Effects of Evocative Audio-Visual Installations on the Restorativeness in Urban Parks

Massimiliano Masullo, Luigi Maffei, Aniello Pascale, Vincenzo Paolo Senese, Simona De Stefano and Chi Kwan Chau
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Massimiliano Masullo: Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Luigi Maffei: Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Aniello Pascale: Department of Architecture and Industrial Design, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81031 Aversa, Italy
Vincenzo Paolo Senese: Department of Psychology, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Simona De Stefano: Department of Psychology, University of Study of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 81100 Caserta, Italy
Chi Kwan Chau: Department of Building Services Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Road traffic noise is responsible for several negative health effects for citizens in modern cities. Inside urban parks, which citizens use for social inclusion and cohesion, psychological and physical restoration, and physical activities, road traffic noise may significantly reduce the potential of these places to induce or enhance well-being. Although access restriction schemes and screens could be effective solutions to limit noise inside urban park areas, preserving their potential regenerative role may engender mobility, social, aesthetic, and architectural issues. Due to the positive effects that natural elements and water sounds can have on human perception, and based on the previous findings of the beneficial effects of audio-visual installations, this paper investigates the possibility of using audio-visual installations that simply evoke some natural features to improve the restoration of individuals inside urban parks. The study has been carried out using immersive virtual environments in two different experimental laboratory sessions in Hong Kong (China) and Aversa (Italy). The results showed that the positive effects provided by evocative installations were similar to those provided by traditional installations. Furthermore, the effects on the restoration increased as the installations became larger and included enveloping shapes. Furthermore, we found that the amount of evocative water installations’ material was responsible for changes in restoration. In contrast, the Chinese groups were less influenced by these installations.

Keywords: urban parks; restorativeness; informational masking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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