Overview

The ever-growing fast-paced day-to-day activity of urban living contributes to higher rates of stress. Using an iterative design methodology, I designed a platform dedicated to Toronto users that offers city-like trails as a way to connect with nature, manage everyday stress, and add to the narrative of the city. Built using Squarespace, this platform offers multiple city trails that run from Southern Etobicoke to East York. The trails consist of amenities like restaurants and coffee shops and are made up of parks, gardens, and waterfront locations. This concept is heavily inspired by Japanese Tree Therapy and attention restoration theory.  

 Through proven research, it is known that engaging in nature experiences can help people alleviate stress, but with little nature in urban areas, people experiencing the urban lifestyle are also less likely to engage with nature on a frequent basis. However, there are some habits that can be created to still obtain an individual connection with nature. Individuals experiencing the stress of urban life do so largely due to the effects of constant stimulation which can induce cognitive fatigue. Urban environments can take up attention and can easily drain an individual's energy while natural environments are restorative and replenishing (Ackerman). People located in remote and natural environments get to regularly experience the state of attention restoration theory. With the pressures that come with urban living, attention restoration theory can be implemented organically into the everyday lifestyle of urban populations, specifically Toronto. How can attention restoration theory be implemented into the everyday lifestyle of urban populations?

 Retreet was created with the intention to offer individuals living in the city, the opportunity to get to know the city on a new level and add to the existing narrative of the community. Through engaging in the livelihood of the local neighbourhoods and also interacting with nature, individuals who experience the curated walks are able to gain the replenishing benefits from being in nature while also contributing to the dynamic of others. To exist in the city is to coexist with neighbourhoods outside of your own. Many of the Toronto parks are by these neighbourhoods which lead me to connect the two. Often, when we think of curated walks in cities or going for walks in nature, you usually think of walking through urban spaces or walking through a forest on a hiking trail. By connecting the two elements of urban spaces and nature, Torontonians are provided with a conceptual experience that they can follow as a guide or customize to fit their own needs.