Books and appearances:
"Neuroscience for Designing Green Spaces: Contemplative Landscapes" - a book by NeuroLandscape President, Dr. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo!
Urban parks and gardens are where people go to reconnect with nature and destress. But do they all provide the same benefits or are some better than others? What specific attributes set some green spaces apart? Can we objectively measure their impact on mental health and well-being? If so, how do we use this evidence to guide the design of mentally healthy cities?
The Contemplative Landscape Model unveils the path to answer these questions. Rooted in landscape architecture and neuroscience, this innovative concept is described for the first time in an extended format, offering a deep dive into contemplative design and the science behind it. In the face of the global mental health crisis, and increasing disconnection from nature, design strategies for creating healthier urban environments are what our cities so sorely need.
This book delves into the neuroscience behind contemplative landscapes, their key spatial characteristics, and practical applications of the Contemplative Landscape Model through case studies from around the world. Landscape architects, urban planners, students, land managers, and anyone interested in unlocking the healing power of landscapes will find inspiration here.
This publication is a joint effort between National Parks Board in Singapore and Dr. Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo from NeuroLandscape. It is a translation of research findings from the study Effects of Landscapes on Brain Activity into design application. The information aims to help landscape professionals design and implement landscapes that enhance mental well-being, for a more liveable Singapore. The full text can be found here.
Booklet from the Floriade Expo 2022 Green Exchange Challenge, Almere, NL. During the event, Dr Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo gave a masterclass lecture to contestants "Neuroscience-based design for mentally healthy, green cities". Full text can be found here
"Miasta Praw Człowieka. Inspiracje, dobre praktyki, narzędzia" Publikacja przedstawia podstawy prawne i metodologię podejścia koncepcji Miast praw człowieka. Odzwierciedlone są w niej przede wszystkim praca i doświadczenia polskich samorządów w ich „ulokalnianiu”. Trzon opracowania stanowi opis dobrych praktyk i wyzwań, z jakimi mierzą lub mierzyły się samorządy lokalne. Jest to zatem niezwykle cenny zbiór inspiracji i rozwiązań wdrażanych w polskich miastach. | Read more here...
Springer Nature Collection presents interdisciplinary outputs on sustainable policies and practices via case studies. It provides research outputs highlighting the interdependence among energy, environment, and health issues. NeuroLandscape team contributed a chapter Sustainable Solutions in Urban Health: Transdisciplinary Directions in Urban Planning for Global Public Health by
Green and blue spaces and mental health: new evidence and perspectives for action (2021). This WHO report summarizes the key findings of the systematic reviews by EKLIPSE, with NeuroLandscape contribution, briefly looks at the relevant WHO tools and strategies, and reflects on future needs for research and action. Full text available [here].
Types and characteristics of urban and peri-urban green spaces having an impact on human mental health and wellbeing: A systematic review. A report developed under an EU and WHO funded project 2018-2020. Full text [here].
Types and characteristics of urban and peri-urban blue spaces having an impact on human mental health and wellbeing: A systematic review. A report developed under an EU and WHO funded project 2018-2020. Full text [here].
A collection of policy briefs produced from research presented at the 16th Conference on Urban Health in Xiamen, China, November 4–8, 2019, under the theme People Oriented Urbanisation: Transforming Cities for Health and Well-Being. It inludes two articles from the NeuroLandscape team, read more here. Exclusive access to the full book here.
BBC World Service Series "My Perfect City - Mental Health in Singapore", featuring NeuroLandscape and Dr Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo. Talking about science-based solutions of improving mental health of Singaporeans through the urban greening strategies. Released on 30th December 2020
"Honorary Mention in Urban Health" Award winning poster presented at a 16th International Conference of Urban Health that took place between 5th and 8th November 2019 in Xiamen, China titled: "Effects of passive exposure to green urban landscape on the brain: preliminary results". It presents the preliminary findings related to the frontal alpha asymmetry (FAA) occuring in the brain of participants exposed to the therapeutic garden with high contemplative scores; lower FAA pattern in other green spaces and reverse Faa pattern in the generic urban street environment. These are preliminary results from 22 participants. Further data collection is still ongoing
Poster presented at a 16th International Conference of Urban Health that took place between 5th and 8th November 2019 in Xiamen, China. The poster presents the findings of the EKLIPSE Expert Working Group on Which types of urban and suburban blue spaces and which characteristics of such spaces have a significant impact on human mental health and well-being. It describes all steps undertaken by EEWG and discuss the most important outcomes of our work. Ways to promote the mental health and well-being of people living in urban areas will be discussed, along with information on how nature-based solutions can be used to successfully address the challenges facing an ever-urbanizing world.
XSection is a cross between a journal and a book - with a goal to capture the space between practice, research, and popular interest so that ideas in Landscape Architecture become more accessible to practice and the public. XSection 2018: Special Edition Generations features creative work, projects, and articles from engaged with the opportunities and challenges of our future environments - and the ongoing changes faced by each successive generation.
NeuroLandscape has contributed one chapter "Generations of Urban Green for Health", which can be found under this link.
This is the book published as an output from "Biophilic Town Framework" project carried out at the National University of Singapore and lead by Prof Tan Puay Yok. Dr Agnieszka Olszewska-Guizzo contributed to the book with some remarks considering the design for health and wellbeing in the high-density urban contexts, namely to the chapters "Sense of Place" and "Aesthetic Values".
Nature, Place & People Forging Connections through Neighbourhood Landscape Design (eds: Tan, P.Y., Hwang Y.H, Liao, K.H.& Chua V.) World Scientific, Singapore. [link to full book]