JAUE2022-084: A Study on the Effect of Rooftop Vegetable Garden Activities on Intellectual Productivity and Building Favorability

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a movement to develop rooftop vegetable gardens, especially in major cities around the world. Rooftop vegetable gardens are expected to have social and economic benefits in addition to the same environmental impact reduction effects as regular rooftop greenery, and the number of cases of rooftop vegetable gardens being established in urban centers in Japan is increasing. However, an accurate analysis of the actual effects of participation in vegetable garden activities has not been conducted. Therefore, this study aims to quantitatively demonstrate the effects of vegetable garden activities on participants' favorable impression of buildings and intellectual productivity. As a method, we surveyed the participation status of each vegetable garden. Next, a web-based questionnaire was used to survey participants and non-participants in rooftop vegetable garden activities in Tokyo regarding their level of recognition and use of the vegetable gardens, their level of satisfaction, their impression of the building, and their work efficiency. The results showed that the participants of the vegetable garden activities had a positive impact on the building's favorability and intellectual productivity, and that the rooftop vegetable garden activities were evaluated as an added value of the office building.