Wondergarden
A Study of the Wondergarden Concept: Designing the Ideal Wonder and Wellness of Green Spaces in the Urban Environment.
The Wondergarden concept aims to create small public gardens within urban areas that promote wonder and wellbeing. The aim is to plant trees and plants that excite all five senses while providing hidden paths and seating areas that surprise visitors and encourage curiosity.
The garden will be where visitors can connect with nature and experience a sense of wonder and curiosity. The goal is to create a space that offers an oasis of calm amidst the chaos of the city.
The design of the Wondergarden will incorporate elements that engage all five senses. The garden will be filled with fragrant, colourful plants and trees with unique textures. Visitors will be able to touch and smell. It engages with different plants and trees, creating a sensory experience that is both relaxing and stimulating.
The garden will also have hidden paths and seating areas that are unexpected and surprising. Visitors will be encouraged to explore the garden and discover new places, creating a sense of adventure and excitement. The paths will be designed to meander through the garden, leading visitors on a journey of discovery.
To further enhance the sensory experience, the Wondergarden will also incorporate water features, such as fountains or small streams. The flowing water will add to the tranquil atmosphere and provide soothing background noise.
Objectives:
To investigate the critical principles of the Wondergarden concept and how they can be applied to urban garden design.
To analyse existing urban green spaces and identify areas for improvement using the Wondegarden concept.
To design a prototype urban garden based on the Wondergarden concept and evaluate its effectiveness in promoting relaxation and wellbeing.
Urban green spaces have been shown to positively impact health and wellbeing, with benefits such as reducing stress, promoting physical activity, and improving mental health.
However, with limited space and resources, designing functional green spaces in urban environments can take time and effort. The Wondergarden concept offers a unique approach to creating green spaces in urban environments that are sustainable and compact, with a significant impact on those experiencing the garden.
Here are five research questions that spark curiousity:
How do different sensory experiences, such as sound and scent, impact the effectiveness of urban gardens?
What are the critical design elements of the Wondergarden concept that contribute to its effectiveness in promoting relaxation and wellbeing, and how can these be optimised in an urban garden design?
How do the needs and preferences of different user groups, such as elderly individuals or individuals with mental illness, impact the design of the urban Wondergarden?
How do environmental factors, such as location and climate, impact the effectiveness of the Wondergarden concept?
How does the Wondergarden concept compare to traditional urban green spaces in terms of their effectiveness in promoting relaxation and wellbeing, and how can these differences be enhanced and developed?
The Methodology:
Literature Review: A comprehensive review of literature related to urban green spaces and wellbeing will be conducted.
Site Analysis: A survey of existing urban green spaces in the London area will be conducted, focusing on identifying areas for improvement based on the Wondergarden concept.
Prototype Design: A prototype urban wellness garden will be designed based on the fundamental principles of the Wondergarden concept and the site analysis findings.
Evaluation: The effectiveness of the prototype garden in promoting relaxation and well-being will be evaluated through surveys and interviews with visitors.
Expected Outcomes:
A better understanding of how the Wondergarden concept can be applied to future urban garden design.
Recommendations for improving existing urban green spaces using the Wondergarden concept.
A prototype urban wellness garden that can serve as a model for future urban green space design.
Insights into the effectiveness of the Wondergarden concept in promoting relaxation and well-being.
Conclusion:
The Wondergarden concept offers a unique approach to designing urban green spaces that promote relaxation and wellbeing. This research project aims to explore the potential of the Wondergarden concept in creating the ideal urban garden, hoping to provide a valuable resource for urban planners, landscape architects, and others involved in green space design.
