Festina lente. Therapeutic gardens and orchards: places for wellness and health

Since ancient times has been proved that contact with nature promotes well-being and personal balance. But in the case of gardens, their qualities do not influence in the same way those who can inhabit them according to Heidegger. For this reason, it becomes essential to understand the needs of each user and adapt the garden design to these requirements, because it cannot rely exclusively upon aesthetic criteria or its capacity to support various activities. It must be based on a general methodology that identifies the basic sensory dimensions in each case (PSD) and analyses them jointly through the Exploratory Factor Analysis method (EFA), which considers both the subjective qualities and the objectivity that its application in a specific environment. The application of such methods in the design of a therapeutic garden provides great benefits at a relatively low cost, since they impact the well-being of its inhabitants, reducing the length of stay and medication, and achieving higher levels of satisfaction.