The term nature has come up in conversation lately, and for the sake of a better understanding of what the profession of landscape architecture is, here is a broken-down definition of “nature” from our perspective. With our passion for engaging the human spirit with nature, McCullough seeks to provide a benefit to the communities we live in through a better understanding of the context around this term.

“Nature” as defined by “the external world” or “natural scenery” or simply everything that is NOT man-made is often misunderstood, yet appreciated, and sometimes feared, in large, by many people.

In 2005, author Richard Louv wrote Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder sparking a renewed interest in the importance of “nature” in childhood health and development. In 2007 the No Child Left Inside Coalition formed. And in 2022 Congress passed the No Child Left Inside Act. This was all the result of growing societal concerns that childhood lack of exposure to nature was a primary source of degrading health for humanity in the 21st century. We have all watched as our children’s attention has become preoccupied by screens and electronic devices. The concern extends beyond children to all people, as we have built barriers between us and nature for centuries now.

In fact, nature deficit disorder is a well-documented concern and greater access to nature itself is one of the best remedies. Nature has many health and wellness benefits to children, and all people regardless of race, socio-economic level, or gender. Studies have found that nature is critical to:

boosting the immune system
lowering blood pressure
reducing stress
improving mood
increasing ability to focus, even in children with ADHD
accelerating recovery from surgery or illness
increasing energy level
improving sleep

(Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)

“Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing.” (source: Nature.com)

"The facts are clear. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the impact of chronic health conditions such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes is staggering. Mental health illnesses such as pediatric depression, anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of isolation, all of which are related to poor health outcomes, are at an all-time high. Many of these conditions are preventable. All are costly. The incidence of chronic disease is higher among low-income children, children of color, and those with disabilities. Yet due to the high costs of care and uneven access, as a society we are experiencing a broad equity gap related to health outcomes. Exposure to nature is a low-cost, readily available resource for combating many of the conditions which contribute to chronic illness health inequity and high healthcare costs. However, there is a gap in evidence guiding the implementation of integrating nature into clinical and public health practice." (Source: Center for Nature and Health)

It goes without dispute then, that nature has a significant value to society. So then, what is nature? Is it biophilia, “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive.”? (Erich Fromm in The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973).

Perhaps partially, but we believe it is bigger than just biologic elements and living organisms. It’s not just what some people refer to as “green.” For example, nature is the way the wind blows predominantly across the cold Pacific Ocean, cooling the California Coast. Or, the way humans will ordinarily take the shortest and easiest path from point A to point B. Nature is the way sunlight is converted from light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. Nature is also the way in which people interact with each other and their environments daily. Nature is also the way that steel rusts and copper patinas. Nature is the way that organisms reproduce. Nature is entropy, the cycle of life, the seasons, and the relationships between elements. Nature is physics, chemistry, mathematics, and the arts. Nature is in everything and consists of everything. Nature is highly complex and incredibly simple.

So, what does this mean for us as landscape architects and urban designers? To start, a basic understanding of the complex natural world is difficult at best but important. An understanding of human psychology, economics, politics, and general sociology are necessary. We need some understanding of the weather, micro and macroclimates, soil compositions and geology, geography, stormwater management, plant/wildlife habitats, and complex relationships between organisms. We also need a bit of understanding of architecture, civil engineering, structural design, interiors, horticulture, and mechanical engineering, to name just a few. Everything we do must encompass all of these components because it’s not just about making a place but creating multi-sensory, healthy environments for people.

Landscape architecture, and what we do at McCullough, is way more than what any one person can even hope to understand, and that brings me to the point: What is nature?

Nature is a complex series of imperfections that come together in the most beautiful way to work…perfectly.

This, we believe is the key to what we do. It is not perfection, as the pursuit of perfection is a problem. Humans are attracted to perfection but it’s not achievable, nor should we aspire to it. Imperfection is nature; it’s diverse, complicated, it’s not always comfortable or easy. With this bit of insight I think we can better represent the thing that Richard Louv explained so perfectly, “Nature is not only nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive functioning.” If in fact science has identified nature as such an important factor to human wellbeing, then we need to start with a clear understanding of what it is. Most importantly, we believe that it is not perfection.

Nature is grit (it endures the test of time), it is soul (the parts of many), and it is style (a design or make in a particular form). We define nature and lay it out here because we believe if others consider nature as more than it is currently conceived then perhaps, we can get closer to realizing it, woven, closer in all our daily lives.

“Some beautiful things are more dazzling when they are still imperfect than when they have been too perfectly crafted.”
-François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld

Nature is…

Diverse
Always changing
Sometimes messy
Imperfect
Sometimes green but more often not
It’s composed of many parts
Often unpredictable
Humanity is part of it and cannot exist without it
It is physical (but it can also be metaphysical)
It’s the wind blowing through tall grass
It’s the sun reflecting a thin leaf
It’s what we aspire to do and create because it’s what people need most in our rapidly changing, unnatural world