A study on how ecologically considered design can support the understanding of life and death cycles from childhood into adulthood.

“Let children walk with nature, let them see the beautiful blendings and communions of death and life, their joyous inseparable unity, as taught in woods and meadows, plains and mountains and streams of our blessed star” - John Muir (2015)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is a connection between childhood experiences of play in nature and the understanding of loss in adulthood. Six adults between the ages of 26 and 55yrs+ participated in a focus group, where the output was an audio recording of a discussion, including some supporting visual reflections on childhood play experiences. Analysis showed that anxiety and other associated emotions of grief and loss, such as anger and frustration were alleviated by accessing natural spaces. This data provides some empirical support for the advocacy of planning urban environments that are ecologically considered and incorporate natural cycles for the emotional and socio-economic benefit to human life.  

Introduction

This research explores broad topics within urban design (UD) and landscape architecture |(LA), ecology and play, more specifically; the acceptance of death and how ecological design and play can influence the human understanding of loss in adulthood, including affiliated emotional responses relating to grief, such as anxiety and fear. The research will firstly present a review of relevant literature that provides a critical analysis on three main topics identified by the researcher as continuous themes within literature and life experience as a mother and creative play practitioner:

·      Acceptance of Death – In relation to living within natural cycles

·      Compost Design – Circular material choice for construction in UD and LA

·      Nature play – Experiencing the elements of the natural environment through play

Secondly, the research will present an academic exploration of primary research in the form of a focus group which aims to provide personal insights into how childhood play experiences influence the understanding of natural cycles, seeking to explore suggestions on how the design of the urban environment can facilitate more holistic understandings of natural cycles through materiality decisions within a landscape architecture context. In addition to this, ethical considerations will be implemented to ensure this research is conducted sensitively. Finally, a reflective conclusion will be made regarding the final outcomes of the study, highlighting further scope for research.

(Research and findings not included on this blog post, for the full paper please email me)

Conclusion

The fear of death is a widespread human experience that can create anxiety and stress, leading to mental health disorders (Wong et al., 1994). This paper discusses the relationship between ecology and urban design in cities, reviewing the suggestion that children should be taught to accept mortality from an early age to reduce anxiety levels around loss. Ecological based design is suggested as an intervention to address the lack of connection with nature people are experiencing in the current climate, creating a need for new approaches to engage people in the environment that offer careful and supportive transitions throughout their life cycle.

Some important issues have been identified as catalysts in the shift of ecological based design and how this relates to a greater acceptance of natural processes and understanding loss. Design interventions should consider equity within the landscape to support access to wholesome and quality experiences of nature. As designers, landscape architects have a critical role in contributing interventions that offer a diverse and inclusive programme within urban environments that promote emotional resilience and social equity, whilst designing ecologically. This has the capability of providing a valuable resource for individuals as they navigate the experience of living within the life and death cycle. Additionally, designing ecologically is a critical consideration for improving education and emotional resilience, for those living in urban environments.

Whilst the benefits of natural elements in public spaces are clear, there are challenges to their implementation including socio economic issues that impact accessibility to natural spaces, including education, health and the value of play as a framework (PPSG, 2005) that under pins the innate responses to nature that exists in childhood, but is disoriented during adolescence through to adulthood. It is important to consider that although nature can have a deeply insightful impact on regulating emotions surrounding the experience of loss in childhood and adulthood, exposure to nature alone is unlikely to fully address all the challenges that come with such experiences. It is also a heavy responsibility for designers alone, planners and urban designers need to foster arenas in cities that promote collaborative action across multiple sectors including education and health, where urban residents can interact with nature more deeply with their heads, hands and heart (Colding et al., 2020).

However, natural environments can still play a nurturing role in providing a supportive paradigm based on playful design interventions for understanding loss. Benefits of designing in this way expand beyond the physical environment, and landscape architecture can include strategies that provide the education of natural life cycles in an accessible and informal way that can promote overall mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing, and provide a more sophisticated understanding of the life and death process.