Mental recovery in cities: supporting mental wellness in the urban environment through biophilic design and social integration

Abstract

Access to public green space is widely recognized as beneficial for improving mental wellness in urban environments. This is important because urban dwellers are constantly exposed to environmental stressors that negatively impact their mental well-being. According to Public Health Sudbury and Districts, residents who live in Northern Ontario are at a higher risk of developing poor mental wellness due to limited services. The city of Greater Sudbury, in Northern Ontario, is particularly interesting due to the ecological destruction brought on by the mining industry. The city has undergone a major regreening initiative, and although vegetation now occupies much of the landscape, disadvantaged neighbourhoods are still restricted in their access to nature. This thesis focuses on biophilic design principles to propose urban and architectural interventions at three nested scales that offer access to nature and seek to stimulate social interactions in order to support residents’ mental well-being.