Mental restoration, preference and safety of waterscapes: the effects of viewing distance, type and movement of water

Waterscapes are a valuable resource for aesthetic appreciation and human health, the majority of previous literature, however, generally explored these benefits by treating waterscapes as homogenous, limiting our understanding of the relationship between waterscape features and well-being. To address these knowledge gaps 16 videos were produced to represent waterscapes with different desired variables, and mental restoration, preference and perceived safety of these videos were measured by 53 respondents. The results indicate that: (1) within 20 m, the further away the visitors are from water bodies, the better the benefits will be; (2) in terms of mental restoration and preference, lakes are better than rivers, and fast water movement is more efficient than slow movement; (3) a protective fence along the water only enhance perceived safety; (4) females and postgraduate students obtain more restorative benefits from waterscapes than males and undergraduate students, respectively. These results can aid designers in enhancing the efficiency of waterscapes on the promotion of health and well-being.