free‑range kids“ – independently
run throughout Serenbe, and walk to school. The benefits also allow for a vari‑
ety of housing type choices, reduce the need for “traditional lawns,” support
safety and encourage the idea of free‑range children, and provide a variety of
supportive amenities and functions. Free‑range parenting advocates argue that
this approach helps children develop decision‑making skills, problem‑solving,
resilience, and independence. Further, the trails create an intricate network
connecting the neighborhoods, amenities, and natural places. Counteracting
Richard Louv’s “nature deficit disorder,” is the physical contact with nature
that nourishes the mind, body, and spirit.22 Risk‑aversion is meant to protect
children but can impede child development in some ways with limited outdoor
experiences.23 Free‑range play reduces stress, rejuvenates brain activity, and
stimulates the imagination and senses. Children play independently, exploring
openly, and building confidence, self‑sufficiency, and skills. Benefits can occur
with advanced motor skills, improved muscle strength, communication with

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7.19 peers, use of the five senses, fostering curiosity for new experiences, and
Wellness Activities
the fostering of independence.24 And they take risks. The full complement of
a) Serenbe Trail
Race, b) Large planning and design strategies presents opportunities for health and wellness
Waterfalls, for individuals, families, the community, and the environment. By providing
c) Students at the context in which each level of wellness can interact, outdoors and more
Small Waterfalls,
d) Pedestrian Stairs,
specifically, free‑range activities, become more holistic and opportunistic for
e) Mado Central high‑level wellness to actually be achieved, especially on an everyday basis and
Pond, f) Land Art in for people of all ages. As of the beginning of 2024, there are approximately 180
Omega Center
children living in Serenbe. Free‑range parenting is not completely without risks
(Sources: Serenbe
depending upon the nature of the community, degree to which there is no pas‑
Development,
Jessica Ashley, and sive surveillance, the exposure to unnecessary risks and dangers children may
Phillip Tabb) encounter, and the possibility that too much freedom could lead to neglect.
Within and around Mado are many meeting places and points of common
interest where small groups of residents and visitors can relax and interact.
Often, these interactions occur between rows of houses on or near access
paths to the forested openspace, at T‑junctions of roads and paths, at mail
pavilions, and adjacent to parks and playgrounds. Often, they are small and
intimate, and mark points of attraction like the firepit site located near the top
of the omega next to a children’s playground, which is frequented by parents

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while children play. Another place, Sunset Point, was designed to view sunsets 7.20
Free‑Range Kids
and solar equinoxes beyond one of the horse paddocks. Hanging‑out places
a) Kids in the
found at entrances into the forested openspaces such as at the end of Anders Woods, b) Kids
Court are green. These places often do not require a great deal of space and Walking Along Path,
are not expensive to create. Yet they can provide relief from single‑use zoning c) Kids on Pony
Rides
or privately owned land uses, and can encourage social interactions. In these
(Sources: Serenbe
locations, many, if not all, of the wellness benefits are capable of being experi‑ Development and
enced by everyone. Mado is an extraordinary community experiment featuring Phillip Tabb)
distinct strategies such as a framework for fostering wellness outcomes. As
a real living community, its benefits are experienced daily and, in time, may
evolve into another Blue Zone as discussed by Dan Buettner.
At the omega apex of Mado is a geometric park designed with a commu‑
nity firepit to one side, Figure 7.21a. It represents another simple insertion of a
site‑borne amenity that supports wellness through physical activity, emotional
exuberance, and playful social interactions. It serves as a place for parents to sit
and converse while children play in the adjacent playground. It serves as a good
example for chance encounters or a quiet moment alone. Near the entrance of
Mado is a large mound of construction fill that was transformed into a trampoline
hill. The trampoline that sits atop the mound is enjoyed by the young at heart of
all ages, Figures 7.21b/c. Named by local children, it is now called “Volcano Hill.“
A spiral path leads up the hill to the 15‑foot diameter trampoline. As residents
and visitors pass by the hill to enter Mado neighborhood or Crossroads neighbor‑
hood or walk up to the top of the mound, they see people flying mysteriously up
and down. From atop Volcano Hill are great views of Serenbe Stables and horse
paddocks to the east and Sunset Point, the adjacent meadows, Terra School, and
Sunrise Knob to the west. Mado has many other places for shared moments
and chance encounters, including Halsa, Nigel’s Banana ice cream shop, Bamboo
Juice, the live‑work courtyard, Anders Court, the Food Forest, the mail pavilion,
the landscape sculpture facing the omega center, the dog park at the end of the
shotgun houses, and in the rock garden along Serenbe Lane.

4. Mado testimonials and podcasts

ln testimonials and podcasts, residents offer personal views about their experi‑
ences living in Mado. Two young middle‑school Serenbe residents attending

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7.21 Terra School conducted a local podcast talking about their experiences living in
Mado Shared
Serenbe and attending Terra School. One 12‑year‑old remarked that she found
Moments a) Mado
Park Fire Pit, b) Kids herself riding a horse around her neighborhood at age seven. Another spoke
Hanging Out at about being able to walk outside her home in Mado to the waterfalls. She,
Trampoline Hill, a friend, and their dogs walked along the tributaries, which they recounted,
c) Jumping Children
creating a wonderful adventure. Both said they liked being able to ride their
(Source: Phillip Tabb)
bicycles to school, and they said that their brothers ages four to six can roam
around freely without their parents worrying. They concluded that Serenbe is
a place where you find out who you want to be when you grow up.25 Following

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are testimonials and quotes from Internet respondents to Mado businesses

representing a variety of positive opinions.

Our home is in the heart of the Mado hamlet of Serenbe. We are a short
walk to the Halsa restaurant, Bamboo Juice, hiking trails, a yoga studio, a
gym, and more.26
Our family moved to Mado two years ago and we love the mix of
people in the community and the close access to nature. We especially
love taking the kids to the Foodforest and Healing Garden minutes from
our house. It is so peaceful.27
It [Serenbe] is a place of serenity, a place of surrender, a place of
peacefulness, a place of beauty, all of those apply so that’s how I originally
defined Serenbe.28
Be Well, Live Well, Eat Well is the overachieving vibe of this place.
Halsa has the most inviting ambiance. The service was efficient, and
the hostess was very knowledgeable of the food options.29
I loved my restorative Yen yoga class! The studio was just the right
size, and the owner was a great instructor. I can’t wait to go again for goat
yoga!! 30
Scandinavian‑inspired eatery with delicious, fresh food. Laid back
and casual atmosphere with a menu that is unique and healthy. They
serve alcohol but carry a bunch of alcohol alternatives. Great place for
gluten‑free, vegetarian, or pescatarian diets.31
I’d only been on a horse twice when I decided to ride at Serenbe, so
I was a bit apprehensive. All worry was for naught, it was a small group,
and the leader was a seasoned rider. We all fell in love with our horses and
the trails are beautiful, along streams, open fields, lakes and you can even
book a lunch ride where you can stop by the water’s edge at the stream
and have lunch from the local café.32
Having recently moved from the incessant buzz of New York City to
the tranquil hamlet of Mado in Serenbe, my family and I have experienced
firsthand the profound impact that connection to nature and thoughtful
design can have on well‑being. We’ve become calmer, more balanced,
and deeply connected, realizing the stark contrast between our past and
present living environments.33
I just got to experience riding a horse around my neighborhood at the
age of seven.34

The Mado neighborhood design elicits many wellness benefits both direct
and indirect. Table 7.1 indicates the 43 wellness strategies related to the
seven wellness benefit pillars. Highly present are the physical, emotional,
social, and environmental benefits, and the intentional design strategies of
community‑oriented design, sense of place, aging‑in‑place, trails and forest

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bathing, pedestrianization, meeting places and socialization, wellness street

design, agriculture and nutrition, abundant access to nature, healing waters,
limited night pollution, and the presence of thin places. The 300‑foot maxi‑
mum distance to nature is afforded to every resident. At a walking speed of
three‑and‑a‑quarter‑feet (one meter) per second, this translates to under two
minutes. This is the length of a football field. A majority of homes are either
close or directly adjacent to Mado’s openspaces. Another planning strategy
is to position the neighborhoods closer to one another, such as with Cross‑
roads, Overlook, Grange, and Farmette sites which encourage social interac‑
tions, chance encounters, sharing and, to some extent, safety. The clustering
of non‑residential uses within each neighborhood also creates the potential for
economic synergy created among the various neighborhoods.
There exist several financial benefits that are both directly and indirectly
related to the wellness strategies. For example, pedestrianization and the pres‑
ence of mixes of use give exposure and access to commercial activities, social
meeting places, and wellness functions that economically benefit both patrons
and businesses. Further, lower automobile use reduces carbon emissions,
reduces energy use, fuel expenditures, and provides a safer community. Other
strategies that elicit multiple benefits include the community‑oriented form,
the rich mixes of use, the aging‑in‑place campus, the miles of trails and oppor‑
tunities for forest bathing, designs that encourage fluid indoor‑­outdoor activi‑
ties, limited night light pollution. The many sacred moments found throughout
the community add to wellness experiences, like Sunset Point at the entrance
to Mado is on a hill overlooking a paddock to the west. At the vernal and autum‑
nal equinoxes, the sun can be seen setting due west just over the forested
ridge and Sunrise Knob beyond, Figure 7.22.

7.22
Sunset Point
(Source: Phillip Tabb)

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MADO SUMMARY

Mado is an exciting example of the wellness principles and design strategies applied
at the neighborhood and community scale. This scale is a unique opportunity to
create a multitude of strategies that interrelate, provide easy daily access, and are
intergenerational. The identifiable neighborhood forms, sense of place, mixed func‑
tions and themes add to the wellness potential. Mado is the densest of the Serenbe
neighborhoods and as such affords an economy of scale allowing for inclusion of
so many non‑residential wellness activities. This mosaic of wellness opportunities
creates an explicit model and pathway for reimagining future development, espe‑
cially at the neighborhood scale. Refer to Table 7.1 that follows for a listing of the
wellness strategies and their relationships to the benefit pillars of physical, mental,
emotional, social, financial, environmental, and spiritual wellness. The ‘X’ occurring
in many of the cells indicates that the particular planning or design strategy may be
found and informed by certain wellness pillars. This does not represent a rigorous
analysis, but rather is intended to show the specific planning and design strategies
relative to their impacts within the seven wellness benefit pillars.
There are a large variety of planning and design strategies for wellness in
Mado. These strategies occur from the overall omega‑like urban form, its incremen‑
tal growth pattern, the large park within the interior of the omega and surrounding
forest to numerous sidewalks, passageways and trails, access to water, and the
myriad of wellness functions and facilities woven throughout the community. Fol‑
lowing is a summary listing with brief descriptions of the wellness design strategies
for Mado neighborhood:

1 Community‑oriented urban form – omega shape promotes inclusion, commu‑

nity building, nurturing nature, and a sense of place.
2 Sense of place – promotes wellness identity, groundedness, security, and spirit
of place.
3 Constellating urban growth by multiplication – creates a network of accessible
and walkable communities.
4 300 feet to nature – ensures that access to nature is not more than a two‑­
minute walk away from a home.
5 Designing with resilient infrastructure – promotes on‑site, water retention and
management, renewable energy, waste recycling, and local agriculture.
6 Mixed‑use development – provides a diversity of nutritional, social, recreational
and economic opportunities and benefits, and a synergy among the wellness
live‑work businesses.
7 Density gradient – provides rural-urban transect and an increase in housing
choices, and proximity to either greater access to natural areas or concentra‑
tions of non‑residential amenities.
8 Decentralized wellness activities – promotes integrating wellness throughout
the community fabric with increased access and allowing for small wellness
businesses.
9 Integrated aging‑in‑place campus – provides age diversity and inclusion, easy
access for seniors in daily community life, and mixing intergenerationally.

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10 Encouragement of physical activity – provides easy access to nature and the

19 miles of trails, fitness center, trampolines, and other outdoor recreational
activities.
11 Nudge design strategies – where planning and architectural elements, such as
stairs, corridors, outdoor spaces, and connecting paths, landscape elements,
lighting standards, and are encouraged through design.
12 Miles of trails and forest bathing opportunities – provision of 70% openspace,
17 miles of trails, and special natural places.
13 Pedestrianization – accessibility with urban sidewalks, rural trails, walkable
streets, multiple dispersed destinations throughout the community.
14 Traffic safety and calming – sticky urbanism, narrow streets, street parking,
speed bumps and crosswalks, common use of golf carts, high degree of
pedestrian activity, and a 15‑mile‑an‑hour automobile speed limit.
15 Neighborhood meeting places – provision of multiple destinations and gather‑
ing places throughout the neighborhood encouraging socialization.
16 Clustering end uses – creating safety and community surveillance, and pos‑
sibilities for synergy, and random and planned social interactions.
17 Chance encounters – pauses, intersections, walks along the street, cross‑
walks, stairs, mailbox pavilions, treehouses, restaurant destinations, Farmer’s
Market, healing garden, trails, trampoline hill, and other gathering places.
18 Neighborhood mail pavilions – encouraging community interactions and places
with adjacent playgrounds.
19 Other shared elements – include stairs, greenspaces, sidewalks, seating areas,
land‑art installations, the labyrinth, the ArtFarm performances and activities,
the firepit, trampoline hill, and Sunset Point.
20 Well‑streetscapes – native plants and trees providing shade, visual access to
nature, and aesthetic value, and curving streets providing constantly changing
perspectives.
21 Sticky urbanism – enticing street fronts, colorful façades, pedestrian activ‑
ity, cars, bikes, and golf carts creating complexity, constant movement, and
attraction.
22 Encouraging indoor‑outdoor spaces – porches, balconies, terraces, courtyards,
outdoor dining, greens, and recreation areas.
23 Safety and community surveillance – close proximity to streets, porches,
clear visual access, community Facebook connections, and an active
community.
24 Agriculture and healthy nutrition – access to nearby Serenbe Farms, gardens,
Farmer’s Market, and easy access to the six restaurants and cafes.
25 Integration of edible landscapes – occurring along neighborhood main streets,
and in the Food Forest and Healing Garden.
26 Cross pathways – rows of housing plots interrupted by a network of passages
connecting sidewalks to parallel streets, openspaces, and trails.
27 “Front door” access to nature – direct adjacencies to the 70% openspaces and
the implementation of the 300‑foot rule (two‑minutes from dwelling to nature).
28 Healing water – access to on‑site streams, lakes and ponds, day‑lit stormwater,
on‑site water feature and fountains, and existing waterfalls.

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29 Limited night light pollution – utilizing low wattage night lights, down lights
for streets, dwellings and outdoor activities, and no lighting between the
neighborhoods.
30 Integration of living color – with abundant nature surrounding the neighborhood,
wildflower meadows, flowering gardens, and the Mado colorful buildings.
31 Eurythmy of urban form – rhythms of neighborhoods and massing of buildings
reflect the Thorburn transect form with purely natural areas building up to a
more urban density and non‑residential activities at the neighborhood apexes.
32 Energy standards – building to EarthCraft energy standards required of all Ser‑
enbe buildings.
33 Materialization – encouragement and use of wood, stone, masonry, stucco,
and other non‑toxic materials; roofs are typically metal and wood shingles; and
roads go from gravel, to paved with no curbs, to paved with granite curbs.
34 Topography and ecology – urban form responding to topography with minimal
disruption of land and ecological flows; most development located downslope;
ability to channel and hold water.
35 Stormwater management – primarily day‑lit utilizing natural gravity, visually
apparent and easily maintained, and contributes to forming retention ponds.
36 Natural and renewable resources – encouragement and use of solar energy for
passive heating and photovoltaic electricity, mandated geothermal heating and
cooling, and connections to vegetated wetland waste treatment.
37 Economic benefits – increases land and property values, high ROI, positive
wellness branding and marketing, and efficiency and reduction of automobile
uses for everyday functions.
38 Wellness branding – creating beautiful biophilic neighborhood, promoting
sense of community, providing inviting support functions, and encouraging
wellness lifestyles with abundant associations with nature.
39 Ability to engage in free‑range parenting – access to rural areas adjacent to
dwellings, strong sense of community and surveillance, safe streets, and low
traffic speeds and volumes.
40 Terra School – neighborhood‑integrated K‑12 school with strong parent and
community participation, and a context for life‑long learning.
41 Carbon sequestering – through preserving adjacent forest land and meadows,
integrating forests into urban form, and urban tree planting along streets.
42 Presence of thin places – creating natural and intentional thin places, sound‑
scapes, blue spaces, and special markers and artforms found throughout the
community.
43 Celestial moments – special sites, opening within forest canopy, and certain
urban spaces designed for celestial observations like sunsets, moon rises, and
night skies.

As can be seen in Table 7.1, the Mado wellness strategies are cross‑
referenced with the benefit pillars. What becomes clear is the relatively even distri‑
butions of benefits across the 43 strategies with the physical, mental, emotional,
and social benefits scoring slightly higher. Planning and urban design strategies
scoring across all seven of the wellness benefits were the omega form, sense of

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place, 300‑foot distance to nature, pedestrianization, access to nature and water,

night light mitigation, carbon sequestering, on‑site agriculture, the K‑12 school,
and thin place moments. Other strategies scoring high were aging‑in‑place, trails
and forest bathing, meeting places and socialization, wellness street design, thin
places, and celestial moments. The lowest strategies were decentralized wellness
activities, topographical and ecological responses, natural renewable resources,
and day‑lit stormwater management. These lower rated strategies tended to be less
people‑centered and more environmentally‑oriented. Overall, the high number of
wellness strategies in this case study may be a result of the neighborhood scale,
land use diversity, and the overall wellness and biophilic design of Mado. Mado
neighborhood is a comprehensive and fully integrated wellness design, and pos‑
sibly is one of the first intentional and contemporary urban design wellness models.

MADO WELLNESS
STRATEGIES
1 Community‑Oriented X X X X X X X
Urban Form
2 Sense of Place (place X X X X X X X
theming)
3 Growth by Multiplication X X X X X
4 300‑foot Distance to X X X X X X X
Nature
5 Infrastructure Resiliency X X X X X
6 Mix Use Development X X X X X X
7 Density Gradient X X X X X
(transect)
8 Decentralized Wellness X X X
Activities
9 Integrated Aging‑in‑Place X X X X X X
10 Encouraging Physical X X X X
Activity
11 Nudge Designs X X X X
12 Trails and Forest Bathing X X X X X X
13 Pedestrianization X X X X X X X
14 Traffic Safety and Calming X X X X
15 Meeting Places and X X X X X X
Socialization
16 Clustering End Uses X X X X X X
17 Chance Encounters X X X X
18 Mail Pavilions and X X X X X
Playgrounds
19 Other Shared Elements X X X X X
20 Wellness Street Design X X X X X X
21 Sticky Urbanism X X X X X
22 Indoor‑Outdoor Spaces X X X X

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23 Safety and Surveillance X X X X

24 Agriculture and Healthy X X X X X X X
Nutrition
25 Integrated Edible X X X X
Landscapes
26 Dwelling Plot Interruptions X X X X X
27 Abundant Access to Nature X X X X X X X
28 Access to Healing Waters X X X X X X X
29 Limited Night Light X X X X X X X
Pollution
30 Integration of Living Color X X
31 Eurythmy of Urban Form X X X X X
32 Building to EarthCraft X X X X
Standards
33 Use of Non‑Toxic X X X X X
Materials
34 Topo and Ecological X X X X
Responses
35 Daylit Storm Water X X X
Management
36 Natural and Renewable X X X X
Resources
37 Economic Benefits (real X X X X
estate)
38 Wellness Branding X X X X X X
39 Free Range Parenting X X X X X
40 K‑12 Integrated School X X X X X X X
(participation)
41 Carbon Sequestering X X X X X X X
42 Thin Places X X X X X X X
43 Celestial Moments X X X X X X
WELLNESS BENEFITS Physical Mental Emotional Spiritual Social Financial Environmental
Table 7.1
Mado Neighborhood Wellness Design Strategies
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

NOTES
1. The word Serenbe, while initially created by co‑founder Marie Nygren, is now a common
or more general term used to describe the entire community at Serenbe. This includes
the land, the Inn, the hamlets, the crossroads, interstitial spaces and functions, activities,
and residents. Serenbe is the broader whole or constellation that comprises the larger
place.
2. City of Chattahoochee Hills Comprehensive Plan Community Agenda, (Accessed May
5, 2024), https://www.dca.ga.gov/sites/default/files/chattahoochee_hills_ci_community_
agenda_plan_2011.pdf.
3. Krier, Leon, Leon Krier: Houses, Palaces, Cities (Architectural Design, First Edition, Lon‑
don, UK, 1984).

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 CASE STUDY 1 – MADO NEIGHBORHOOD ◼

4. Systemic Constellation Theory: the combination of the four hamlets and crossroads clus‑
ters evolve as proximate urban areas creating the larger development whole and sphere
of influence, which is referred to as Serenbe Community. The idea of a constellating
urbanism can have both literal and symbolic presences. Preiss, Indra Torsten, Family Con‑
stellations Revealed: Hellinger’s Family and other Constellations Revealed (The Systemic
View, Volume 1), CreateSpace Independent Publishing, 2012.
5. Tabb, Phillip James, Serene Urbanism: A Biophilic Theory and Practice of Sustainable
Placemaking (New York, NY: Routledge, 2017).
6. Thorburn, Andrew: Planning Villages (London, UK: Estates Gazette Limited, 1971).
7. Serenbe Farms website, (Accessed October 2015), http://www.serenbefarms.com/.
8. Reed, Karen – Serenbe resident naming Mado.
9. Coates, Gary, Erik Asmussen, Architect (Stockholm, Sweden: Byggforlaget Publishers,
1997).
10. Tabb, Phillip James, Serene Urbanism: A Biophilic Theory and Practice of Sustainable
Placemaking (New York, NY: Routledge, 2017).
11. Burgoyne, Mindie, (Accessed November 24, 2017), http://thinplacestour.com/
about‑mindie‑burgoyne/
12. Serenbe Swim Club, (Accessed June 22, 2023), https://www.serenbeswimclub.com
13. Acton Academy, (Accessed June 22, 2023), https://actonacademyatserenbe.
com/#ourstory
14. Coates, Gary, Erik Asmussen, Architect (Stockholm, Sweden: Byggforlaget Publishers,
1997).
15. Serenbe Hamlet, Cutting Edge School: New Acton Campus Taking Shape, (Accessed
June 25, 2023), https://issuu.com/serenbe1/docs/serenbehamlet‑springsummer‑
2023_issuu/s/25140696
16. Serenbe Hamlet, Cutting Edge School: New Acton Campus Taking Shape,
(Accessed January 29, 2024), https://issuu.com/serenbe1/docs/serenbehamlet‑
springsummer‑2023_issuu/s/25140696
17. The Hogeweyk: Normal Life for People Living with Severe Dementia (Accessed January
30, 2024), https://hogeweyk.dementiavillage.com
18. Mullaney, Tim, Pioneering Wellness Community Serenbe Plan Innovative Aging‑in‑Place
Campus, (Accessed January 30, 2024), https://seniorhousingnews.com/2023/07/05/
pioneering‑wellness‑community‑serenbe‑plans‑innovative‑aging‑in‑place‑campus/
19. Reed, Karen, Plenty of Time Spent Outdoors, (Accessed June 23, 2023), https://teamreed‑
realestate.com/blog/what‑to‑expect‑in‑your‑first‑year‑of‑living‑in‑serenbe
20. Green, Jared, Serenbe’s New Wellness District Features a Food Forest, (Accessed
June 23, 2023), https://dirt.asla.org/2017/04/19/serenbes‑new‑wellness‑district‑
features‑a‑food‑forest/
21. Tabb, Phillip James, Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous (New York, NY:
Routledge, 2024).
22. Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature‑Deficit Disorder
(Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2008).
23. Lothian, Tracey, The Free Range Play Effect, (Accessed July 8, 2023) https://www.ecopar‑
ent.ca/eco‑wellness/free‑range‑play‑effect
24. Miracle, Why Should My Child Play Outside? Benefits of Outdoor Play for
Kids, (Accessed January 3, 2024), https://www.miracle‑recreation.com/blog/
why‑should‑my‑child‑play‑outside‑benefits‑of‑outdoor‑play‑for‑kids/#physical
25. Serenbe Stories, Serenbe Kids: Biking to School, Exploring in Nature, & Building Lifelong
Friendships, (Accessed December 4, 2023),
26. Testimonial from visitor to an Airbnb owned by Serenbe resident Brandi Kenner owner,
2023.
27. Quote from resident interview held July 25, 2023.
28. Quote from founder Marie Nygren comparing Serenbe to the children’s novel, The Secret
Garden published in 1910 by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

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29. On‑line review of Halsa Restaurant, July 8, 2023.

30. On‑line review of Serenbe Yoga Bodyworks in Mado, July 23, 2018.
31. Halsa Restaurant review November 32, 2019.
32. Respondent review of the Serenbe Riding Trail in 2017.
33. Testimonial from Noa Hecht, Serenbe resident.
34. Quote from podcast, Serenbe Kids: Biking to School, Exploring in Nature, & Building
Lifelong Friendships, 2023.

212 ◻
 8 CASE STUDY 2 – FIVELEMENTS
RETREAT BALI

FIVELEMENTS RETREAT BALI

Nestled on the banks of the Ayung River, Fivelements Retreat Bali is an award‑win‑
ning eco‑conscious wellness retreat founded in the ancient traditions of Bali. The
retreat features authentic healing and wellness rituals, regenerative plant‑based
cuisine, and transformative sacred arts practices. Both health and wellness
benefits and strategies are present across the architectural and retreat scales.
Fivelements’ iconic biophilic architecture promotes pedestrian movement, for‑
est bathing, and a harmonious connection with nature and spirit. Enchanting
indigenous gardens, natural-shaped pools and koi ponds, and soaring bamboo
structures enhance the tropical jungle environment. A recipient of over 50 inter‑
national awards, the company is recognized as an innovative leader in design,
integrative wellness programs, cuisine, and hospitality. United by a shared mis‑
sion to positively impact the wellness of humanity and the planet, the founders
pioneered a new genre of regenerative well‑being destinations, bridging the
wisdom of traditional cultures with innovative healing concepts – Fivelements.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

Fivelements is an integrated wellness lifestyle company whose authentic

destination offers an opportunity for inspiration and awareness, and progress
in the 21st century. Its focus is on designing high impact wellness strategies
aimed at supporting individuals, couples, and organizations through enduring life
8.1 transitions and transformation, and bringing about greater health and well‑being.
Fivelements Retreat
Bali a) Site Overview,
The founders’ intention for regeneration was to revive, celebrate, and bridge
b) Pool, c) Double Suite, ancient healing wisdom and traditions – from planning and building methods
(Source: Fivelements) and materials to wellness programming – through authentic, immersive, and

DOI: 10.4324/9781003472902-8 213 ◻

◼ CASE STUDY 2 – FIVELEMENTS RETREAT BALI

transformational experiences aimed at self‑regeneration and revitalizing social,

cultural, and environmental ecosystems. A purpose‑driven project, Fivelements
was founded with a vision of “Learning to Love and Respect Life” and a mission,
“Creating the Space for Life Transformation and Love in Action.” The retreat’s
distinctive architecture, design, and wellness programming celebrates the philo‑
sophical, artistic, and healing dimensions of the formidable Balinese living culture.
Fivelements Retreat in Bali is located approximately 20 minutes from the
cultural, artistic, and holistic center of Ubud, 45 minutes from the seaside on
both the east and west coasts of the island, and about an hour‑and‑a‑half from
the international airport. An extension was later added in 2019. The area is known
among local villagers for having more than 1,000 holy springs and is regarded as
a sacred landscape. The retreat site has an area of 4.2 acres (1.69 ha), and the
buildings’ areas total 37,673 square feet (3,500 m2). Designers for the retreat
were Ketut Arthana (lead architect), Ida Pedanda Gede Kaloran (Brahman high
priest and spiritual advisor), Jero Mankgu Made Wiranasapanca (high priest and
spiritual advisor), Lahra Tatriele (concept and interiors), Mauro Raffellini (light and
sound), Gove DePuy (sustainability), and I Wayan Kertayasa (landscape).
The masterplan illustrates an enchanting organic village‑like character to
the design, and it is sited adjacent to the Ayung River. The buildings and their
orientation reflect indigenous planning methodologies and natural architecture
from the island; however, the shapes have been redesigned and crafted to
reflect the retreat’s healing intention and present a new style of eco‑luxury
design, as well as enhance sustainability and wellness impact.
Fivelements’ architecture and design approach is deeply grounded in its
core healing philosophy, Tri Hita Karana, which, translated from Balinese San‑
skrit, means living in harmony among human to God, human to human, and
human to nature. For centuries, this philosophy has guided Balinese daily life
as well as their architectural planning. Tri Hita Karana, combined with sacred
geometry and biophilic design principles, have been applied to various struc‑
ture formations and in the mapping of the physical journey to wellness with the
intention to bring human, spirit, and nature together in harmony.
The masterplan and architecture were thoughtfully designed to enhance a
sense of connection to self and others in the world. Both public and private spaces
have been designed to hold and promote transformational healing for guests on
wellness retreat stays as well as to bridge guests to a greater like‑minded, con‑
scious community and healthy lifestyle. Found throughout the design are circular,
spiral geometries and mandalas incorporated to enable energy to flow in and out
and to promote unity and diversity of experience. An important consideration
of the design was to provide opportunities to enhance connections to nature
physically, visually, and non‑visually creating a sense of refuge, peace, and calm.
Some examples are the intentional design of natural meandering pathways to
evoke a sense of mindfulness as well as mystery as a Balinese‑inspired retreat,
and curating a place of peace and healing. Also important is the welcoming and
nurturing dynamic airflow and diffused light with passive cooling design and
orientation toward the cardinal and ordinal directions, accompanying audio play‑
ing soft mantras and kundalini yogic music along the pathways, and throughout

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the entire property holding the space for healing and transformation along the
wellness journey. Maintaining and enhancing the presence of water with build‑
ings facing the river and jungle waterfall, or by the design of natural ponds and
fountains give blue space experiences. The use of biomorphic forms and pat‑
terns, such as the nautilus shell, the use of raw, unprocessed, and natural locally
sourced materials, as well as renewable resources, such as bamboo and alang
alang grass for thatched roofing, are among the designs which helped define
and guide Fivelements’ signature wellness design style. With this inspiration,
great focus and attention was placed on selecting the site and designing the
masterplan in harmony with spirit, human, and nature. Refer to Figure 8.2a for
the Fivelements Retreat Bali original sketch plan.

PLANNING INSPIRATION FROM LOCAL WISDOM

Fivelements’ master plan is based on Balinese cosmology or Balinese Vastu or

Mandala Nawa Sanga. According to Mandala Nawa Sanga, the site is divided
into nine squares, and each square will have its own sacred significance. Since
the Balinese orient themselves to the most sacred volcano, Mount Agung and
location of the most holy Balinese temple, Pura Besakih, the land areas, and
buildings closest to Mount Agung are considered the most sacred, and the
areas and buildings closest to the sea are considered less sacred. Refer to
Figure 8.2a for the architect’s concept sketch for the masterplan.
The Balinese guidelines for site proportions, Asta Kosala Kosali, were also
applied to the master planning. In Asta Kosala Kosali, the building measurement
and proportion are measured according to the measurements of the human
body, and thus, the land is divided into three sections: the Head or Utama (con‑
sidered the most sacred and important part of the land), the Body or Madya
(the more moderate sacred part), and the Feet or Nista (the least sacred area on
the land). Applied to the masterplan, this represents a human‑oriented retreat
design strategy rooted in traditional knowledge. Fivelements Retreat Bali was
greatly influenced by Balinese master planning and cultural‑spiritual methods,
blended with modern environmental sensibilities. Following are descriptions of
the major sites, buildings and activities contributing to wellness at Fivelements
and in accordance with these Balinese planning methodologies.

PLANNING AND DESIGNING FOR THE HEAD OR UTAMA

The Utama is considered the most sacred and important part of the land. The
Head section represents the area of the property where both spiritual and intel‑
lectual activities take place in harmony. The most important Balinese temple is
placed near the northeast corner of all Balinese homes, offices, and properties.
On the land of Fivelements, this temple shrine is situated accordingly, and
nearby are other consecrated spaces for prayer, meditation, and contempla‑
tion. In contrast, a management and administration building, located on the
opposite side of the Head section, signifies the “brain” and “leader” of the
site and is in close vicinity to the main reception which acts as an important

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8.2
Fivelements Retreat
Bali Masterplans
a) Concept Sketch
Plan, b) Masterplan
Drawing
(Sources:
Fivelements, Ketut
Arthona and Phillip
Tabb)

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 CASE STUDY 2 – FIVELEMENTS RETREAT BALI ◼

post for the welcoming and coordination of guests’ stays. At Fivelements, the
Head section is intended to promote a place for inward reflection and divine
connection, creativity, and abundance.

1. The entrance and Banyan Tree meeting place – love all, serve all.
A small Balinese temple shrine marks the entrance to the property. A circu‑
lar driveway was originally designed and constructed with round shaped river
stones set by hand inside the ground and leading to a prominently positioned
Banyan Tree, the symbol of a traditional meeting place, the original marketplace
and welcoming point of exchange for the Balinese people. The meaning signi‑
fies a loving, inclusive welcoming to Fivelements, a place of healing intended
to hold the space and gently guide guests toward a more purposeful life with
newfound freedom and joy. A stone statue of Ganesha is placed nearby as a
symbol of protection, blessing, and transformation, suitable for a place intended
for healing. Wellness strategies for this entrance are the design of a meeting
place for socialization and welcoming, combined with sacred moments. With
a strong integration with nature and purpose, the wellness benefits include
spiritual, social, mental, emotional, and environmental dimensions.

2. The main reception

The reception is the main entrance to Fivelements and is adapted from the tra‑
ditional Balinese Bale Timbang found in the middle of rice fields throughout rural
Bali. The Bale Timbang is a simple structure formed by an equal number of living
trees, in this case, six, supporting a thatched roof. The function of the traditional
architecture serves as a place of rest in the shade and a meeting place for farm‑
ers and agriculture landowners to discuss and resolve the farming and harvesting
challenges. Adapting this building as the entrance to the retreat, the intention is
8.3 an expression of the retreat’s mission to bridge dialogue toward self‑love and res‑
Fivelements Retreat olution for a healthier and happier path forward. This reception structure is made
Bali Main Reception
from natural, locally sourced live materials and serves as a meeting place for
a) Sketch, b) Entrance
Area guests to begin their healing journey at Fivelements. It is intentionally designed
(Sources: Fivelements to evoke a warm welcome and a strong sense of emotional belonging.
and Ketut Arthana)

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3. Balinese temples: their significance and orientation

In Balinese culture, the spiritual practice is known as “shiva‑buddha” and is
a unique blend of Hinduism (rituals and practices), Buddhism, and animism
(everything with spiritual entity). In Balinese architecture and design, every
space and every building has a specific orientation to God toward the moun‑
tains and nature.
To this end, there are three holy spaces that have been planned and con‑
structed. Proceeding past the Banyan Tree in the Head or Utama section is the
position of the most holy Balinese temple on the property, the Padmasana
(meaning lotus throne), representing the Supreme God in Balinese Hindu
belief.1 It is built on the northeast position of the land and at the circular “verti‑
cal well” or sacred spring identified on the site by two Balinese high priests
and a water dowser and land healer. Sacred springs are regarded all over the
world as offering pure water, the source of life, and as places for healing. In
Bali, the water from sacred springs is considered holy and is used for healing
and purification ceremonies as well as other important blessing ceremonies.
A natural well and water tap was constructed to access this water for these
blessing purposes as well as a stream looping around the Padmasana and the
Sacred Space in an infinity symbol formation or anantha, linked to the infinite
number of cycles from creation to dissolution and recreation of the universe in
Balinese and Indian Hindu philosophy.2 It is also linked to the notion of Pancha
Mahabhuta, the five elements, and represents continuity, balance, and the
interconnectedness of all things in the macro and microcosm. The core well‑
ness strategy and benefit is the consecration of a thin, spiritual place for prayer.
The second holy space is an energy vortex discovered on the land and des‑
ignated as the Sacred Space. A vortex is believed to be a special spot on the
earth where energy is either entering the earth or projecting out of the earth’s
plane in a swirling spiral form. It is also believed to connect the universe with the
human body and produce a range of physical, emotional, and spiritual effects.
Vortexes are thought to enhance meditation, focus, clarity, self‑discovery, and
spiritual growth and can be found at sacred sites throughout the world, such
as Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Pyramid in Egypt, Stonehenge, Uluru/Ayers
Rock in Australia, and in numerous locations in Bali, including at Fivelements.
The discovery of an energy vortex in the Head section nearby the temple
was made early in the design and planning process by the high priests and
water douser and land healer. Interestingly, this was found approximately nine
months after the founders of Fivelements set out to create a retreat for healing
and transformational experiences. At the center of the vortex is the intersec‑
tion of eight energy lines. A large, circular, mineral‑rich volcanic black stone
was chosen by the high priest to mark the center of the intersection signify‑
ing unity and peace, a place welcoming all beings for healing, collaboration,
and positive dialogue. Eight river stones have been placed around in a circle
to mark the eight lines which correlate with the cardinal and ordinal direction
points of the compass. Following a sacred consecration by the high priests,
the spiritual advisors of the project, the Fivelements founders designated this
area as the Sacred Space for meditation and peaceful dialogue open to the

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management, staff, guests, and the greater Balinese community. The Sacred
Space was the first area to be designed on the Fivelements land and remains
the most significant part of the property for its international visitors promoting
mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits. It offers guests access to a safe and
tranquil meditative space and stimulates mindful, sacred moments.
Among the other sacred spaces at Fivelements Retreat is the Agni Hotra
site used for healing fire ceremonies. Agni Hotra is an ancient fire ceremony
originating from the sacred Vedic Hindu texts. Centuries past, the tradition of
Agni Hotra in Bali was embraced and fused with animistic rituals; however,
following a great fire, it fell out of practice more than 360 years ago. Today,
there is a revival of the practice of Agni Hotra for its powerful healing effects
not only in Bali but worldwide. Fivelements’ founders brought this ritualistic
building structure into their retreat for staff and visitors to participate in the
spiritual ceremony and to benefit from its healing properties. There are many
anecdotal stories of healing in relation to the Agni Hotra and even evidence of
benefits to agricultural areas where Agni Hotra is performed.
Simplistic in design and taking on an open‑walled, circular formation, the
Agni Hotra is constructed entirely out of locally sourced, natural renewable bam‑
boo and alang alang thatched roofing materials, similarly found across many of
the other structures in Fivelements. The roof is designed with a passive cooling
strategy in three layers consisting of the main roof structure open to the sky
and two smaller roof “hats” piled on top with space between the three roofs
vertically, allowing for air and smoke from the fire to escape, and keeping the
main space and floor cooler. This roof concept is inspired by traditional Balinese
architecture and can be seen all over Bali in rectangular shaped structures.2

PLANNING AND DESIGNING FOR THE BODY OR MADYA

The Body section represents the area of the property where the main activity
takes place, such as dining, wellness treatments and sessions, swimming, and
8.4
socializing. Open garden spaces and terraces, solarium, and swimming pool areas
Fivelements
Balinese Temples offer abundant access to the outdoors and nature as well as social gathering and
a) Padmasana, event spaces. These thoughtfully designed well‑being spaces offer guests an
b) Sacred Space,
array of options to participate in traditional Balinese healing and wellness ses‑
c) Agni Hotra
sions, transformative water healing, or simply places of rest and contemplation.
(Source: Fivelements)

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1. Multi‑purpose buildings
Mandala Agung, Mandala Madya, and Mandala Alit are three multi‑­purpose
buildings hosting a plethora of sacred arts sessions, ranging from yoga, medi‑
tation and mindfulness, sound healing, dance, and martial arts, etc. These
multi‑purpose spaces and open gardens also serve as venues for special events,
Masters Series, and other conferences, think tanks, or performing arts. These
buildings adopted the shape of the volcanic mountains in north Bali. The largest,
Mandala Agung, is positioned in the northeast direction of the Mount Agung
volcano, the smaller, Mandala Madya, is positioned nearest to the swimming
pool to the south and the smallest, Mandala Alit, is facing southwest, the direc‑
tion of the segara or sea. The largest of the multi‑purpose buildings, Mandala
Agung, is an architectural representation of three Balinese Cultural concepts.
The first concept is Rwa Bineda or Purusa Pradana a Balinese philosophy
that describes the continuous play between opposing forces. It is a concept
that gives us masculinity and femininity, creation and destruction, yin and yang,
positive and negative, and the interactions between these forces. The Balinese
understand this concept as integral to maintaining balance and see it in all
aspects of life, even in the way they interpret the very land that they live on. It
is believed that when the Purusa (masculine) and the Pradana (feminine) col‑
laborate, the creation of something new can manifest.
The second concept is proportion according to Asta Kosala Kosali, the
Balinese traditional architecture method. In the Asta Kosala Kosali, the building
measurement and proportion is based on the human body. Every part of the build‑
ing is measured based on the users’ body dimension. Internationally we know that
the natural proportion of the human and creature is 1:1.618… also known as PHI.
One shape that also follows the PHI is the nautilus shell shape, a logarithmic spiral
shape that follows the Fibonacci sequence. These Mandala multi‑purpose building
structures have been inspired by the nautilus and are formed in vertical spirals.
The third concept is the Tumpeng, one of the core elements of the
Balinese offerings made from rice and shaped as a mountain. This type of
offering is a symbol of gratitude by the Balinese for the prosperities given by
nature. The shape of the tumpeng was adopted giving a vertical, mountain
shape to the outside of the Mandela buildings and resembling the three promi‑
nent volcanoes on the island.
Blending these three Balinese concepts, the overall shape and form of
Mandala Agung was created. The structure is designed as two adjoining spirals
allowing for fresh air circulation. The two spirals connect in the middle at the top
representing unity and oneness. A crown was designed at the top of the building
with a covered opening to the sky offering a “channel of light” and a connec‑
tion to the divine. On the sides of the crown are ventilation holes to enhance
the passive cooling design. A vacuum of air is created that sucks up the warm
air into the crown and out of the holes. Further, cross ventilation is created as
the structure is open air with only half slatted bamboo constructed for privacy
and as a railing protection. The structure is built from 100% renewable “grass”
materials of bamboo for the structure and flooring with thatched roofing. Two
similar and smaller single‑spiral‑shaped buildings, Mandala Madya and Mandala

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Alit were designed and built to host further yoga, meditation, dance, movement,
and sound healing sacred arts sessions as well as special events and gatherings.
In addition to its awe‑inspiring, bamboo cathedral‑like architecture, fur‑
ther wellness strategies for this building include a eurythmy of architectural
form, the use of natural renewable resources, access to a range of wellness
activities, sacred geometry and biophilic design attributes. Wellness outcomes
include physical movement, mental and emotional healing, social connections,
environmental, and spiritual benefits.

2. Sakti Dining Room

For the Balinese, the banana leaf or don biu has historically been a symbol related
to food. Banana leaves are used as food wrap, food plate, and even folded in
a manner that can be used as a spoon. Appropriate for the retreat’s signature
8.5
Fivelements organic, plant‑based cuisine, the form and shape of the restaurant and roofline
Multi‑Purpose were inspired by that of the banana leaf. Blending the materials of large apus
Building
yellow and black bamboo for column and roofline structures, fibers from the
a) Mandala Sketch,
b) Mandala Exterior, coconut tree for wrapping the bamboo beams, and alang alang thatched roof‑
c) Mandala Interior, ing, the banana leaf shape was adapted and transformed for the rooftop of the
d) Bamboo Ceiling open‑air restaurant. Passive cooling design strategies were implemented in addi‑
(Sources: tion to its eurythmy of architectural form. Offering an abundance of natural light
Fivelements and
Ketut Arthana)
and integration with living color, the restaurant is positioned between outdoor

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ponds and the prominent Ayung River. There is also a koi pond inside the center
of the restaurant providing an abundance of access to healing elements. Cross
ventilation and cooling are created by these positionings, reducing the building
temperature by two to three degrees Celsius. In addition, the double story open
air building and double roof system with space in between creates a natural wind
vortex continuously pulling warm air up and out of the building and creating a
continual flow of fresh air circulation from the ponds and river.
The award‑winning Sakti Dining Room features a fine dining, eco‑luxurious
setting flanked between Bali’s sacred Ayung River and lush tropical ponds and
gardens. The prominent bamboo restaurant offers an inspiring gastronomi‑
cal journey based on fresh, innovative plant‑based cuisine aimed to nurture
body, mind, and soul. Also offered from the restaurant and kitchen area are
plant‑powered nutrition and culinary training retreats and programs. The well‑
ness benefits focus on physical (nutrient‑rich cuisine), emotional (awe‑inspiring
design), and environmental levels (all natural materials).

8.6
Fivelements Sakti
Dining Room
a) Restaurant
Sketch,
b) Restaurant,
c) Wave, d) Black
Bamboo Ceiling,
e) Terrace
(Source:
Fivelements)

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3. The gymnasium
The gymnasium onsite serves as a space for fitness training, both for individu‑
als and small group training. The building takes on an organic leaf‑like shape
symbolizing that we are all in a natural process and journey to well‑being. One
of the primary benefits is the positive impact on physical health. Exercise at
the gym promotes cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility. It
aids in weight management, reduces the risk of chronic diseases such as heart
disease and diabetes, and enhances overall body function. Beyond the physical
aspects, gyms play a crucial role in mental well‑being. Exercise releases endor‑
phins, commonly known as “feel‑good” hormones, which can alleviate stress,
anxiety, and depression. The gym environment often serves as a social hub,
fostering a sense of community and connection. Interacting with like‑minded
individuals can provide motivation, support, and a sense of belonging. The
variety of fitness classes and equipment available allows individuals to tailor
their workouts to personal preferences and goals, making the gym a versatile
and accommodating space for people of all fitness levels.
In addition, design elements of the space, such as incorporating glass and
bamboo, further enhance the overall well‑being experience. The use of glass
allows for abundant natural light, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. Natu‑
ral light exposure has been linked to improved mood, productivity, and sleep
quality. Being surrounded by elements of nature, like wood and bamboo, even
in an indoor setting, has been associated with stress reduction and increased
well‑being. Bamboo’s inherent durability and versatility align with the sustain‑
able and mindful ethos of wellness practices. Wellness benefits include physi‑
cal, mental, and social well‑being.

4. Healing Village and Wellness Sanctuary

Fivelements Healing Village (also referred to as the Wellness Sanctuary) con‑
sists of six riverfront wellness pavilions with en suite bathrooms and with bath
houses featuring over‑sized bathtubs, hand‑carved from volcanic river stone,

8.7
Fivelements
Gymnasium
(Source: Fivelements)

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used for signature healing bath rituals. Each pavilion is in the shape of the sacred
spiral and includes a terrace for pre‑ and post‑treatment reflection by the river.
Flooring is made from ironwood and structures are from bamboo with thatched
alang alang grass roofs. These spaces are used for Balinese healing treatments,
administered by traditional healers whose gifts in bodywork and energy healing
have been passed down over generations. Guests can also enjoy more relaxing
Balinese‑inspired massage and body care, face care, nail and hair care rituals
prepared by hand in the therapy prep laboratory along with Fivelements’ signa‑
ture homemade tisane and Sakti healing elixirs. Like other buildings on property,
the healing and wellness reception, signature boutique, and laboratory share the
same semi‑enclosed building style with an organic shaped roof mimicking nature.
The wellness strategies for these buildings include abundant access to 8.8
nature and natural light, forest bathing, passive cooling design, utilization of Fivelements
natural, non‑toxic renewable materials, and recycled timbers for flooring. In Wellness Reception,
Boutique &
addition, the integrated wellness activities include combining holistic wellness
Laboratory
consultations, healing and beauty wellness treatments, and plant‑powered a) Wellness
nutrition as well as access to healing elements from traditional healers and Reception,
b) Healing Village,
village‑inspired wellness rituals made fresh from the lab. The wellness ben‑
c) Balinese Healer,
efits realized are physical and emotional through the therapeutic treatments, d) Healing Bath
retreats and programs, mental and environmental through the immersive, natu‑ (Source:
ral riverside architecture set amongst the verdant jungle foliage, and spiritual Fivelements)

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through the engagement with devoted Balinese healers and their integrative
energy healing and bodywork practices.

PLANNING AND DESIGNING FOR THE FEET OR NISTA

1. Sleeping Suites
According to Asta Kosala Kosali, the Feet or Nista section of a property
signifies spaces for rest and less sacred activity. Positioned in the lower area of
the property are the original Sleeping Suite villas. With riverfront views, the spa‑
cious Sleeping Suites and en suite covered, open‑air bathrooms were designed
in both spiral and leaf‑shaped forms, offering a luxurious, immersive experience
nestled in nature. Each Sleeping Suite features a private terrace with a covered
balè housing a hand‑carved volcanic stone bathtub with chromotherapy lighting
for healing baths and quiet reflection by the river. Ponds connect the suites
with curved bridges leading to each garden entrance. Ironwood floors ground
the enclosed suites with coconut pillars for structure, split vertical bamboo
grace the interior walls with alang alang assembled roofs. Heritage items have
been carefully appointed with traditional, handwoven Balinese songket and ikat
textiles made by women from the northeast mountainous areas.
Perched up on the hillside on the opposite side of the property are 11 addi‑
tional Sleeping Suites built as a second stage intended to host retreat groups.
Designed to feel like a meditation village, these suites are more intimately
positioned with ponds connecting and traditional pitched rooflines. Each Sleep‑
ing Suite features a private plunge pool and covered terrace overlooking the
expansive gardens and organic rice fields. Bamboo “skin” creates the exte‑
rior façade from the outside, and inside, natural furnishings with hand‑woven
Balinese songket textiles add a colorful touch of artistic tradition to the more
minimalistic architecture and interior design languages.
The wellness strategies for the Sleeping Suites include access to the
healing five elements, healing waters, forest bathing, large canopy roofs for
shading over relaxation terraces, use of local, natural, and non‑toxic materials
and recycled timbers for flooring, access to abundant natural night and cross
ventilation, and access to organic herb gardens. The intended wellness ben‑
efits are environmental and physical (natural architecture immersed in nature
by the riverside with limited light pollution for enhancing restorative sleep and
circadian rhythm balance, among others), mental, and emotional (reducing
stress, improving positive outlook, and calming of the nervous system through
connecting with the greater, natural ecosystem).

FIVELEMENTS TESTIMONIALS

Following are a few testimonials from industry leaders, guests, media visits,
and guestbook comments for experiences of the Fivelements Retreat:

Fivelements Retreat Bali was decades ahead in its quest to incorporate bio‑
philic design principles that are purposely intended to nurture the relation‑
ships between humans and nature — relationships that heal and sustain

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life itself. In fact, the Fivelements philosophy became the definition of a 8.9
Fivelements
new eco‑luxury that positively impacted seven dimensions of wellness:
Sleeping Suites
physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social and environmental, all thought‑ a) Pool Suite,
fully crafted from traditional building materials and guided by local wisdom b) Riverfront Suite,
to create an innovative, timeless architecture that promotes well‑being.3 c) Suite Interior,
d) Ensuite
Fivelements Retreat Bali’s innovative design merges the rich herit‑
(Source:
age of traditional Balinese architecture with contemporary eco‑conscious Fivelements)
elements. This synthesis not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also
cultivates a nurturing environment, seamlessly integrating natural materi‑
als, expansive open spaces, and verdant surroundings. The result is a sanc‑
tuary that not only inspires serenity and mindfulness but actively fosters
holistic healing for those seeking profound well‑being.4
Fivelements is an example of the future living on with nature in an
environment that has comfort, style, and an intimate connection to the
natural surroundings of Bali’s nature and traditions.5
I loved my stay at Fivelements every time I can be there! It is really
the perfect home away from home to just release and let go and ground.6
Most apparent, is the deep respect that Fivelements holds not only
for the environment but also for the local people, their traditions, customs,
and religion.7
Designed in accordance with eco‑conscious principles, ancient
Balinese architectonic guidelines, and sacred geometry, Fivelements
embraces an authentic approach to healing and wellness.8

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WELLNESS PLANNING AND DESIGN STRATEGIES

There were several primary design determinants that included personal well‑
ness, social harmony, sustainability with a net‑positive impact, and regenera‑
tive design. At the entrance to the property is located a Balinese temple shrine
marking sacred sensibilities to the property. The Ayung River encircles the
retreat to the south and west forming a tranquil and beautiful boundary. A
spot in the site was discovered as a positive energy vortex and the Sacred
Space was consecrated to protect it and define it as a healing and meditation
circle accessible to guests on their healing journey as a place for meditation,
number 3 on the master plan, Figure 8.2b. Another place within the retreat is
a healing fire ceremony site, known as the Agni (meaning fire) Hotra (meaning
healing), number 4. Nearly all the Sleeping Suites, Wellness Suites and the
restaurant are positioned facing the river with a five‑to‑ten‑meter setback. This
provides guests with direct access to the wild riverbank while maintaining a
conservation zone and enhancing the cool, positive air that flows up from the
river across the land.
The light design was carefully curated using warm white and orange light‑
ing synchronized according to circadian rhythm and the natural lighting cycle.
Low‑lit Balinese lanterns with customized LEDs were designed and placed
along the pathways with customized speakers hidden inside piping kundalini
mantra music and nature instrumentals throughout the property and public
spaces. Instrumentals with binaural beats in the lower beta frequencies (14–
30Hz) were intentionally selected to reduce stress, enhance focus, creativity
and mood, and aid with relaxation and sleep. Overall, the music selection and
positioning along pathways and inside public spaces were designed to create
a calm, positive, and nurturing soundscape, gently accompanying guests, visi‑
tors, and staff alike in a harmonious “journey to wellness” seamlessly transi‑
tioning between spaces.
The project focuses on reducing total energy consumption, water sav‑
ings, and air‑cooling efficiencies. Following a study on baseline consumption
budgeting, the design team was able to achieve a 42% reduction of peak load
from the baseline study through sourcing more efficient appliances, designing
more efficient systems, and 95% reduction of lighting energy budget through
a customized LED light system. This system, combined with the in‑house audio
system and telephones, was designed to offer remote access through the
Internet, allowing energy use to be closely monitored. Water use and sav‑
ings are also a major priority for Fivelements. Water pressure throughout the
property is set at a maximum flow, all wastewater is treated according to
international standards through the constructed wetlands, and then recycled
for use as irrigation water. Rainwater is harvested and stored on site in catch‑
ment ponds. Cooling was another area where reductions were made. Through
passive cooling architecture and planning, less than 30% of the project building
footprint is air conditioned, and appropriately sized “inverter” AC systems and
low energy sycamore fans were chosen to move and cool air using less energy.
The site has been designed to provide access to the medicinal gardens healing
herbs for use in the wellness cuisine and treatment preparations.

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FIVELEMENTS SUMMARY

The Fivelements Retreat Bali offers an in‑depth look at a purpose‑built, tradition

reinterpreted wellness architecture sited in a lush and beautiful rural setting.
While it is not a representation of an everyday setting all over the world, it does
express enhanced wellness design principles, forms, and functions. Highly
present are the physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and environmental
benefits. Evident are strategies of human‑oriented design, trails, and forest
bathing, pedestrianization, meeting places and socialization, gardens and nutri‑
tion, abundant access to nature, limited night pollution, and the presence of
thin places.
Wellness tourism is directly associated with maintaining and enhancing
personal health and well‑being. What is important about these destinations are
the host of wellness health‑forward programs as well as the purposeful envi‑
ronments designed to support these activities. Fivelements exemplifies both
the programs and environments in abundant and impactful ways in support of
wellness experiences. Although not as intentional or dramatic, many wellness
principles and design elements can be applied to everyday situations. Direct
visual and non‑visual contact with nature and the elements, encouragement
of indoor‑outdoor living, use of natural and non‑toxic materials, healthy cuisine,
and inspiring sacred moments can be applied to normal living conditions. City
expansion, new developments, and architectural projects can integrate well‑
ness principles into the planning and design process.
This case study illustrates the eliciting qualities of wellness design inclu‑
sive of the cluster, retreat, or compound scale of application. Achieving high‑level
wellness requires the preventative aspects of disease, disability, and social
breakdowns, and requires more than overcoming “un‑wellness.” High‑level
wellness includes maintaining balance, purposeful direction, and maximizing
potentials that are easily accessible and can be woven into everyday life.9 This
includes support of the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, social, financial,
and environmental pillars of wellness. The environment, whether it is at the

8.10
Fivelements Retreat
Bali River Site
(Source:
Fivelements)

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architecture or community scale, is critical in eliciting positive wellness benefits

and outcomes. Fivelements Retreat Bali is a compelling example of wellness
retreat functions and architecture. Its lush grounds are an incredible backdrop to
the plant‑based wellness cuisine restaurant, the Balinese healing and wellness vil‑
lage, treatment rooms, outdoor healing baths, healing pools, and the eco‑bamboo
villas with terraces overlooking the Ayung River. This is a quintessential example
of the seamless integration of outdoor and indoor wellness design. Table 8.1 lists
the wellness strategies employed at Fivelements Retreat Bali.
Each of the wellness benefit pillars are present at Fivelements and serve
as a principal function and high impact facilitator for the retreat. A listing of the
Fivelements’ wellness strategies follows:

1 Human‑oriented retreat design – master planning according to human propor‑

tion of the head, body, and feet, and human‑centered wellness design com‑
mitted to biophilia concepts, maintaining exceptional air quality, promoting a
zero‑waste mindset, measuring and minimizing resource use, and respecting
the local community and traditions.
2 Mixed use retreat functions – provides diversity of nutritional/physical, mental,
emotional, social, spiritual, environmental, and economic opportunities and
benefits.
3 Integrated wellness activities – retreats and à la carte offerings, blending
holistic wellness consultations, Balinese healing and wellness treatments,
plant‑powered nutrition and trainings, and transformative sacred arts sessions
in rejuvenation, cleansing, and restorative programs as well as providing forest
bathing opportunities by the river.
4 Encouragement of physical activity – both inside the property through an array
of yoga, marital arts, and movement practices as well as in and around the
property pathways.
5 Trails and forest bathing opportunities – provide easy access to restful seating,
healing baths, and mindful walks along the Ayung River.
6 Pedestrianization with no automobile traffic – offering pathways throughout the
property, river paths, small country roads through the traditional village and rice
fields nearby.
7 Multiple meeting places for socialization – gardens, sacred spaces, restau‑
rants, and multi‑purpose buildings offering opportunities to connect for spiritual
renewal, individual and group healing activities, and healthy dining spaces and
terraces.
8 Other shared elements – seating areas in the restaurant, healing village, pool
areas, ceremony spaces, medicinal gardens, gym, and other gardens and
greenspaces.
9 Encouraging indoor‑outdoor spaces – the entire site is designed in tropical
indoor‑outdoor style with covered terraces, balconies, healing bathhouses, and
gardens.
10 Promoting nudge designs – where planning and architectural elements, such
as bridges, stairs, corridors, outdoor spaces, and connecting paths, are encour‑
aged through design.

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11 Access to organic gardens – onsite medicinal herb gardens for use in t­ reatments
and cuisine and access to organic gardens nearby within a 0–20‑kilometer
radius.
12 Access to healthy nutrition – offering an innovative culinary journey through
plant‑based, regenerative cuisine at every meal, retreats, workshops, and
trainings.
13 Access to healing elements – materials, treatments, and cuisine made from
blending earth, water, fire, air, and ether, the five elements.
14 Particular access to healing waters – activation of the Ayung riverfront with
nearly all buildings facing the river, leisure, and watsu healing pools and natural
fishponds.
15 Abundant access to nature – on physical, visual, and non‑visual levels.
16 Large canopy roofs for shading – in all private and public spaces, outdoor seat‑
ing and relaxation with fresh air is encouraged while protected from UV rays.
17 Abundant uses of natural light and ventilation – cross‑ventilation design for all
structures, open air and glass to access and maximize natural light resources.
18 Limited night light pollution – utilization of low LED lighting and low lantern
lighting for pathways.
19 Integration of living color – all buildings are open air or with glass to enhance
the integration and access to the flora and fauna surrounding the property and
along the river.
20 Eurythmy of architectural forms – encouraging balance of architecture propor‑
tions according to ancient wisdom and practices.
21 Building with sustainability toward net‑positive impact – environmental aware‑
ness through workshops and trainings, social sustainability through encourag‑
ing ongoing dialogue with the local village as well as events with international
guests, such as TEDx, social impact programs and partnerships, and minimiz‑
ing construction impact and offsetting with positive action programs, such as
replanting coral in the seas, supporting and participating in local community
ceremonies, and supporting Friends of the Wildlife Foundation, among others.
22 Use of local, natural, and non‑toxic materials – bamboo, alang alang thatch
roofing, stones and recycled timber flooring, and rattan and locally sourced
recycled wood used for many interior furnishings.
23 Response to ecological flows – planning with minimal disturbance to the
pre‑existing aesthetics and natural ecosystems and designating a 5–10‑meter
building setback to maintain the river form and flow and minimize erosion,
plus many buildings face the river to enhance cooling and access to a natural,
healing water source.
24 Biophilic design – biophilic principles employed throughout from acoustics,
ventilation, orientation and geometry, materials, illumination, scents, and
aesthetics.
25 Passive cooling design – employed on many buildings to move warm air out
and enhance fresh air circulation.
26 Utilization of natural and renewable resources – locally sourced bamboo, alang
alang thatched roofing and recycled timbers, and connection to wetlands for

230 ◻
 CASE STUDY 2 – FIVELEMENTS RETREAT BALI ◼

FIVELEMENTS
STRATEGIES
1 Human‑Oriented Retreat X X X X X X X
Design
2 Mix Use Retreat Functions X X X X X X
3 Integrated Wellness X X X X X X
Activities
4 Encouraging Physical X X X X
Activity
5 Trails and Forest Bathing X X X X X X
6 Pedestrianization & No X X X X X X X
Traffic
7 Meeting Places and X X X X X X X
Socialization
8 Other Shared Elements X X X X X X X
9 Indoor‑Outdoor Spaces X X X X X X
10 Nudge Design Strategies X X X X X
11 Access to Organic Garden X X X X X X X
12 Healthy Nutrition X X X X X X X
13 Access to Healing Elements X X X X X
14 Access to Healing Waters X X X X X X X
15 Abundant Access to Nature X X X X X X X
16 Large Canopy Roofs X X X X X
17 Access to Abundant X X X X X X X
Natural Light
18 Limited Night Light Pollution X X X X X X X
19 Integration of Living Color X X X
20 Eurythmy of Architctural X X X X X
Form
21 Building Sustainably X X X X X
22 Use of Natural & Non‑Toxic X X X X X
Materials
23 Response to Ecological X X X X X
Flows
24 Biophilic Design X X X X X X X
25 Passive Cooling Dsign X X X X X
26 Natural & Renewable X X X X X
Resources
27 Economic Benefits X X X X
28 Local Wisdom X X X X X X
29 Sacred Moments and Thin X X X X X X X
Places
WELLNESS BENEFITS Physical Mental Emotional Spiritual Social Financial Environmental
Table 8.1
Fivelements Retreat Wellness Design Strategies
© Phillip James Tabb, 2023

231 ◻
◼ CASE STUDY 2 – FIVELEMENTS RETREAT BALI

landscape irrigation and onsite organic composting. A waste management and

recycling system has also been designed.
27 Economic benefits – increased land values, increased ROI from the accommo‑
dation rentals, restaurant, treatments and classes/sessions/retreats and events
for healing and wellness, increased ROW with realized wellness outcomes
for guests through life-changing program experiences and for employees and
investors through their shared efforts living and supporting the vision and mis‑
sion, positive wellness branding and brand equity, marketing and public rela‑
tions, efficiency from energy reduction – LED customized lighting and water
use especially.
28 Local wisdom – inspiring philosophies, planning, and building methods.
29 Sacred moments and thin places – created with nature on meandering path‑
ways, the riverfront, and at meditation and prayer sites.

As can be seen in Table 8.1, the Fivelements Retreat Bali wellness strategies
are listed indicating the physical, mental, emotional, social, financial and envi‑
ronmental, and spiritual benefits.

Embodying the Balinese philosophy, Tri Hito Karana, Fivelements’ architecture

represents a balance between humans, the natural world, and the spiritual
realm, and offers a profound connection to the island’s heart and soul.10

NOTES
1. Idedhyana, Ida Bagus; Sueca, Ngakan Putu; Dwijendra, Ngakan Ketut Acwin; Wibawa, Ida
Bagus Wira, The Function and Typology of the Padmasana Tiga Architecture in Besakih
Temple (Bali Indonesia), Udayana University, Journal of Social and Political Sciences, Asian
Institute of Research, pp. 291–299.
2. Wijaya, Made (White, Michael), Architecture of Bali: A Sourcebook of Traditional and Mod‑
ern Forms (Singapore: Archipelago Press, 2002), p. 54.
3. Testimonial by Susie Ellis, Chairman and CEO, Global Wellness Institute.
4. Testimonial by Vivienne Tang, CEO, Destination Deluxe.
5. Posted of TripAdvisor about the Fivelements Retreat.
6. Testimonial by a visitor to Fivelements.
7. Testimonial by a visitor in 2010 to Fivelements.
8. Testimonial by a visitor in 2013 to Fivelements.
9. Dunn, Halbert L., High Level Wellness (Arlington, VA: Beatty, 1971), pp. 4–7.
10. Arthana, Ketut, Arte Architects & Associates, Bali, Indonesia (Accessed 30 January 2024).

232 ◻
Summary

It is clear that there are many benefits to wellness planning and design most of
which are confirmed by evidence‑based research and occur at both personal and
planetary levels. Important to the effectiveness of the design strategies are the fre‑
quency (how often), duration (how long), accessibility (how easy), and quality (how
much or how intense) of wellness experiences. How they promote preventative and
wholistic activities, resiliency, positive lifestyle choices, and changes to the physical
environment will ultimately be the greatest challenges. This entails addressing a
multi‑scalar approach to wellness across the entirety of the built environment from
regions and cities to neighborhoods and buildings. Key to the success of a wellness
future is the actualization of comprehensive approaches to preventative wellness
design that encourage positive lifestyle choices. It is encouraging to know that this
work is achievable. The many planning and design strategies, and the wellness ben‑
efits they elicit discussed throughout the chapters of this book, are concrete illus‑
trations of this success. The case studies of Mado neighborhood and Fivelements
Retreat Bali are excellent testaments to powerful wellness narratives and integrated
design solutions. Following is a listing of wellness planning and design objectives:

1. First is that wellness architecture and urban design solutions are wholistic and
comprehensive.
2. Second is that wellness architecture and urban design solutions are realized
across multiple scales of the built environment.
3. Third is that wellness architecture and urban design solutions are easily acces‑
sible and within reach.
4. Fourth is that architecture and urban design solutions have the ability to be
experienced through everyday activities.
5. Fifth is that wellness architecture and urban design solutions strive for high
impact elicitors of the seven pillars of wellness benefits as well as high‑level
wellness.
6. Sixth is that wellness architecture and urban design solutions are permanent
and long lasting.
7. Seventh is that wellness architecture and urban design solutions encourage
and help facilitate positive lifestyle choices.

233 ◻
Suggested Reading

1. Allen, Summer (2018), The Science of Awe, https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/images/uploads/

GGSC‑JTF_White_Paper‑Awe_FINAL.pdf
2. Balboni, Tracy A, Tyer J. VanderWheele, & Stephen Doan‑Soares, Spirituality in Serious
Illness and Health, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article‑abstract/2794049
3. Baum, Fran & Matthew Fisher, Critical Public Health, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/
abs/10.1080/09581596.2010.503266
4. Buettner, Dan, Blue Zones: 9 Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived
the Longest (National Geographic, 2012).
5. Coates, Gary, Erik Asmussen, architect (Stockholm, Sweden: Byggforlaget, 1997).
6. Dunn, Halbert, High Level Wellness (Pitman, New Jersey: Charles B. Slack Publisher,
1977).
7. Ehrenfeld, John R., Sustainability by Design (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2008).
8. Global Wellness Institute, What is Wellness?, https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/
what‑is‑wellness/
9. Global Wellness Institute, Wellness Architecture and Design Initiative 2023 Trends,
https://globalwellnessinstitute.org/global‑wellness‑institute‑blog/2023/08/07/
wellness‑architecture‑design‑initiative‑2023‑trends/
10. Heschong, Lisa, Visual Delight in Architecture: Daylight, Vision, and View (London, UK:
Routledge, 2021).
11. Kaplan, R. & S. Kaplan, The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective (Cam‑
bridge, MA: Cambridge University Press, 1989).
12. Kellert, Stephen R., Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science and Practice of Bringing Build‑
ings to Life (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons, 2008).
13. Keltner, Dacher, Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform
Our Lives (New York, NY: Penguin Press, 2023).
14. Kopec, Dac, Person‑Centered Health Care Design (New York, NY: Routledge, 2021).
15. Louv, Richard, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature‑Deficit Disorder
(Chapel Hill, NC: Algonquin Books, 2008).
16. Massy, Charles, Call of the Reed Warbler: A New Agriculture, A New Earth (White River
Junction, VT: Chelsea Green Publishing, 2018).
17. McEwen, Bruce, Stress andYour Body, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TUDwXPq67k
18. Olszewska‑Guizzo, Agnieszka, Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative
Landscapes (London, UK: Routledge, 2023).
19. Positive Psychology, What is Social Wellbeing? 12+ Activities for Social Wellness,
Accessed June 1, 2023), https://positivepsychology.com/social‑wellbeing/
20. Roberts, Kay & Cheryl Aspy, Development of a Serenity Scale, https://www.researchgate.
net/publication/15347724_Development_of_the_Serenity_Scale
21. Spiegel, Ross & Dru Meadows, Green Building Materials: A Guide to Product Selection
and Specification (New York, NY: Wiley & Sons, 1999).

235 ◻
◼ SUGGESTED READING

22. Swarbrick, Margaret, Mapping Mental Health: Dr. Swarbrick & The Eight Wellness
Dimensions, https://alcoholstudies.rutgers.edu/mapping‑mental‑health‑dr‑swarbrick‑
the‑eight‑wellness‑dimensions/
23. Travis, John, Illness and Wellness Continuum, 1972, https://www.houseofhealth.co.nz/
wellness‑continuum‑blog‑1‑physical‑health/
24. Tabb, Phillip, Thin Place Design: Architecture of the Numinous, https://www.annuity.org/
personal‑finance/financial‑wellness/
25. Wilson, Alex, Passive Survivability, Accessed July 11, 2013, https://www.buildinggreen.
com/op‑ed/passive‑survivability
26. VanderWeele, Tyler, Spirituality Linked with Better Health Outcomes, Patient Care, https://
www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press‑releases/spirituality‑better‑health‑outcomes‑
patient‑care/
27. Zorn, Justin & Leigh Marz, Golden: The Power of Silence in a World of Noise (New York,
NY: Harper Wave, 2022).

236 ◻
Index

Note: Bold page numbers refer to figures.

absenteeism 23, 40–41, 53, 61, 73 benefit pillars 9, 23–24, 47, 51, 78, 204, 206, 229
accessibility xxviii, 24, 44, 53–54, 87, 157, 163, biodiversity xxv, 8, 13, 23, 43–45, 53, 62, 71, 81,
169, 207, 233 94–95, 106, 151, 158, 162–163
acoustic ecology 166 biophilia xxvii, 5, 34, 39, 43, 58, 66, 100, 152, 173,
addictions 23, 73 229
affordable xx, 14–15, 42, 53, 81, 86, 116, 176, blue spaces 6, 12, 34, 80, 123, 154–155, 156, 168,
180–182 181, 208
afforestation 153, 162–163, 170 blue zones 5, 17, 22, 64
aging in place xxi, 7, 89, 185, 194, 198 boundaries 53, 91, 99, 123, 143, 155
agriculture 12, 14, 39, 74–76, 91, 94–95, 98, 100, branding xxiii, 23, 41, 53, 61, 92, 208, 210, 232
108, 142, 152, 162, 184, 187, 206–207 Buettner, Dan 5, 17, 22, 27, 31, 35, 202
Alexander, Christopher 130, 149 building envelope 103, 106–107, 121–122, 189
Allen, Summer 235 built environment xxvi, xxviii, 2, 6, 11, 22, 42–43,
Alzheimer’s disease 27, 120 46, 49, 70, 73, 91, 107, 168, 233
amnesia 57
anthropophony 166 calm 32, 47, 48, 51, 57–58, 112, 117, 123, 137, 139,
archetype xxii 141, 147–148, 155, 159, 195, 207, 209, 214,
architecture xxvi, 3, 10, 12, 25, 47, 50, 75, 77, 89, 227
97, 103, 110–112, 116, 121–122, 144, 152, cancer xxvi, 13, 16, 25–27, 51, 55, 92, 144, 147,
176, 187, 214, 218, 220, 225–226, 229 155, 159
Ardell, Donald 4, 8, 10–11, 18 carbon dioxide (CO2) 26, 60, 71, 98, 100, 162–163
arid climate 78 carbon sequestering 43–44, 53, 75, 80, 92, 94,
Asmussen, Erik 117, 128, 138, 150, 176, 187, 192, 100, 106, 130, 153, 157, 162–163, 170,
195 208–210
assisted living xxvi, 3, 198 cardiorespiratory fitness 26, 65
attention 3, 6, 8, 28–30, 43, 49, 56, 73, 117, 153, cardiovascular 27, 37, 43, 58, 62, 65, 89, 91–92, 99,
166, 215; focused 10, 28–29, 31, 52, 56, 155, 159, 165–166, 223
108, 170; restoration 23, 43, 153, 171 Carson, Rachel 5
awe xxvi, 12, 21, 23, 35, 46–47, 50, 54, 63, 68, 73, casual collision/encounters 36, 42, 82, 88, 140,
118, 130, 161; emotions 48, 128, 141, 189; 153, 167
experiences 47, 48, 142, 199; walk 161 celestial 119, 126, 164, 208–210
ceremony 219, 227, 229
balance xxvi, 1–4, 8–9, 13, 137, 140, 151–152, chance encounters 61–62, 99, 187–188, 202, 205,
184–185, 204, 218, 220, 228 207, 209
Balinese healing 213, 219, 224, 229 choice architecture 111–112, 122
behavior xxviii, 2–5, 8, 10–11, 13, 20–23, 29–32, circadian rhythms 14, 23, 30, 65, 73, 109,
36, 43, 45–46, 54, 56–59, 82, 111, 140, 166; 125–128, 130, 136, 188, 225, 227
biospheric 23, 73; sedentary 24; social 26 circulation 13, 27, 75, 87, 104, 111–112, 119–120,
beneficence 23, 35–36, 47, 53, 57, 59, 66, 141 123, 143, 169, 181–182, 190–191, 192, 230

237 ◻
◼ INDEX

clean 3, 5–6, 20, 21, 23, 26, 43–45, 53, 55, 62, 80, emissions 5, 23, 44, 73, 77, 87, 97, 104, 132, 158,
108, 114–115, 122, 133, 153–154, 187 205
climate change xxv, xxvii, 5–6, 13, 22, 36, 43–44, emotion xx, 1–2, 9–11, 23, 28–29, 32–35, 37, 44,
53, 62, 70, 76–77, 98, 106, 114, 116, 133, 47–48, 52–53, 57–59, 63, 73, 114, 123,
163 133–134, 141, 147, 163, 165, 169, 189, 210,
climate xix, xxi, 5, 12, 14, 45, 49, 71, 74, 77–78, 231
98, 103–104, 105, 111, 121, 130–131, 142, emotional intelligence 32–33, 52, 56, 58, 66, 139
162 energy xxiii, 11–12, 15, 23, 25, 30, 33, 44, 52–53,
cognitive function 28–31, 51, 54, 58, 109, 122, 78–80, 95, 98, 104–109, 154, 122, 176,
130, 139, 169 188–189, 207–208, 218, 224, 227
color 58, 75, 77–78, 117, 119–120, 123, 125–128, enhanced perception 28, 48, 63
137–138, 139, 145, 147, 179, 192, 195, 208, Environmental Protection 109, 136
210, 221, 230 everyday xxviii, 1, 3, 10, 16, 20–22, 27, 32, 35–36,
community building 21, 37–39, 59, 96, 206 44, 98, 141, 145, 154, 167, 201, 108, 228,
constellating urbanism 84, 174, 211 233
continuum xxvii, 7–8, 9, 10, 95, 235 exercise xxvii, 6, 9, 10, 22, 24–27, 38, 140, 151,
cooperation 21, 29, 36, 56–57, 59, 63–64 223
cosmic narratives 47–48 existential questions 23, 47, 49–50, 54, 64, 69, 73,
Covid‑19 6, 37, 76, 125, 133, 141, 158 123, 139
creativity 10, 28, 31, 35, 42, 53, 139, 141, 147, experience xxi, xxvi, 1–3, 8, 12, 20–23, 31–33,
164–165, 217, 227 39–40, 43, 47–50, 54, 58, 63, 73, 110,
cross path circulation 191, 207 116–117, 126, 130, 141, 148, 161, 200, 202,
cross‑state retention 50 233
exurban xx, 90, 105
daylighting strategies 72, 108, 115, 122, 125, 127,
129, 145 family xx, 9, 11, 22, 29, 35, 38, 41–42, 87–88, 138,
death 4, 8–9, 16, 44, 49–50, 116, 155–156 145, 174–175, 182, 187
dementia 16, 119–120, 185, 196 farmette 175, 181, 183–184, 205
density gradient 181, 206, 209 farms 26, 95, 100, 117, 157, 182–183, 184, 207
density xxi, 13–14, 75–76, 78, 83, 85, 95–96, 128, fascination 23, 35, 47–48, 56, 63, 73, 113, 153
130, 142–144, 148, 159, 170, 175–176, 178, financial wellness xx, 9–10, 15, 23–24, 39–41, 42,
182–183, 188, 208, 209 51, 60–61, 73
design 130, 132–133, 135, 138, 142, 144–145, fitness xxviii, 5–7, 11, 14, 26–27, 39, 90, 191–192,
146–147, 151–152, 167, 169, 180–182, 185, 223
187–188, 193, 204, 206, 209, 213–215, 218, Fivelements Retreat 7, 213–215, 216–217,
221, 227–229, 231 218–219, 221–222, 223–224, 225
development 4–8, 13–15, 25, 52–53, 62, 71–72, focused attention 28, 29, 31, 52, 56, 108
74–75, 82–83, 85, 90, 99, 105, 153, 167, 173, food hub 80, 80, 94
175–176, 180, 183, 187, 190, 206, 209, 228 foodscaping 157, 171
Dickson, Despommier 95, 102 forest xxi, 6, 22, 44, 46, 75, 94, 100, 106–107, 130,
direction 10–11, 34, 40, 61, 64, 103, 111, 123, 131, 135, 153, 160, 162–163, 170, 181, 185, 188,
215, 218, 220, 228 200, 208; bathing 160–161, 166–169, 181,
disasters xix, xxvii, 3, 6, 11–12, 14, 36, 43–45, 200, 205, 207, 209, 224, 225, 228–229,
52–55, 62, 75–76, 98, 114–116 231; restoration 24, 43, 54, 80, 154–156,
disease xxvii, 1–4, 8, 26–27, 37–38, 54–55, 92, 158–159, 170
134, 228 form xix, 12, 24, 34, 42–43, 52, 77–78, 87, 96,
Dunn, Halbert xxv, 4, 7, 10–11, 100 103–104, 121, 133, 174–176, 177, 181, 187,
195, 205, 228, 230–231
East Africa Savannah 132 free‑range kids 101, 200, 202–203, 211
edible landscapes 75, 151, 157–158, 168–169, 197, free‑range parenting 88, 200–201, 208, 210
207, 210
Ehrenfeld, John 70, 100, 107 gardens 14–15, 26, 71, 75, 91, 94–95, 110, 144,
eldercare 197 157–158, 159, 200, 207–208, 222, 225,
elicitors 42–43, 47, 73–74, 89, 111, 125, 233 228–229

238 ◻
 INDEX ◼

generosity 21, 23, 35–36, 47, 58, 63–64, 143–145 Jarna Community 117, 128, 138
genius loci 38 Jones, E. Fay 135–136
geometry 31, 98, 116–117, 119, 154, 164, 173,
175–176, 214, 221, 226, 230 Kaplan, R. and S. Kaplan 91, 102, 152–153
geothermal 44, 53, 62, 79–80, 108, 154, 189, 195, Kellert, Stephen 5, 31, 133, 149
208 Keltner, Dasher 117, 141, 235
Gesler, Wilbert 64, 167
Global Wellness Institute xxiv, xxx, 2, 6, 10, 39, labyrinth 119, 144, 164, 182–183, 207
140 land 173–174, 176, 180–184, 187–188, 195, 200,
greenspaces 42, 62, 71, 76, 90–91, 96, 98, 100, 208, 215, 218
151, 153, 197, 200, 207, 229 land art 75, 163–165, 167, 170, 187, 197, 201
greenways 91, 151–152, 168 land use 14, 75, 78, 81–83, 91, 98–99, 174, 176,
179, 209
hamlet xx, xxi, 7, 13, 84, 95–96, 113, 173, 179, 186, landscapes 153, 168–169, 178–179, 185, 197, 202,
188, 197, 204, 210 210, 214, 232
happiness 2, 11, 27, 32, 35, 47, 57, 89, 111, 156, life purpose 9–10, 34, 36, 50, 53
165 life satisfaction 1, 8, 10–11, 21, 23, 34, 36, 41,
harmony 3–4, 173, 214–215, 227 50–51, 53, 56, 58, 64, 68, 73, 87–88, 119
healing xxvi, 2, 4, 15, 23, 39, 43, 50–51, 58, 73, lifestyle choices xxv, xxvii, 5, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 22,
89, 103, 113–114, 123, 125, 142, 139, 151, 38, 43, 51, 70, 233
154, 158–160, 167, 207, 213–214, 217–219, living color 125–126, 137–138, 139, 145, 210, 221,
224–225, 227, 229 130–231
healthcare xxvi, 1, 3–5, 14, 77, 82, 90, 119–121, longevity 5, 11, 21–22, 25, 31, 34, 36,
144, 158–159, 188, 213 38–39, 127
heart health xxvii, 25–26, 34, 52, 55, 142 Louv, Richard 5, 171, 200
Heschong, Lisa 129, 235
Hettler, William 4, 22 Mado xx, xxi, 7, 112, 173–180, 181, 184–186,
high functioning 11 187–189, 192–193, 196–197, 199–200,
High Line Park 79, 81 202–203, 204–206, 233
high‑level wellness xxv, 4, 7–8, 9, 10–11, 13, 18, Maggie Centres 50, 144, 159–160
101, 121, 201, 228, 233 materiality 43, 58, 121, 125, 134, 136, 142–143,
holiness 63 145
holistic health 2, 39, 60, 72 maximizing potential xxv, 9–11, 41,
hospice xxvi, 3 206, 228
hospitals xxvi, 1, 3, 111, 119, 121, 142, 159 Mayo Clinic 5, 32, 66
meaning 1–2, 4, 9–10, 22–23, 31, 34–39, 47,
immune system 22, 26–27, 32, 45, 52, 55, 113, 49–51, 54, 73, 116–117, 137, 184
130, 160–161 medicine 72, 89, 117
indoor air pollution 125, 127, 147, 149 meeting places 87, 147, 190–191, 201, 205, 207,
indoor‑outdoor 12, 75, 95–96, 103–104, 107, 209, 228–229, 231
109–110, 114, 121–122, 142 mental health 5, 10, 13, 20, 28, 31–33, 37, 40, 47,
inspiration 47, 127–128, 135, 144, 183, 213, 215 54, 68, 87, 92, 103, 136, 140, 151, 155, 161,
instoration 156 163, 166
insulation 107, 126 migration xix, xxv, 3, 11, 45, 70, 105
intention 13, 25, 50, 71–72, 75, 159, 164, 167, 173, modernity 50
187, 191, 213–214, 217 mood 21, 23, 32–33, 35, 37, 43, 49, 51–52, 57,
inter‑generational xx, 87, 185, 197, 206; cross xxi; 73, 99, 109, 119, 130, 137, 142, 157, 161,
trans 8 166, 227
interior xx, 12–14, 54, 74–75, 116, 121, 125, 127, mountains 89, 113, 117, 135, 218, 220
129, 144–145, 152, 166–167, 182, 194, 206, Murcutt, Glen 131
214, 221, 225–226, 230 mystery 35, 49, 56, 119, 160, 214
intimacy 113, 141
isolation 8–9, 12, 27, 35–36, 49, 87, 125, 132, 138, National Institute of Health 16, 25–26, 28–29,
141, 142, 152 38, 49

239 ◻
◼ INDEX

natural disasters xxv, 3, 6, 11, 12–14, 36, 38, 160, 187, 190, 192, 207, 214, 221, 223,
43–45, 51–53, 70, 75–76, 91, 98, 105, 114, 228–229, 231
133 pilgrimage 144
natural ventilation 104, 109, 114–115, 125, pillars xx, 9–10, 22–24, 47, 51, 54, 78, 114, 145,
130–131, 133, 145 204, 206, 208, 225, 228, 233
nature 2–3, 5, 12, 22, 27, 31, 34, 43, 45, 51, 53, place xix, xxi, xxviii, 1, 8, 11, 13, 20, 24, 27, 31, 33,
70, 77, 81, 86–87, 91, 97, 103, 108, 110–111, 38–39, 45–50, 53, 63, 74–75, 78, 83, 87–88,
114, 121, 125–127, 132, 145, 152–153, 91, 96, 110, 113, 117, 125, 130, 134, 143,
160–161, 167, 182–183, 187, 191, 197, 200, 154, 158–161, 167, 175, 181, 183, 188–191,
206, 214–215, 224–226, 228 198–199, 202, 204–205, 209, 214–215,
nature deficit disorder 152, 161, 200 217–218, 227–228
neighborhood 156–157, 167, 173–176, 177–179, placelessness 51, 53
180–182, 184–185, 187–188, 197, 202, planetary wellness xxv, 11, 15, 44
205–208, 233 pollution xxvii, 5, 10, 12, 23, 43, 53, 70, 76, 84,
networks 4, 25, 37–38, 54, 71, 82, 86, 91, 97–98, 89, 134, 166; air 6, 13, 20–21, 44, 73, 86,
153, 190 88, 106, 108, 125, 152; night 205, 208, 210,
New Urbanism 81, 90, 95, 173 225, 228, 230–231; water 6, 12, 70
Nightingale, Florence 3 present centeredness 33, 52, 58
noise 12, 31, 44, 61–62, 87, 89, 99, 106, 108–109, presenteeism 23, 40–41, 53, 61, 73
152–153, 165–166, 170, 191, 236 prevention 2, 4–6, 8, 17, 25, 27, 36, 39–40, 136
nudging 111–112, 122, 192 principles xix, 1, 71, 75, 91, 94, 107–108, 117, 125,
nursing homes xxvi, 3 141, 152, 187, 195, 206, 214, 225–226, 228
nutrition xxv, 4–6, 8–11, 17, 23, 25–27, 38–39, pro‑environmental 12, 20, 22, 34, 43, 45, 52, 54,
44–45, 52, 70, 72, 80, 84, 95, 110, 157, 205, 68, 73, 79, 82, 87, 95, 106, 108–109, 121,
210, 222, 229 145, 156, 161, 167
pro‑individual 12, 20–21, 44–45, 52, 54, 87, 97–98,
obesity 5–6, 13, 16, 23, 25–27, 50, 52, 54, 140, 121, 145, 153, 167
155, 158 pro‑social 12, 20–21, 23, 30, 32, 35, 37–38, 46,
office space 140–141 54, 73, 79, 83, 89, 91, 98, 121, 132, 145,
Olszewske‑Guizzo, Agnieszka 151, 161, 170 167, 181
omega form 175, 180 prospect 132–134, 145, 147
openspace 86–87, 90–93, 100, 173, 179, 182–185, psychological 2, 5, 11, 27, 34, 43–44, 49, 76, 103,
187–190, 197, 200–202, 205 107, 125, 134, 137, 151, 158–160
operational carbon 109 public health 4–6, 25, 39, 44–45, 53, 60, 74, 76,
orchards 157–158 80, 108, 116, 124, 152
oxidative stress 26–27, 52, 55 purposefulness 12, 22
oxygen 26, 56, 71, 110, 130, 160, 162
qualitative 33, 48, 141, 189
parking 13, 88, 96, 163, 179–182, 188, 207
parks 14, 27, 38, 71, 74–76, 82, 90–93, 95, 98, 100, real estate xxiv, xxvii, 5–6, 8, 14–15, 39, 60, 67, 72,
151–153, 163, 168, 174–175, 181–182, 197, 192, 210
199, 200–203 red list 108, 136, 147, 149
passive survivability 14, 62, 76, 80, 91, 103, 105, reforestation 75, 151, 162–163, 167, 170
108, 114–116, 121–122, 132–133 refuge xxi, 49, 53–54, 63, 92, 105, 126, 132–134,
pattern language 130, 149 145, 147, 159, 214
pedestrianization 46, 75–76, 81, 84–88, 89–90, 96, regenerative xx, xxiv, 23, 41–42, 53, 73, 80, 94,
99, 153, 173, 188, 190–191, 205, 207, 209, 108, 137, 213, 227, 230
228, 231 relaxation 49, 103, 128, 141, 151, 157, 166, 225,
petrichor 155 227, 230
photovoltaic 106, 108, 115, 126, 189, remembering 57, 188
195, 208 resilience xxvii, 12, 23, 28, 31–33, 51, 73, 80, 115,
physical 25–28, 30, 34–35, 37, 39, 42–45, 47, 200
50–52, 54–55, 73–74, 86–87, 92, 97, 103, respiratory function xxvii, 23, 26, 43–44, 52, 55,
109, 112, 120, 125, 137, 145, 151, 157, 159, 73, 76, 89, 91, 103, 151, 159

240 ◻
 INDEX ◼

retreat xxviii, 7, 89, 117, 185, 191, 193–194, spirituality 33, 47, 116
213–216, 217–219, 225, 227–228, 229, 233 Steele, John 33, 124
rewilding 163 stewardship 3–4, 22, 121, 168
rhythms 30, 120, 125, 130, 188, 208 sticky urbanism 46, 68, 94, 96, 188, 207, 209
ritual 116, 119 stormwater 12, 80, 114, 207–209
Roberts, Kay, Cheryl Aspy 33, 66, 141 strategy 71–72, 75, 86–87, 92, 94, 96, 110, 114,
ROI 40, 60, 108, 132 119, 126, 132, 152, 163, 205
rural 2, 4, 14, 87, 94, 96, 152, 158, 171, 175–176, streetscape 86–87, 92–93, 94, 170, 176, 190
181, 183, 217, 228 stress 5, 11, 21–25, 27, 29, 32, 34–35, 39–41,
rural‑urban transect 95–97, 98, 100, 178 43–44, 51–52, 55, 57, 65, 73, 80, 86, 103,
119, 133, 140, 142, 159, 164–166,
safety 5, 13, 36, 44, 46, 73, 108–109, 112, 115, 200, 223
119–120, 128, 132–133, 143, 160, 200, 207, sunshading 62, 108, 122, 128
210 surveillance 132–133, 157, 201, 207–208, 210
salutogenic 18, 146, 151 Swarbrick, Margaret 10, 18
sanctuary spaces 27, 49, 54, 125, 141–143, 145,
148, 166 temporal density 21, 23, 31, 33–34, 48, 52, 57–58,
sanitary awakening 4, 7 73, 117, 142, 159
Savannah, Georgia 92–93, 152–153 Tesla roof 195
sea level xix, 62 therapeutic environments 117, 138, 141–142, 146,
seasonal 27, 45, 53, 95, 109–110, 117, 128, 130, 158–159
152, 157 thin places 33–34, 47, 50, 125, 141, 143, 145,
seasonal living 45, 68 189–190, 199–200, 205, 208, 210, 228
sedentary behavior/lifestyle 24–25 third places 49, 68, 96
semantic processes 30–31, 137, 139 Thorburn transect 97, 100, 102, 175–176, 178–179,
sensory unity 48 197, 208
Serenbe Community xx, 7, 72, 111–112, 173–174, time 2–3, 6, 21, 26, 30, 33, 47–48, 70, 88,
211 107–109, 117, 125, 128, 138–139, 152, 211
serenity 23, 33, 47–48, 52, 54, 58, 63, 73, 110, tiny forests 75, 153, 171
142, 159, 199, 204, 226 tourism xxv, 5–6, 8, 39, 72, 92, 228
serenity scale 33, 235 traffic calming 111–112, 188, 191
serial position effect 120 transect 95–97, 100, 176, 178–179, 209
seven wellness pillars xx, 9–10, 16, 22–24, 51, transformation 35, 160, 213–215, 217
54, 233 transportation 12, 14, 75–77, 82, 111, 119, 128,
shading 78, 94, 96, 104, 107, 128, 225, 230 141, 156, 162–163, 166–167
sickness xxvii, 4 Travis, John xxv, 4, 7, 9, 235
sidewalks 27, 42, 81, 88, 91, 94, 112, 132, 157, trust 29, 33, 35–37, 39, 42, 47, 51, 56, 65
179, 188, 191, 197, 200, 206–207
silence 52, 110, 128, 142, 149 Ulrich, Roger 159, 171
Singapore 71–72, 95, 152–153 urban 43, 45–46, 54, 62, 70–72, 74–78, 81,
single use development xxi 83–86, 91, 94–95, 96–97, 98, 104, 105,
Six Senses Hotels 42 105, 132, 151–153, 155, 163, 166, 206,
Skaggs, Ronald L. xxix 208–209
sleep xxvii, 4, 9, 10, 22, 24–25, 27, 30, 32, 41, 45, urban design 13–14, 16, 25, 46, 70, 72, 74–77, 152,
52, 56, 88, 166, 223, 225–226, 227 208–209, 233
smart facades 103, 106–107, 121–122 urban growth 75, 170, 206; by addition xx, 75,
social wellness 9–10, 23, 35 84, 89, 92, 175–176; by multiplication xx,
solar access 75, 77, 96, 104, 23, 31, 187 75, 82–85, 89, 98–99, 174–175, 177, 179,
soundscapes 153, 165–166, 170, 172, 208 206, 209
Southworth, Michael 165 urbanism 84, 156, 165, 173–174
space 2, 8, 48, 96, 129, 131, 135, 137, 139–143,
144–145, 153–155, 156, 181–182, 215, valley 42, 72, 95, 175
217–219, 223 veil 33, 141, 144, 189
spatiality 144 verge 94, 96, 157

241 ◻
◼ INDEX

views 20, 42, 78, 81, 87, 106–109, 111–112, 116, 70–71, 72–75, 87, 105, 118, 121, 133, 136,
119, 126, 134–135, 139, 143–144, 158, 185, 184–185, 187–190, 192, 197, 200–201,
191, 195, 201, 225 203–206, 209, 213–215, 220–223, 224–225,
village 78, 80–81, 82–83, 90, 96–97, 113, 176, 182, 227–231, 233; Campus xxi, 185, 197–198;
185, 196, 223–224, 225, 229–230 Hub 194, 196
vitality 2–3, 8, 11, 45, 81, 88, 137, 158, 160, 174, 185 wetlands xxi, 71, 79, 91, 154, 175–176, 179, 181,
vulnerability xxv, 13, 15, 76, 87, 103–104, 138 184, 189, 199, 208, 227, 230
wild awe 161
walled‑in garden 12, 96, 110, 126–127, 178 Wilson, Alex 108, 115, 124, 133
wastewater 106, 189, 227 Wilson, Edward O. 5, 17
water xxv, 5–6, 12, 14, 23–24, 38, 43–44, 51, 70, windows 14, 43, 46, 72, 77, 109–111, 116, 128,
75–76, 79–80, 108–111, 113, 114–115, 123, 130–131, 132, 134–135, 144
133, 154–158, 160, 163–166, 175–176, 181, wonder 23, 35, 46–48, 50, 119, 128, 145, 151, 160,
187, 189, 192, 195, 206–207, 210, 215, 218, 201, 235
227 work productivity 40–42, 53, 61, 65, 73, 75, 106,
waterways 14, 53, 151, 154–156, 163, 168–169, 119, 130, 137, 141
175 workplaces 5–6, 14, 28, 41–42, 107, 130, 139–140,
well moments xxvi 141–142
well‑being 134–136, 139–140, 141–142, 145–147, World Health Organization xxv, 1, 13, 16,
151, 155, 158, 160, 167–168, 173, 178–179 28, 44
wellness continuum xxvii, xxx, 8–9, 10, 18 World Trade Center 113–114, 128
wellness xix‑xx, xxv‑xxviii, 1–9, 7, 9, 10–15, 16,
20–21, 22–24, 28, 31–35, 38–42, 51–53, Zorn, Justin 236

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