THE RESULTS OF QUALITATIVE RESEARCH ON HEALTH-AFFIRMING URBAN PLACES ON EXAMPLE OF NEW PLANNED CENTRAL PARK IN GDYNIA

Abstract

The therapeutic properties of landscapes are a phenomenon that is difficult to measure objectively. Designing health-affirming places for an anonymous user requires a departure from the traditional approach based on designers’ subjective, authoritarian perception of beauty towards EvidenceBased Design (EBD). This paper presents a qualitative study of a section of Gdynia city center around the new city park. The universal pattern of health-affirming places was used in the study. This tool does not eliminate issues associated with the subjectivity of perception of landscape therapeutic properties, but it helps to organize the assessment process and use available scientific evidence.