We’ve all felt the calming effects of spending time in nature, whether it’s a stroll through a park or a quiet moment in a garden. But not all natural environments induce the same mental health benefits. Some landscape features, when combined, are more effective than others at promoting well-being, and the Contemplative Landscape Model (CLM) helps us understand why.
What is CLM?
The Contemplative Landscape Model (CLM) was developed in 2016 by Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo to guide the design of urban green spaces, especially in cities where space is limited. By combining neuroscience research with landscape design, CLM identifies the specific features in a natural setting that are most likely to enhance mental health, even through passive exposure. The model offers a framework for urban planners, landscape architects, and decision-makers to create spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and beneficial for well-being.
CLM focuses on seven key components: Landscape Layers, Landform, Biodiversity, Colour and Light, Compatibility, Archetypal Elements, and Character of Peace and Silence. By considering these components, CLM provides a systematic way to evaluate and optimize green spaces for their mental health benefits.
Environmental Benefits of CLM
Investing in contemplative landscapes can lead to significant economic benefits. For one, providing access to highly contemplative spaces can reduce mental health struggles in citizens, easing the burden on healthcare systems and improving quality of life. Nature-based solutions are already cost-effective in improving urban livability, and including contemplative landscapes alongside these efforts prolong the benefits beyond what green spaces alone promise to offer for mental health and well-being promotion.
Real-world Examples: Singapore and Sweden
Singapore and Sweden have both integrated CLM into their NbS health promotion projects with great success.
In Singapore, CLM played a key role in the creation of Therapeutic Gardens and other mental health-promoting urban spaces as part of the city’s “City in Nature” vision. These spaces are designed to foster respite and contemplation amidst the fast-paced environment of the city-state.
In Sweden, CLM has been incorporated into the country’s Nature-based Rehabilitation program. This initiative helps people suffering from stress-related exhaustion syndrome recover in high-quality rural environments, as part of Sweden’s public healthcare scheme.
How CLM Evaluations Work
When we evaluate a landscape using the CLM, the first step is mapping out the perimeter we’ll be assessing and selecting key viewpoints. These viewpoints are chosen carefully, based on where people are most likely to experience the space—whether they’re entering or exiting the space, walking along a path, sitting on a bench, or pausing to enjoy the scenery. At each viewpoint, we can also look at the landscape from up to four different directions (north, east, south, and west) to get a complete understanding of that viewpoints’ features.
Once we have picked our viewpoints, it is time to begin scoring. At each viewpoint, we take time to observe the space and break it down according to the seven core components of CLM: Landscape Layers, Landform, Biodiversity, Color and Light, Compatibility, Archetypal Elements, and the Character of Peace and Silence. We consider how each of these components contributes to the overall experience of the space and how they might change under different weather conditions or times of day.
For instance, we know that sunny weather can bring out vibrant colors and create dynamic shadows, while seasonal shifts might affect the appearance of trees and plants. In cases where the weather isn’t ideal, like the rainy day we encountered in Canterbury, we rely on our experience to imagine how the landscape would look under more favourable conditions.
Once we’ve gathered our observations, we score each component and calculate an average to determine the overall CLM score. A score above 4.33 means the landscape has a strong contemplative quality and high potential to promote mental health and well-being.
Final Thoughts
The Contemplative Landscape Model offers an evidence-based practical way to design and evaluate green spaces that support mental health. By evaluating elements like landforms, biodiversity, character of peace and silence, and compatibility, cities and can create environments that foster well-being and resilience. As seen in Singapore and Sweden, integrating CLM into Nature-based Solutions projects, can improve public health and enhance communal quality of life.
As more public authorities recognise the importance of contemplative landscapes, we can look forward to cities that are not only greener but also healthier for everyone.