Every morning when I check my Google Reader, there is a new headline touting the another grassroots city green initiative. Urban farming in Detroit and urban orcharding in Philadelphia. Pocket parks—aka parklets— in San Francisco. The transformation of railways to greenways in Manhattan and bridges to greenways in DC. Beekeeping and a rooftop farm in [...]
While many of us would attest that going on a hike or a walk in a park with a friend makes us feel happier, improves our minds, and clears our heads, its exact benefits have rarely been the subject of scientific experiments or studies, until now. In its November 2012 issue, The Journal of Affective [...]
(From buildinggreen.com) What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “hospital”? A lush, sun-dappled garden buzzing with hummingbirds, or a cold, institutional interior? For those of us who thought of the latter, the therapeutic landscapingmovement is aiming for a change—and it’s finding more and more synergies with medical science, sustainable [...]
Did you know that city parks are economic assets that create value for cities and residents? Parks attract tourism, sustain real estate values, and increase public health and enjoyment. Since 2007, the Center for City Park Excellence has been helping quantify these benefits to determine the economic impact of city park systems. Our five most [...]
Why do certain places make us feel good? Anthropologists tell us we are hard-wired to respond to nature. People viscerally respond to the same relationships in architecture because they make us feel good. These sensations are known as biophilia. Terrapin Bright Green is pleased to release The Economics of Biophilia, a white paper that compiles [...]
Cities and nature don’t need to be opposite ends of the spectrum. A city that lets its residents experience the natural world is a happier, more productive city. The world’s urban population is ballooning. By 2050, 70% of humanity will live in cities. But that doesn’t mean that city dwellers have to be disconnected from [...]
