Naomi Sachs, ASLA, EDAC

Hi Chad – What got me interested in Inclusive design? You’re right, it was my work with therapeutic gardens, especially gardens in the healthcare setting. But then branching out from that, thinking about taking the design principles used for therapeutic gardens in places of healing and broadening to other places where people play and learn. Tara…[Read more]

How did I miss this group until now?! Thanks for setting it up, Chad. Best, Naomi

“Make it Pretty and They Will Come: The Role of Aesthetics in Patient Satisfaction.” New TLN Blog post.

“Therapy in the Desert” – Guest postt by TLN member Brice Bradley: Three healing gardens in the Phoenix, AZ area.

Sustainable AND Restorative Landscapes: Sustainable Sites Initiative’s Pilot Projects, Four To Watch http://www.healinglandscapes.org/blog.

This from Susan Erickson, Chair of the ASLA Healthcare and Therapeutic Design Professional Practice Network. If you are a member of that group (and maybe even if you’re not – worth contacting Susan about if you’re interested), please consider submitting an article for the next newsletter. Great way to share information, get exposure, and connect…[Read more]

New article that you all might be interested in: “Gardens for Recovery.”

CONGRATULATIONS, Brandon, Clayton, and Wendy! I’m inspired.
Sadly, not inspired enough to take Section E again in June. I’ve got a huge project due right about then, and I just don’t think I can give studying the time it really needs. Being self-employed and having to do this on one’s own really sucks. Happy to have work, not happy that my big…[Read more]

Thanks much to Chad and Charles. Are there specific details that you used, or did you just design your own details for each specific site? I’m going to look at SSI and see if there are any parking lots in their case studies; looking for pictures of good examples to show client that it can look good as well as earn them LEED credits!

Anyone have a good detail/case study for using planting islands as small stormwater catchment areas? This is for the northeast, and the parking lot will most likely have standard curbs, but if there’s another idea… Just getting started on the project, but excited about the possibilities. Thanks!

Live! New Therapeutic Landscapes Network website: http://www.healinglandscapes.org

The ASLA Student Awards were announced today, and this one looks germane to the topic of Therapeutic Landscapes:

Residential Design Category HONOR AWARD
The Productive Landscape: Urban Housing for Autistic Adults
John Gough, Student ASLA, and Adam C. Nordfors, Student ASLA
Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
Faculty adviser: Kim Steele

I…[Read more]

Check out Land8Lounge member Jason King’s review of Esther Sternberg’s new book, Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being. An excellent review of an excellent new book.

And new InformeDesign article review on Children’s Use of Accessible Playgrounds.

Here’s an article that some of you may find interesting, about what they are saying is the first “universally accessible” playground. I have a feeling it’s not the first, but it’s still perhaps a good example, anyway. Anyone down in FL want to visit and report back to us? http://tinyurl.com/mp4x6t.

New TLDBlog post! “Nature as Therapy for Hypertension and Other Stress-Related Disorders.”

See the latest comment on the TLDBlog “Garden fragrance as an emotional memory trigger” for some great information about this subject, from Wendy who wrote her thesis on the subject. You can also link to her thesis, which I’ll be posting soon on the Therapeutic Landscapes Database.

Chris, just saw your response to Katrina – thanks for the info! I’m behind with adding data to the TLD, but this is great information.