Abstract
The perception of the quality of green and blue spaces can be key in the relationship between a community and its local landscape (i.e., place identification). The lack of transdisciplinary training and social-specific education of landscape architects regarding the complexity of landscape as a participative cultural artefact limits reaching the general population. Bridging this gap of landscape and place identification and evaluation by a local community was the main objective of the present case study conducted at an abandoned spring and seasonal stream area in Rubí (Spain). The “Steinitz method” of landscape evaluation was used as a participatory method to activate community members to learn about and express their visual preferences regarding this neglected landscape. Bottom-up interventions applying an “urban acupuncture” approach in the area identified as the least attractive by the residents were co-designed and combined with a top-down restoration of a nearby, existing but derelict and hidden, spring. In addition, before and after planning and implementing the intervention, we conducted surveys about the community perception, sense of belonging and use of the space. We observed that the lack of awareness of the inhabitants about this spring was an obstacle preventing the community from embracing the potential for health and wellbeing presented by the spring and adjacent landscape. Following the work, the landscape saw increasing use, and the historic spring was brought back to life as a resource to help people to improve their health and wellbeing.
Highlights
Extensive literature from the last decade has provided increasing evidence of the health benefits of being exposed to natural environments, including nature in urban areas
The BlueHealth project, which ran from January 2016 to December 2020, aimed to understand the relationships between exposure to blue space and health and wellbeing, to map and quantify the public health and wellbeing impacts of changes to natural and artificial blue spaces and associated urban infrastructure in Europe, and to provide evidence-based information to policymakers on how to maximise the health benefits associated with interventions in and around aquatic environments [36]
The Can Moritz case study showed a relationship between landscape perception, the use of shared spaces and community wellbeing; the perceived low quality of the natural environment along the stream in which the Can Moritz spring is located was limiting the use of this common space
Summary
Extensive literature from the last decade has provided increasing evidence of the health benefits of being exposed to natural environments, including nature in urban areas. Research results are remarkably consistent in demonstrating an association between green spaces (trees, grass, forests and parks) and blue spaces (rivers, lakes, springs and the coast) and better mental health and wellbeing [1,2,3,4].
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