Could you imagine living your everyday life in spaces with a lack of fresh air? That sounds suffocating. Good thing that is now something that is a given. As we begin to delve deeper into the theories of healing gardens this week, one theory that caught my attention was Nancy Gerlach-Spriggs' on the attention and focus back on the spreading of infection by "noxious vapors". The idea that germs were being spread through the air itself led to the thought that lack of fresh air could be one contributor to this equation. This theory brought the garden spaces between wards in hospitals. In the late Eighteenth century these spaces became more designed for therapeutic purposes.
I have been to Millennium park countless times growing up. Almost every visit to the city we never
missed the chance to see the bean and walk around the park. Although this recent visit is different from all those other times. As I went with a different eye and focus on my mind. With this theory in mind I believe that the whole park itself is a way to get that fresh air needed for someone enclosed in the tall skyscrapers of the city all day. This is a way to escape and emerge oneself into nature when there isn't much of that in the city. This park acts as a refuge for that with the idea that this park was created for the people of the city to have the green space they needed, in reality more visitors and tourists visits the park on a daily basis.
Although I will focus on two features that really emphasize this theory. One being the Chase
Promenade. This is the length of three blocks that is filled with over 200 trees. Creating a place for
people to relax, walk, run, or even have lunch in this shaded walkway. The other is the BP bridge which connects Millennium all the way to Maggie Daley. When I think of fresh air, I think of a nice run on a sunny day, and this bridge can give me just that feeling I would want. Not only for runners but for all kinds of people to enjoy, with a gradually accessible friendly slope to it.
All the features in the park give a wide variety of activities for people of all ages to get out of the bustle of the city just a bit and enjoy the views back onto the city and smell the fresh air. This is idea of a park for the city to hold recreational activities is similar to my last blog post but a different approach. All these versions of healing outdoor spaces/gardens bring the same healing effect onto the community.
Image: https://www.offgridweb.com/gear/gas-masks-101/
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