Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Timothy D. Keane / This thesis documents an exploratory design process that examines the efficacy of a framework for designing dementia gardens based on: theory, Stephen and Rachel Kaplan’s Attention Restoration Theory (A.R.T.), (Kaplan and Kaplan, 1989) and Roger Ulrich’s Theory of Supportive Gardens (Ulrich, 1999); John Zeisel’s (2007) process for designing dementia gardens; and design details, Claire Cooper Marcus’ Garden Audit Tool (2007) and Moore’s analysis of exemplary dementia gardens (2007). It documents the integration of theory that is not specific to dementia gardens (Kaplans’ A.R.T. and Ulrich’s Theory of Supportive Gardens) with process (Zeisel) and programming elements that are specific to dementia gardens (Cooper Marcus’ Garden Audit Tool Kit and Moore’s exemplary dementia gardens). The framework was developed during an illustrative courtyard design project for a retirement center whose clientele included patients with varying need levels. Throughout the illustrative design project, knowledge of the four A.R.T. characteristics (Being Away, Fascination; Compatibility and Extent) guided design decision-making in an effort to create an engaging environment, where improved health outcomes and restorative person-environment interactions could occur.

Syftet med vår studie var att studera trädgårdsterapins roll i människors tillfrisknande från stressrelaterad ohälsa. Studiens frågeställningar var: (1) vilka faktorer beskrivs som stressreducerande i natur och trädgård? (2) på vilket sätt kan personer med stressrelaterad ohälsa bli hjälpta genom trädgårdsterapi? För att besvara våra frågeställningar användes en kvalitativ metod med hjälp av en kunskapsöversikt. Våra analysverktyg har varit KASAM och Coping. Slutsatsen av studien är att trädgård och natur kan stärka återhämtningsprocessen för människor med stressrelaterad ohälsa. Trädgård och natur kan bidra med stressreducerande faktorer som gör att återhämtningen påskyndas och stärks, såsom att hitta lugn, känna trygghet och få utrymme för reflektion. Även samtal och aktiviteter är viktiga delar för återhämtning i trädgårdsterapin. Sökord vi använt oss av är: trädgårdsterapi, terapiträdgårdar, grön rehabilitering, restorativ trädgård och stressrelaterad ohälsa. / The aim of this study was to study the role of horticultural therapy in people´s recovery from stress-related illness. Study questions were: (1) what factors are described as stress-reducing in nature and gardening? (2) in what way can people with stress-related illness be helped by garden therapy? In order to answer our questions, a qualitative methodology using a research synthesis has been made. Our analysis tools were Sense of Coherence and Coping. The study shows that garden and nature can enhance the recovery process for people with stress-related illness. Garden and nature can help with stress-reducing factors that make recovery accelerated and strengthened, such as finding peace, feeling safe and have a space for reflection. Also conversations and activities are important elements for recovery in the horticultural therapy. Keywords we have used are: horticultural therapy, healing gardens, garden therapy, therapeutic gardens, green rehabilitation, restorative garden and stress related illness.

This study aims to explore how a gardening project with elderly living in Djuröhemmet, a nursing home outside Stockholm, affected them regarding psychological well-being and their experience of participation during the planning and construction of the memory garden. The gardening project is new in its kind by allowing the residents to influence the design of the garden by sharing the project leader their gardening memories from previous parts of their life and by wishing for specific plants and items.  The method being used was qualitative interviews where we interviewed seven people living in Djuröhemmet who participated in all or parts of the project. The theoretical framework is Molins (2004) definition of participation, but also theories of meaningfulness, social needs and gerotranscendence were applied. The results indicate that the participants did not realize that their involvement during the planning helped developed the garden. Also, they did not feel that their participation during the gardens construction by attending and commenting the work was considered to be participation as they lacked the ability to be physically active. Their view of participation differs from the theoretical definition. Nevertheless, we found several benefits of the garden regarding its impact on psychological well-being.

Este proyecto consiste en el diseño de un Centro de Salud del Primer Nivel de Atención especializado en la rehabilitación integral de niños y adolescentes. Se basa en una arquitectura terapéutica con la que se diseña un establecimiento de salud generando espacios amplios y abiertos hacia jardines terapéuticos, integrando los espacios naturales y recreativos con las áreas de tratamiento. Se busca resolver la problemática de nuestra ciudad en la cual tenemos un déficit de centros de salud especializados en la rehabilitación pediátrica. El proyecto se ubica estratégicamente en el distrito de Los Olivos por la demanda en este sector de la población, y la falta de centros de salud de la zona. La población a servir son menores de 18 años con ciertas limitaciones, para que puedan desarrollarse y reintegrarse en la sociedad de manera adecuada. / The project consists of the design of a Pediatric Rehabilitation Center. It is based on a therapeutic architecture that is used in designing a healthcare building by creating wide and open spaces to the gardens thus contributing to the user’s rehabilitation.  It is intended to integrate the therapeutic gardens and natural areas of the project alongside the treatment areas with the objective to provide care for children and young people from an early age in order for them to develop and reintegrate themselves into society adequately. The project's location is in Los Olivos's district in the northern part of Lima due to the high demand of users and the lack of infrastructure in the area to help them. / Tesis