The Effects of “Greening” Urban Areas on the Perceptions of Tranquillity
Invited paper
University of Bradford
Wednesday 3 june, 2015, 11:00 - 11:20
0.6 Madrid (49)
Abstract:
A number of studies have been conducted at the Bradford Centre for Sustainable
Environments at the University of Bradford which have examined the effects of
natural features on ratings of tranquillity. These include quantifying the effects
of the percentage of natural and contextual features and man-made noise on rated
tranquillity. Recently the resulting prediction equation TRAPT (Tranquillity
Rating Prediction Tool) has been used to examine a number of scenarios including
city parks and square, country parks and moorland areas and to relate predictions
to ratings made by visitors to these green spaces and reported levels of
relaxation. The tool has also been used for predicting tranquillity in city
squares of different sizes, to examine tranquillity behind natural (green) and
manufactured noise barriers and to assess the benefits of “greening” streets in
urban areas using avenues of trees, hedges and grass verges. The paper reviews
these studies and gives examples of the extent to which introducing vegetation is
predicted to provide benefits.