Evaluation and Optimization Strategies for Restorative Environments in Campus Outdoor Spaces

LI Youfang; WANG Man; PENG Yifei; GAO Yuan; HAN Boxu

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-0232.2025.08.005

Abstract：With the rapid development of society and the acceleration of informatization in recent years,college students are under increasing pressure to perform,leading to frequent mental health problems.In this context,the environmental quality of campuses,which are an important place for the daily life and leisure activities of students,is vital to their physical and mental health.Guided by the restorative environment theory,this study explores the potential value of campus outdoor spaces in promoting the physical and mental health of college students,aiming to construct a robust evaluation system for campus restorative environments.Besides,some feasible spatial optimization strategies are proposed.Research results provide theoretical support and practical pathways for the development of healthy campuses. A case study based on campus outdoor spaces in the central urban area of Tianjin was carried out.The campus outdoor space was evaluated comprehensively by combining subjective and objective methods.Based on the stability,diversity,and user demands of outdoor space,Tianjin University,Nankai University,and Hebei University of Technology were chosen to evaluate their restorative environments.The relationship between spatial structure and restorative perceptions was explored by analyzing the restorative environmental features of campuses,and the objective evaluation factors of restoration were established by integrating space syntax parameters.Besides,the specific needs of college students for restorative environments were identified through interviews,and subjective evaluation indices for campus outdoor spaces were constructed by combining existing perception scales,covering 1 target layer,5 first-level indicators,and 27 second-level indicators.Subjective and objective evaluation factors were weighted using both the Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP)and the entropy weight method to establish a comprehensive evaluation index system for the restorative quality of campus outdoor spaces.Finally,the outdoor spaces of the three universities were normalized using the TOPSIS method and ranked based on their advantages and disadvantages to form a complete evaluation system.Hence,the common problems in spaces with low restorative evaluation scores were disclosed. The results show that the restorative characteristics of campus outdoor spaces vary significantly across different types of spaces and campuses.Correlation analysis further revealed that five spatial characteristics(remoteness,richness,attractiveness,complexity,and culture)are all significantly positively correlated with restorative perceptions.Among them,complexity and richness are the most prominent in the chosen campus outdoor spaces,indicating that functional diversity and natural elements have a significant impact on restorative experiences.Spaces with low restorative scores generally exhibit issues such as enclosed landscapes,single-function design,ambiguous spatial boundaries,and weak cultural expression. Based on the above research findings and the five characteristics of campus restorative spaces,this paper proposes optimization principles for campus outdoor spaces from the perspectives of environment,behavior,and culture,which correspond to the principles of nature,society,and culture,respectively.Specific transformation strategies are formulated for different types of spaces.The Jingye Square of Nankai University,which received a low restorative evaluation score,was chosen for reconstruction and optimization based on the above principles and strategies to verify their feasibility.Results can provide references to the restorative design and renewal of campus outdoor spaces in China.