Current literature on restorative environments generally shows the importance of urban natural landscapes in increasing perceived restorativeness of urban environments. However, little is known about the positive role of visual characteristics of urban natural landscapes in increasing Perceived Restorative Potential (PRP) of urban environments. This study aimed to understand the role of four predictors of visual preference as characteristics of urban natural landscape on the restorativeness of environments. In this study, 120 students from Universiti Putra Malaysia rated 12 colored slides of urban natural landscape scenes for four restorative components (Being away, Fascination, Coherence, and Compatibility), four predictors of visual landscape preference (Coherence, Complexity, Legibility, Mystery) and a criterion variable (PRP). Coherence, however, was considered as a predictor of visual landscape preference since it is not a significant predictor in explaining PRP. Results indicate that Coherence, Complexity, and Mystery positively explained PRP while Legibility did not. Further analysis revealed that the effect of Coherence and Complexity on PRP was fully mediated by the restorative components and Mystery was only partially mediated. The findings indicate that some predictors of visual landscape preference of urban natural landscapes contribute to increasing PRP of urban landscapes. Although Coherence as a restorative component was not a significant predictor of PRP, it contributed toward increasing the restorative potential of urban natural landscapes when considered as a predictor of visual landscape preference. The results of this study can aid city planners, landscape architects and developers with regards to the influence of visual landscape characteristics in increasing the restorative potential of urban environments.

This study attempted to determine people's visual preference for urban landscapes in Malaysia. In an experimental study, 120 students from three departments in Universiti Putra Malaysia rated 4 predictors of preference (Coherence, complexity, legibility and mystery) and a criterion variable (preference) of 24 color slides depicting urban built landscape (UBL) and urban natural landscape (UNL) scenes. The results of this study showed that the mean preference and the four predictor ratings were significantly higher for UNL than UBL and it confirmed the role of urban nature in urban landscapes. Also, the results showed that all the predictors of preference could explain a large amount of variance in preference, except for "legibility" in UBL. "Mystery" and "complexity" are found to be the most influential predictors of preference in both categories. Furthermore, "coherence" in UNL notably predicts more preference than in UBL. However, knowledge about preferences and the characteristics of urban landscapes contributes to the designing of an enjoyable environment by designers or planners, and to the decision makers who manage the landscape settings for their users.

This study presents the relationship between “perceived restorative potential” (PRP) and “preference” for an environment with respect to their relationship with the restorative components outlined by attention restoration theory (ART) in two categories: urban built landscape (UBL) and urban natural landscape (UNL). In this experimental study, 120 participants from University Putra Malaysia (Serdang, Malaysia) rated four restorative components, the PRP and “preference” of 24 color slides depicting UBL and UNL scenes. The results showed that “preference” and PRP was moderately correlated in UNL and UBL. “Compatibility” was found to be the most influential variable among all the restorative components in explaining PRP and “preference” in both UNL and UBL. However, “fascination” appeared to be the second most significant predictor of “preference” in UNL, whereas “being away” was the second most significant predictor of PRP in UNL. Furthermore, “coherence” predicted “preference” but it did not predict PRP in UNL. “Being away” and “coherence” were distinct components of PRP and “preference” and of UNL and UBL.

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Malaysia has a complex multiracial population, predominantly defined by three major ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese and Indian races, with diverse cultural backgrounds. Despite this, the country has a vision to be the most beautiful garden nation, and its National Landscape Policy (NLP) puts emphasis on creating a unique landscape and garden identity. Because of ethnic and cultural differences, there are differences between preferences for developing a garden identity for Malaysia. Hence, this study focused on the visual quality of gardens. Representative images of four well-established gardens of the world including Persian-Islamic, English, Japanese and Chinese gardens were presented to the study's respondents through preference photo surveys. Respondents from the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia were asked to rate their preferred garden types, elements and scenes that they would like to see in Malaysian gardens. The results pinpointed expectations of the visual quality of gardens. These highlighted some similarities and differences between the three major ethnic groups in their preferences for the scenes and elements that they sought in gardens. Diverse factors must be considered when creating Malaysian gardens that will be accepted by Malaysians of different ethnic groups. Garden development reveals preferences attached to visual qualities and emphasises cultural differences between garden users.