Author(s)

M. Gharipour & C. Zimring

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to search in the academic literature to investigate the concept of healing gardens. In the first section of this literature review, different aspects of healing, spiritual healing, mental healing, emotional healing, social healing, and physical healing, will be studied. Then, in the second section, different categories of healing environments, built environments, symbolic environments, social environments, and natural environments, will be explored. In the third section, focusing on the qualities of natural environments, we are going to evaluate the ways in which a garden might contribute to the healing process. In this part, the benefits of viewing a garden and gardening such as reducing stress and anger and fear, changing mood and improving feelings, and providing satisfaction will be explained. In the fourth section, after giving a definition, we will explain a brief history of the development of healing gardens. In the end, the garden in California Pacific Medical Center as a case will be discussed. Keywords: healing garden, healing process, healthcare, healing environment, gardening, stress reduction, satisfaction, California Pacific Medical Center. 1 Introduction With the rapid increase of healthcare facilities, an increasing emphasis is being put on the mental aspects of \“healing.” The need to reduce stress is becoming more and more a part of our contemporary, fast-paced lives. Additionally, nature, with its perceived healing properties, is seen progressively as a useful means in addressing medical needs. As a result, architects have been employing the concepts of nature as a healer to landscape designs in hospitals since the 18th century. The development of healing gardens, according to their unbelievable effect on the health of patients, is based on architects’ understanding of the concept of healing and the qualities of nature. It seems that more studies are

Keywords

healing garden, healing process, healthcare, healing environment, gardening, stress reduction, satisfaction, California Pacific Medical Center.