Streets of comfort: design of urban streets and parks for users impacted by severe stress and traumatic stress in Cairo, Egypt

Abstract

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic stress has become a serious issue affecting millions of people worldwide. Due to the growing number of trauma victims from war, abuse, assault, illness, natural disasters, and terrorism, the population of people suffering from traumatic stress is a significant part of society (Kessler et al., 2017). Most of these people walk the same streets and public spaces as those unaffected by trauma but experience them with a completely different state of mind that is much more reactive and vulnerable. This research project addresses how the principles of therapeutic landscape design may be applied to a busy public space in urban Cairo, Egypt to provide relief for victims of trauma and traumatic stress in the area. Design strategies were informed by the study of literature on existing outdoor therapeutic spaces, literature on the mental and emotional impacts of nature, and from input from experts in therapeutic landscape design, political conflict, and trauma therapy and treatment.