Picture the scene. Green trees swaying gently in the wind. A butterfly skipping over the grass before resting on a colourful flower. Fresh air circulating in your lungs. Pretty relaxing, don’t you think? Then cut to another reality. Diggers outside your apartment. Windows that take in the view of swirling dust. The only greenery in sight is a tired old pot plant. How do you feel now?
In the past few years the link between our health and environment has been well documented. Researchers are concluding that having some sort of “green” living space in your home or very near by is now imperative if we want to lead healthier, happier lives. A University of Rochester study reported that seeing images of nature reduces stress, and that a simple thing like a window overlooking greenery in a hospital room can help speed recovery.
The proof continues to mount. Earlier this year, the University of Exeter Medical School released research on the impact of green space in towns and cities, saying it could lead to significant and long-term improvements in mental health. The study followed more than 1,000 people over a five-year period, divided into two groups: those who moved to greener areas, and those who relocated to less leafy suburbs. Factors likely to make a dent on mental health, such as income, employment and education, were removed from the data. On average, those who relocated to greener environments experienced an immediate boost in their mental health – effects that lasted for at least three years after the move. But those who put down their roots in a built-up area suffered a drop in their mental well-being.
The findings are important, suggesting green space could provide the long-term key to healthier communities. It goes far beyond having a little parkland nearby, and urban planners are taking notice. “We have a real responsibility as planners and architects to ensure that we are creating liveable cities,” says Richard Fenne, senior associate in Dubai for the global architectural design and consulting firm Woods Bagot. “The places and spaces between buildings in cities are of critical importance to how we experience, enjoy and interact with the environments we live in. We rigorously study the way buildings engage with the public realm to create attractive and habitable communities.”
Take a rapidly growing city like Dubai or Abu Dhabi, and the importance of preserving green space becomes even more crucial, especially as most of us have to spend a large part of the year escaping the heat in air-conditioned environments – something that is clearly not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
“Thankfully, design has come so far these days that we can even take into account how a building is orientated in order to channel prevailing winds, shade, use of light – all these help us to create outdoor spaces with lower perceived external temperatures,” explains Fenne, who helped implement this “green” approach on the first residential development in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City – one of the world’s first low-carbon cities – which got the go-ahead in April.
It is not just architects and developers that have been praising the importance of a healthy, green living environment. Feng shui has evolved from the notion that people are affected, for better or for worse, by their surroundings. “The colour green and greenery are associated with the element of wood and feng shui is based on the balance of the five elements: water, wood, fire, earth and metal,” explains Cristiano Falconi, a Dubai-based feng shui consultant. “Not necessarily all spaces need wood energy and it is important to make sure the cycle of elements is balanced in order to maximise the impact on our health.
“On a practical level, an easy way of boosting the green health of your home is by adding a touch of green to your kitchen, or to a child’s room. If you also want to use it for the living or dining room, I would suggest a darker green. Having some plants in your home can definitely help you relax. What can really make the difference is having a green garden, as the strong energy from nature can really empower your home and your space.”
