Do Looks Matter?
Posted on | February 21, 2012 | 3 Comments
The short answer is yes.
Beauty creates a sense of community well-being.
The reality, however, is that aesthetics are often under-considered when developments occur. Yet a research paper by Richard Florida (author of The Rise of the Creative Class) found that beauty and aesthetics appear to be amoung the most important factors contributing to community satisfaction. A community’s cultural opportunities also rank on par with affordable housing and are more important than climate, job opportunities, and the “urbanicity” of the area. Playgrounds, outdoor parks, and trails ranked even higher.
People want to live in areas that are aesthetically pleasing, safe, and friendly.
This means that neighbourhood beautification, historic preservation, architectural or design regulations, landscaping, public art, streetscapes, and civic facilities that encourage public gathering and interactions need to be given higher priority when communities are designed or renewed.
It also means that local artists, non-profit organizations, and cultural entrepreneurs whose activities create meaningful aesthetics, civic gatherings, and cultural infrastructure are so much more important that most civic leaders would dare to dream.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder … and it’s driving the very future of community choice, satisfaction, and growth.
Our surroundings tell a story. What does yours say about you?
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Tags: aesthetics > beauty > community > culture > Richard Florida > rural > rurban
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February 22nd, 2012 @ 12:27 pm
This article is exactly what America in Bloom is about – encouraging towns to work on heritage preservation, environmental awareness, and of course, the all-important visual, economic, and social impacts provided by quality landscaping. We have a free downloadable brochure and powerpoint at http://www.americainbloom.org that goes into detail on the topics covered in this article.
February 23rd, 2012 @ 9:54 am
@ Evelyn – Yes! We’ve Communities in Bloom here in Canada, created around the same type of premise, and I know several groups which are active in making their communities a more attractive place. It’s also ensuring our elected leaders know the value of such activities … and research like this helps communities make their case. Thanks for sharing.
February 24th, 2012 @ 6:34 pm
I judge for Communities in Bloom (CiB) AND America in Bloom. Both wonderful organizations. I’m so impressed with the hundreds of towns across Canada which participate in the program every year and work to make Canada the best it can be from coast to coast. Towns in the US that participate in the CiB international edition learn SO much from our neighbors to the north.