Urban Public Spaces as Restorative Environments: The Case of Ljubljana

Katarina Polajnar Horvat () and Daniela Ribeiro
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Katarina Polajnar Horvat: Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Daniela Ribeiro: Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Anton Melik Geographical Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 3, 1-11

Abstract: In this study, we used a survey to examine how urban residents in Ljubljana, Slovenia, value and use distinct urban public spaces. Specifically, we were interested to assess if urban public spaces in the city are used/perceived as restorative environments. To do this, we addressed the question: To what extent do restorative dimensions differ in nine selected urban public spaces, varying in size, design, amenities, number of visitors, and, most importantly, degree of naturalness? Results from survey allowed to determine to what extent the selected urban public spaces in Ljubljana differ in terms of their perceived degree of restoration. We hypothesized that urban public spaces with a higher degree of naturalness in the city have a higher restoration value than urban public spaces with a lower degree of naturalness. Surprisingly, the urban public space that was above average on most restorative dimensions was the Old Town. These results are somewhat at odds with the attentional restoration theory, which states that the combination of dimensions is most typical of natural environments. However, this could be an indicator of the effectiveness of the city’s current policies to improve the quality of life for its citizens.

Keywords: urban public spaces; green spaces; urban areas; restorative environments; well-being; isolation; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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