EXPLORING RESTORATIVE SPACES: ATTENTION RESTORATION AND BIOPHILIC DESIGN APPLIED TO A PUBLIC PARK

Although a large body of evidence has shown that contact with natural environments has a restorative effect on humans, there is still not a full understanding of which elements/features of nature most reinforce perceived restorativeness. Involving people in identifying these elements is essential within a Participatory Design framework. This study investigates perceptions of restorative spaces in the ‘Gole of Breggia’ Park, a protected area in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, valued for its geological, natural, and cultural significance. During a participatory design event, 51 stakeholders interested in the park’s preservation participated in seven focus groups. They are asked to identify the most restorative areas within the park and the characteristics that define them. Each group also geolocated these areas on a map to analyze their morphological and physical features. The obtained data will undergo a Content Analysis using the four dimensions of restorativeness identified by the Attention Restoration Theory (i.e., Fascination, Being-Away, Coherence, Scope) and the 15 Biophilic Design Patterns identified by Terrapin Bright Green (divided into Nature in Space, Nature Analogues, and Nature of the Space) as categories of analysis. This approach will allow us to determine which factors described by the two theoretical frameworks occur most frequently among the participants' responses and verify whether the same factors characterize clusters of restorative places. The findings will be shared with stakeholders to refine strategies for enhancing the park’s restorative potential. The findings highlight how participation approaches can inform strategies for valorizing natural spaces, fostering alignment between theoretical constructs and practical applications.