Iceland as a therapeutic landscape: white wilderness spaces for well-being

Kaelan Brooke,Allison Williams

doi:10.1007/s10708-019-10128-9

Abstract

Therapeutic landscapes are reputed to have a lasting repute for realizing healing. Traditional therapeutic landscapes have recognized natural environments as often sought after places for well-being. Such places promote wellness via their close encounter with nature, facilitating relaxation and restoration, and enhancing a combination of physical, mental, and spiritual healing. The physical environment of Iceland is explored through a case study approach, primarily employing data from the field notebooks of post-secondary students travelling in Iceland, as well as the authors’ ethnographic field experience in Iceland. Iceland is examined using both a traditional understanding of therapeutic landscapes, as well as the contemporary understanding of the coloured landscape. In addition to the colour white, reflected in the glacial ice, moving water, and geo-thermal steams, black and various other colours in combination are discussed.

Highlights

In recent years, the study of therapeutic landscapes has turned towards the categorization and analysis of landscapes based upon their colour, known as ‘palettes of place’. Foley (2015) outlines the various colours— green, blue, brown, and grey—that constitute therapeutic landscape research
Green spaces have been known to have positive effects on mental health and encourage physical activity for people of all ages (Windhorst and Williams 2015a, b; Keniger et al 2013; Gladwell et al 2013), while water-focused, blue spaces inspired the very concept of therapeutic landscapes (Gesler 1993, 1996)
The inhabitants of these northern climates live with a full range of seasonal colours, we know very little about the white landscapes that surround them for a substantial part of the year

Summary

Introduction

The study of therapeutic landscapes has turned towards the categorization and analysis of landscapes based upon their colour, known as ‘palettes of place’. Foley (2015) outlines the various colours— green, blue, brown, and grey—that constitute therapeutic landscape research. Foley (2015) outlines the various colours— green, blue, brown, and grey—that constitute therapeutic landscape research. Of all these colours, blue and green spaces have been studied most extensively. Green spaces have been known to have positive effects on mental health and encourage physical activity for people of all ages (Windhorst and Williams 2015a, b; Keniger et al 2013; Gladwell et al 2013), while water-focused, blue spaces inspired the very concept of therapeutic landscapes (Gesler 1993, 1996). Though not traditionally associated with well-being, it is important to address the therapeutic qualities of white landscapes since people living in northern climates often experience snow and icecovered spaces for four or more months per year. The inhabitants of these northern climates live with a full range of seasonal colours, we know very little about the white landscapes that surround them for a substantial part of the year

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