The Environments We Build
- Eric McQuiston, PLA
- Sep 26, 2025
- 4 min read
By Eric R. McQuiston, PLA
How Landscape Shapes Our Well-Being
Through my work as a landscape architect, I have seen firsthand how profoundly our surroundings shape who we are. The spaces we live, work, and recreate in are not passive backdrops; they’re active participants in our health, mindset, and daily experience. A home landscape can foster calm, comfort, and belonging. A workplace courtyard can restore focus. Even a daily commute can either elevate our stress or ease it. Design is never neutral, it always tilts us one way or another.
How Natural Settings Support Health
Across disciplines, the evidence is consistent: exposure to thoughtfully designed green space improves mental and physical health. The World Health Organization has documented that urban green spaces are tied to reduced stress, better mental health, and increased physical activity, benefits that ripple across entire communities (WHO, 2016).
One of the most cited studies in environmental psychology highlights just how tangible this can be: surgical patients whose hospital rooms faced trees recovered faster and required less pain medication than those whose rooms looked out at a blank wall (Ulrich, 1984). A small change in view produced a measurable difference in outcomes.
Zooming out, systematic reviews show that people living near greener areas generally have better overall health outcomes, including lower rates of certain chronic conditions and improved longevity (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018). These findings suggest that well-designed natural environments are not just amenities—they’re part of public-health infrastructure.
Good Environments: What Works and Why
1) The Shaded Neighborhood Street
Tree-lined sidewalks do more than look attractive. Shade lowers surface and air temperatures, making walking comfortable enough that people actually choose it. Cooler, calmer streets invite chance conversations, kids on bikes, and evening strolls. Even modest canopy cover can reduce heat stress and glare. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notes that trees reduce urban heat islands and create more livable microclimates (EPA, 2021).
2) A Workplace Courtyard (or Even “Micro-Nature”)
Access to outdoor space at work pays dividends: a short walk, a few minutes in the sun, or a lunch under a canopy can relieve fatigue and reset attention. Research shows that everyday contact with nature in the workplace reduces stress and correlates with fewer health complaints (Lottrup et al., 2013). More recently, reviews of biophilic design show measurable boosts in focus and productivity when workplaces integrate plants, natural light, and access to views (Gill, 2014).
3) Community Parks with Purpose
Parks that layer walking loops, varied plantings, water features, shade, and seating become magnets for multi-generational use. People linger when they feel comfortable and safe. The WHO emphasizes that quality parks are strongly linked to increased activity levels and improved mental well-being (WHO, 2016).
Bad Environments: When Design Works Against People
1) Treeless Parking Lots and Super-Blocks of Asphalt
Vast, unshaded lots are hostile to people: they intensify heat, create glare, and drain energy before you even reach the building. The EPA reports that shaded parking areas can reduce surface temperatures by as much as 20–45°F compared to unshaded asphalt (EPA, 2021). A few well-placed canopy trees can turn a heat sink into a tolerable, and even pleasant, arrival experience.
2) Workplaces Without Access to Nature
Windowless interiors, sterile corridors, and a lack of outdoor respite accumulate as stress and disengagement. A meta-analysis confirms that regular exposure to natural elements at work—whether via views, daylight, or plants—correlates with lower stress and higher reported well-being (Söderlund & Newman, 2017). If we wall people off from nature all day, we shouldn’t be surprised when morale and focus suffer.
3) Neglected or “Unsafe-Feeling” Parks
Design that overlooks lighting, maintenance, visibility, and basic amenities sends a signal: this place isn’t for you. When parks feel unsafe or uncared for, they empty out, and communities lose the benefits quality parks normally deliver. Researchers point out that the perceived quality of green space—its safety, accessibility, and upkeep—is often the deciding factor in whether people use it (de Vries et al., 2013).
Practical Moves I Recommend
Aim for Walkable Shade: Target 40–60% shade over pedestrian routes and seating during peak hours, using a mix of canopy trees and light-colored paving. This reduces heat load and makes streets livable (EPA, 2021).
Design for Short, Restorative Pauses: A bench with a view, a pocket garden, or a planted breezeway can deliver “micro-restoration” throughout the day. These small breaks add up to better focus and well-being (Lottrup et al., 2013).
Prioritize Park Quality Over Sheer Acreage: Layered plantings, clear sightlines, lighting, and diverse seating options encourage real use. Evidence shows that perceived quality strongly influences outcomes (de Vries et al., 2013).
Don’t Forget the View: Where outdoor space is limited, invest in views to trees, sky, or planted roofs. Ulrich’s classic hospital study is a reminder: a view of nature alone can change how people feel and heal (Ulrich, 1984).
What This Means for Our Practice
As landscape architects, we don’t just “place plants.” We choreograph experiences that can lower heart rates, encourage movement, and build social fabric. The evidence base, from classic clinical studies to modern systematic reviews, supports what many of us witness daily: when people have access to well-designed natural environments, they tend to be healthier, calmer, and more connected (Twohig-Bennett & Jones, 2018; WHO, 2016).
That’s both a responsibility and an opportunity. It means our details—species selection for canopy and seasonal interest, path alignments that invite walking, edges that feel safe, sightlines that welcome families—carry real weight. Every tree, every path, every gathering space has the potential to ease a burden, inspire reflection, or strengthen community.
When we design with a clear eye on how spaces affect the people who use them, we are doing more than building landscapes. We are building lives.
References:
Ulrich, R.S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science.
World Health Organization (2016). Urban green spaces and health.
Twohig-Bennett, C., & Jones, A. (2018). The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes. Environmental Research.
EPA (2021). Using Trees and Vegetation to Reduce Heat Islands.
Lottrup, L., et al. (2013). Workplace greenery and perceived stress. Landscape and Urban Planning.
Gill, R. (2014). Biophilic design in the workplace.
Söderlund, J., & Newman, P. (2017). Biophilic architecture: reducing stress and increasing well-being through nature. Sustainability.
de Vries, S., et al. (2013). Streetscape greenery and health.
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