Salutogenic Parks: Health Promoting Green Infrastructure in Urban Environments

Mehrdad Shahi; Mahdi Khansefid; Behrooz Janipour

doi:10.38027/jsalutogenic_vol4no1_13

Authors

Mehrdad Shahi Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4164-1717
Mahdi Khansefid Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8077-6268
Behrooz Janipour Department of Horticultural Science and Landscape Architecture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5777-1330

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.38027/jsalutogenic_vol4no1_13

Keywords:

Salutogenic parks, cultural ecosystem services, urban green infrastructure, health-promoting design, sustainable urban development, human well-being

Abstract

The effects of urban sprawl and global population growth have directly and indirectly negatively affected human health and well-being. Paying attention to the function of natural systems for survival and healing throughout history and the current expansion of urban green infrastructure and paying attention to salutogenic (origin of health) solutions in solving environmental problems are effective strategies for improving the quality of life and achieving appropriate health and well-being of city residents. Today, salutogenic parks are an important part of the green infrastructure of a sustainable city that improves the quality of the environment to improve health outcomes. This article examines topics such as the relationship between the development of urban areas and the expansion of urban green infrastructure with human health, and expresses the salutogenic approach to urban parks based on their cultural ecosystem services in various dimensions of human health as important health-generating resources in the city. It highlights the role of landscape architects in achieving these goals. Finally, it reaches a conceptual framework for the salutogenic effect of urban parks based on cultural ecosystem services on human health, and highlights its application in densely populated urban areas such as the metropolis of Tehran, the capital of Iran.

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