Salutogenic Design Principles in Modern Airport Architecture – Aviation Design Takes off!

From Transit Hub to Healing Space

Modern airports have evolved beyond mere transportation hubs into complex environments that can either heighten stress or promote well-being. Salutogenic design, focusing on factors that promote health rather than those causing disease, offers a revolutionary framework for transforming these high-pressure environments into spaces that actively support passenger wellness and resilience.

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Understanding Salutogenesis in Airport Design

Salutogenic design centers on creating what health sociologist Aaron Antonovsky called a "sense of coherence" for travelers. This involves making spaces comprehensible (easy to navigate), manageable (providing a sense of control), and meaningful (offering connection to something larger than oneself).

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Airports and Aviation projects designed with salutogenic principles prioritize intuitive wayfinding, diverse spaces for different needs, and elements that foster connection to place and culture. Rather than focusing solely on processing efficiency, these spaces support human resilience by reducing stressors while providing resources that help passengers cope with the challenges of air travel.

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When combined with biophilic design elements, salutogenic architecture actively reduces stress while replenishing mental energy. Research consistently shows that natural elements improve cognitive function, reduce anxiety, and enhance overall well-being—benefits particularly valuable in high-stress environments like airports.

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The Power of Preserved Nature in Aviation

Natural elements are crucial in implementing salutogenic principles in airport architecture. While living plants present significant maintenance challenges in these complex, high-traffic environments, preserved gardens offer an innovative solution that brings the benefits of nature without the associated upkeep issues.

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Garden on the Wall^® (GOTW), the pioneer in preserved gardens and moss walls within the U.S. since 2014, has transformed airport environments through their maintenance-free botanical installations. These preserved gardens provide a consistent connection to nature without requiring water, sunlight, or ongoing care making them ideal for the demanding context of airport operations.

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Unlike artificial plants that collect dust due to their electrostatic properties and fail to provide authentic biophilic benefits, GOTW's preserved gardens offer all the visual and psychological advantages of genuine natural elements. Their installations maintain their vibrant appearance for 10-12 years (extendable to 20+ years through their proprietary rejuvenation process), ensuring a long-term return on investment. The longevity of their preserved gardens, planter inserts, and moss walls make Garden on the Wall® the lowest total cost of ownership offering provider in the US Commercial Interior Design realm.

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Beyond aesthetics, these preserved elements contribute to what salutogenic theory calls "generalized resistance resources" - factors that help individuals cope with stressors. The presence of nature, even in preserved form, has been shown to lower cortisol levels and reduce anxiety, making it a powerful tool in creating health-promoting environments.

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Case Study: Nashville International Airport (BNA) - "Taking Flight" Installation

A prime example of salutogenic design principles in action is the monumental, preserved garden installation at Nashville International Airport (BNA). Unveiled in January 2023, this installation aptly named "Taking Flight" - represents the world's largest preserved garden installation to date. Spanning 105 feet in length on each side of the security screening lanes in the terminal's Grand Lobby, these gardens have transformed what is typically the most stressful area of an airport into a restorative, calming environment.

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Designed in collaboration with BNA Art Team, Corgan Design Team and Garden on the Wall® design team, and installed by Garden on the Wall^®, these massive biophilic installations tell a visual story of Nashville and its surrounding landscape. The intricate designs showcase local landmark bridges while weaving in sound motifs that reflect Nashville's rich musical heritage and abstract representations of the region's rolling hills, valleys, and rivers.

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What makes this installation particularly remarkable is its strategic placement at security checkpoints traditionally the most stress-inducing zone within airports. By introducing calming natural elements precisely where travelers experience peak anxiety, BNA has created a powerful counterbalance to travel stress, helping passengers maintain emotional equilibrium during a challenging part of their journey.

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The gardens' "bridges" theme symbolizes the airport's function as a connection point between different locations -a metaphor that adds meaning to the transit experience and helps create the crucial sense of coherence that salutogenic design establishes.

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With biodiverse species in varying hues, layers, and textures, these gardens comprise a sustainable, all-natural installation requiring no maintenance. The installation's material health credentials including compliance with California Department of Public Health's VOC standards, ASTM E84 Class 1 fire ratings, and Red List Free certification ensure these gardens not only look beautiful but also contribute positively to indoor environmental quality.

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Viewed by approximately 20 million passengers annually, the BNA preserved gardens provide a significant positive impact on the traveler experience at this major transportation hub.

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Creating Meaningful Experiences Through Design

Salutogenic airport design emphasizes creating meaningful experiences that transcend the purely functional aspects of air travel. By incorporating elements that reflect local culture and natural heritage as exemplified by the Nashville Airport installation airports help passengers feel more connected to their surroundings and less alienated by the often-impersonal nature of air travel.

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Garden on the Wall^®'s preserved garden installations play a vital role in diversifying space. Their free-standing installations can serve as natural dividers that delineate different functional areas without blocking light or sight lines, while their planter inserts, and vertical gardens transform sterile waiting areas into restorative spaces that offer a momentary escape from travel stress.

Neuroaesthetics and Airport Experience

The science of neuroaesthetics provides additional insights into why preserved gardens are effective in airport settings. Research from Penn Center for Neuroaesthetics (with whom Garden on the Wall collaborates) has identified three key psychological dimensions that influence our response to architectural interiors: coherence (ease of comprehending a scene), fascination (informational richness), and hominess (personal ease and comfort).

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Preserved gardens and moss walls contribute to all three dimensions with their organic patterns, varied textures, and familiar, nature-based aesthetics. For neurodivergent travelers, who may comprise 30-40% of the population, these natural elements are especially valuable. The sound-absorbing properties of preserved gardens (with GOTW's installations achieving a 0.44 Noise Reduction Coefficient) help mitigate auditory overwhelm, while their natural aesthetics provide a soothing visual anchor that reduces environmental stress.

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The Future of Airport Architecture & Aviation Projects

As airports continue to evolve, salutogenic design principles will play an increasingly important role in shaping these crucial public spaces. The integration of health-promoting features is becoming a key differentiator for airports competing to attract airlines and passengers.

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Garden on the Wall^®'s approach to preserved gardens positions them as a crucial partner in this evolution. With their industry-leading sustainability credentials, their installations meet the stringent requirements of modern airport design while offering the biophilic benefits that support traveler well-being.

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By integrating preserved gardens and other biophilic elements into airport design, we can create transportation hubs that serve not just as waypoints in our journeys but as restorative spaces that honor our connection to the natural world - transforming the travel experience from one of necessary stress to one of meaningful connection and renewal.

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For more information on this subject, read this article: Salutogenic Design and the Future of Sustainable Architecture & Interior Design and other related information, please visit our website: www.gardenonthewall.com

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