The design of neighbourhood open spaces to improve mental health: a critical review of restorative spatial characteristics and their applicability in design practice

As urbanisation continues to increase, a rising prevalence of individuals dealing with stress-related mental health issues can be observed. Psychological restoration research can teach designers which spatial characteristics should be implemented in neighbourhood open spaces to enhance psychological restoration and improve citizens’ mental health. Unfortunately, this information is scattered across different fields, and it is unclear if the research results can be applied in design practice. Therefore, this study aims to identify restorative spatial characteristics and their applicability in neighbourhood open space design to improve citizens’ mental health, and critically reflect upon the current literature to guide future research and design practice. A scoping literature review (N = 62) resulted in 32 restorative spatial characteristics that can be applied in design practice. According to the literature, designers should focus on a variety of vegetation, consider the position of design elements, and optimise the design of adjacent buildings to enhance restorative potential. Although more research is needed into the applicability of the currently available information in real-life settings and for a variety of participant groups, this study is a first step in bringing together research of different fields on the design of neighbourhood open spaces that improve mental health of all citizens.