Planting for Play
I have been chugging along with my research questions. In my last blog I stated I wanted to wrap back around to my interest in planting design, which I feel steady continuing to head in that direction. My last couple of research articles I have read, especially those of last week, dealt with preference in planting design. Last Thursday, Jennifer Webb suggested I look in to Steven Kaplan's preference studies to help push me forward. I read his journal Environmental Preference: A Comparison of Four Domains of Predictors, however I did not really feel it connected with my driving goal.
I circled back to one of my first research questions, dealing with "playful" urban environments specifically built for adults. I want to learn more about how designers can incorporate "play" for adults, especially through aspects of planting design. I found many articles about green space correlated with children's play, which is some instances was helpful. The journal School grounds as a resource of green space to increase child-plant contact explored how children exposed to nature at young ages grew up to be more environmentally conscious, as well as both adults and children sought for ore green spaces in educational facilities. Additionally, the journal discussed how children "gain optimal experience with nature and plants" when they can engage all five senses. I was quick to wonder, why just stop at children? Many of the articles I found regarding adult play made the same statement in their abstract or introduction, there is exceptionally little research regarding what play is to adults. I think this is an avenue I would like to look further in.
This research might entail having to assign what play means for adults. I might have to narrow my scope to specifically college students or perhaps a specific city. I think my method could include focus groups to get together people of an area and discuss how adults play in the outdoor environment. I think this still pertains to a preference study, especially a sensorial one. I want to figure out what makes for a playful urban environment and how to induce play through planting design.
A little on my case study, I selected Erin Cox's Vincent van Gogh's Wheatfields and Piet Oudolf's Meadows: Color, Contrast, and Change in the Landscape to unpack. Her research subject also is planting design, but how meaningful design is guided by color theory. To apply that back to my inquiries and research questions, I am intrigued with her research on light, color, and texture, and was reminded of the article I read last week that found that certain colors of plants can impact the mood and psychological state of park users. Perhaps I could explore more how sensorial experiences like color and smell could promote playfulness?
Okay, quick summary and main point of conversation, I want to research how planting design can impact playfulness in urban environments, most likely measured by physical activity and general mood. If this is a solid path for research, what is my next step?
Hi Avery, it's nice to see your progress and how you're grappling with finding a topic and crafting a question that speaks to your interests. Reading the literature to find out which direction you don't want to go in is just as helpful as find work that guides you. You are correct, when it comes to play, the literature is overwhelming dedicated to childhood environments. Outdoor play can decline with age, but a more significant trend is that adults refer to their play activities with terms other than play like recreation, hobbies, and leisure. This is largely because social norms dictate that play is for kids, a really unfortunate reality for us all. I study play theory not play and planting design but you might find more relevant work if you include the alternative terms I mentioned in your searches. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Avery! I love your project so much! I can't wait to see how it 'plays' out (haha get it). I wonder if you could study how theme parks get adults to play? Then again, I haven't checked your page in a few weeks so this topic might have already been explored. Just a thought :)
ReplyDeleteHi Avery! This research topic is really cool, and I'm excited to see where you take this. Maybe you could look into how native planting palettes across different states or regions affect adult x nature x play interactions? There could be some cool and interesting differences, and could be insightful because you really want to focus on planing design.
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