Agriculture
A landscape architect and environmental expert, Mr Amos Alao, has called for the incorporation of greenery building designs to reduce depression rates.
Alao, the President of the Society of Landscape Architects of Nigeria (SLAN), made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.
The expert noted that the adoption of greener environment in building designs in urban areas would curb growing mental health and depression tendencies.
“Landscape architecture is mainly concerned about the outdoor environment and not just aesthetics.
“Recently, it is concerned about cooling interior spaces using nature (plants and greenery) and water elements.
“Currently, there has been a high rise mental illness globally and research have shown that it is as a result of poor exposure to nature and green environment.
“A lot of people are confined to their space in urban areas and have no opportunity to enjoy nature.
“As regards mental health, we need to touch and experience nature on a regular basis to enjoy mental and stress relief. Our environment need more greens, more interaction and outdoor spaces.
“We encourage people to adopt building designs that incorporate nature in their construction, the expert told NAN.
Alao also reiterated the need for the inclusion of greenery in indoor spaces such as offices and schools to reduce mental stress.
“As landscape architects, we are canvassing for more nature inclusiveness in our building plans and designs.
“We need to incorporate nature in our schools, office spaces and concrete environment to reduce the rate of depression.
“We can safely relate growing depression to lack of exposure to nature and greenery even in our living areas.
“We should incorporate nature because for instance most children have not seen a butterfly or even grasshoppers physical because of the urbanisation of our landscapes.
“Even in our schools they lack greenery and trees where children can interact with nature even on their playground,” Alao said.
According to him, the current heat of sun is increasing mental stress among Nigerians coupled with the lack green environment.
“Greenery has a way of absorbing sunlight, there has been reduced cases of suicides in urban areas that have greenery in their environment.
“There should be more greens in indoor spaces as a lot of people have been known to have respiratory issues and plants have potential to reduce pollutants from the air in indoor spaces.
“Flowers and potted plants indoor spaces do not just cool the environment but also help in reducing toxins.
“As regards mental health, we need to touch and experience nature on a regular basis to enjoy mental and stress relief. Our environment need more greens, more interaction and outdoor spaces.
“We encourage people to adopt building designs that incorporate nature in their construction,” he said. (NAN)
E.C
Tags:
