Urban sociability promotes encounters beyond the family circle and work. It’s the magic of the city. However, several studies show a correlation between anxiety, stress, even depression, and life city dweller. According to the FondaMental Foundation, Europe has twice as many people with schizophrenia in cities as in rural areas. It is also in the city that the number of people living alone is the highest, inducing a feeling of loneliness, a source of addictive disorders.
“This phenomenon is very often linked to the fact of not having or no longer having social support around you.underlines the urban anthropologist Sonia Lavadinho. And it does not only affect the elderly: at any period of life, one can be affected by it. This refers in particular to public space. » In fact, spatial proximity is not necessarily accompanied by social proximity, the city not always having spaces favorable to links and exchanges.
“Psychological Restoration”
“An urban planning beneficial to mental health integrates and reconciles with the living, biodiversity”, notes Pablo Carreras. The urban planning, mobility and health consultant, within the Codra regional planning consultancy and study office, adds: “Beyond the parks and gardens to which it is necessary to be able to have access, it is important to integrate vegetation into the very design of the districts. Immersing yourself in a green space brings a sense of calm, even after a stressful day. »
Especially since nature engenders the city of surprise. “Most of the time, we are caught up in the daily routine. On the contrary, nature arouses attention, spontaneous emotions, underlines Etienne Régent, urban architect of L’Atelier architectes. Which helps psychological restoration. » She favors also meetings. “Trees, islands of freshness, where young and old can settle, reflect our ability to live together. Plant heritage brings immediate well-being »supports Sonia Lavadinho.
On the outskirts of green spaces, but also in streets with open and lively facades, citizens feel positive emotion. “The problem is that for fifty years we have been making boring neighborhoods, says architect David Mangin. The streets are made up of the foot of buildings occupied by businesses that operate more or less well, by dark dwellings, by car park entrances, to which are added fences and other physical or digital security systems. »
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