A Diagnostic Post-Occupancy Evaluation of the Nacadia® Therapy Garden

Ulrik Sidenius, Patrik Karlsson Nyed, Victoria Linn Lygum and Ulrika K. Stigsdotter
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Ulrik Sidenius: Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Patrik Karlsson Nyed: Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Victoria Linn Lygum: Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark
Ulrika K. Stigsdotter: Section for Landscape Architecture and Planning, Department of Geosciences and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 8, 1-26

Abstract: The design of the Nacadia® therapy garden is based on a model for evidence-based health design in landscape architecture (EBHDL). One element of the model is a diagnostic post-occupancy evaluation (DPOE), which has not previously been fully developed. The present study develops a generic DPOE for therapy gardens, with a focus on studying the effects of the design on patients’ health outcomes. This is done in order to identify successes and failures in the design. By means of a triangulation approach, the DPOE employs a mixture of methods, and data is interpreted corroborating. The aim of the present study is to apply the DPOE to the Nacadia® therapy garden. The results of the DPOE suggest that the design of the Nacadia® therapy garden fulfills its stated aims and objectives. The overall environment of the Nacadia ® therapy garden was experienced as protective and safe, and successfully incorporated the various elements of the nature-based therapy programme. The participants encountered meaningful spaces and activities which suited their current physical and mental capabilities, and the health outcome measured by EQ-VAS (self-estimated general health) indicated a significant increase. Some design failures were identified, of which visual exposure was the most noteworthy. The DPOE model presented appears to be efficient but would nonetheless profit from being validated by other cases.

Keywords: natural environments; landscape architecture; health design; evidence-based design; nature-based treatment; stress-related illnesses (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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