Blue Space in the urban Environment is considered to be visible water within the urban landscape. harbour front parks, rivers, ponds, lakes, ports, canals, fountains, etc. are all counted as blue spaces. It is an important physical and aesthetic element of landscape design. Increasingly, Blue Spaces are vital to the Well-being of people who live and work near visible water.

There is growing evidence that being in the vicinity of water has a restorative affect on the way we feel. People are more relaxed, happier and more productive after spending time in and around Blue Space. Research has shown that being near, in, on or under water can provide a long list of benefits for our mind and body, including lowering stress and anxiety, increasing an overall sense of well-being and happiness, a lower heart and breathing rate, and safe, better workouts. Aquatic therapists are increasingly looking to the water to help treat and manage PTSD, addiction, anxiety disorders, autism and more. We’ve found that being near water boosts creativity, can enhance the quality of conversations and provides a backdrop to important parts of living — like play, romance and grieving. All of this depends on these waters being safe, clean and healthy, of course.

In experiments, images depicting water triggered a more positive response than those without water. Flip through any travel magazine and you’ll see that editors and advertisers understand this very well.

At Urban Wellbeing Solutions we look at ways of promoting Blue Space as an integral part of the Urban Environment such that our cities promote Wellbeing for all.