Research on the restorative benefits of sky gardens in high-rise buildings based on wearable biosensors and subjective evaluations

Abstract

BackgroundThe design of sky gardens in high-rise buildings to promote health has recently attracted increased attention. However, little is known about the specific physiologically and psychologically restorative benefits of sky gardens. MethodThis article defined sky garden types according to five indicators in three dimensions based on the characteristics of the high-rise buildings where sky gardens are located: plaza-park, rest-stay and move-pass sky gardens. Typical sky gardens of each type were selected for the subsequent experiment. Thirty-six participants experienced 12 typical case scenarios (432 pictures), and data were collected on physiological responses (skin conductance resistance, SCR; heart rate variability, HRV; electroencephalogram, EEG; and eye movement) and psychological evaluations (emotional valence & arousal self-esteem scale, perceived restrictiveness scale) during the sky garden spatial experience. ResultsThere are significant differences in plaza-park, rest-stay and move-pass type sky gardens, especially in the internal spatial characteristics (size scale, shape index, and elementary richness). The plaza-park sky gardens had better restorative outcomes in visual-physiological (average pupil diameter, average blink count), emotional valence and restrictiveness components of being away, fascination, and coherence. The rest-stay sky gardens had better restorative effects on SCR, HRV, emotional arousal, and compatibility. The move-pass sky gardens had the greatest restorative benefits in the average saccade count. ConclusionsSky gardens in high-rises impact people's physical and psychosocial well-being. The restorative qualities of the three types of sky gardens differ based on their spatial heterogeneity, with large-scale sky gardens, diverse natural landscapes, public facilities, and high void-to-solid ratios having greater restorative potential.