08. Shared Space - Views of Nature

Provide access to views of nature

Rationale: Views of greenery, trees, water, and other natural elements throughout the day can increase occupants’ perceived connection with nature, contributing to a decreased risk of chronic inflammation and a diminished risk of mental health conditions including distress, depression, and anxiety.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Outdoor Natural Elements (Full Credit):

Provide access to views of nature by meeting all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Provide views of nature from common areas to all residential occupants within the project that include one of the following qualifying outdoor natural elements:

   • vegetation or greenery, such as plants, trees, lawns, or parks
   • water bodies, including ponds, lakes, rivers, or other natural water bodies
   • landscape, such as mountains, forests, hills, or other natural landscapes.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common areas must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events, such as resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms. Note that hallways, corridors, and elevator banks are not considered regularly occupied spaces.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.
2. Ensure the view of outdoor natural elements meets one of the following:
   • for nearby views, be visible within 300 feet or 92 meters of the building(s) window
   • for distant views beyond 300 feet or 92 meters, be uninterrupted by buildings or other architectural elements.
3. Ensure a minimum of 60% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common areas within the project is located within views of outdoor natural elements.

Option 2 - Indoor Natural Elements (Partial Credit):

Provide qualifying indoor natural elements in all regularly occupied spaces that demonstrate compliance with the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Provide unobstructed views of nature in common areas to all residential occupants within the project that include one of the following qualifying indoor natural elements:

   • an indoor plant with a minimum height of 12 inches (including pot), visible at a minimum height of 42 inches or 106 centimeters
   • a green wall visible at a minimum height of 42 inches or 106 centimeters
   • a water feature visible at a minimum height of 42 inches or 106 centimeters.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common areas must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events, such as resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms. Note that hallways, corridors, and elevator banks are not considered regularly occupied spaces.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.
2. Ensure views of indoor natural elements are uninterrupted by furniture partitions or other permanent features that measure above 42 inches or 106 centimeters.

3. Ensure a minimum of 60% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common areas within the project is located within 20 feet or 6 meters of qualifying indoor natural elements.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common areas must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events, such as resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms. Note that hallways, corridors, and elevator banks are not considered regularly occupied spaces.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.

Option 3 - Outdoor Natural Elements 51% (Partial Credit):

Provide access to views of nature by meeting all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Provide views of nature from common areas to all residential occupants within the project that include one of the following qualifying outdoor natural elements:

   • vegetation or greenery, such as plants, trees, lawns, or parks
   • water bodies, including ponds, lakes, rivers, or other natural water bodies
   • landscape, such as mountains, forests, hills, or other natural landscapes.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common areas must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events, such as resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms. Note that hallways, corridors, and elevator banks are not considered regularly occupied spaces.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.
2. Ensure the view of outdoor natural elements meets one of the following:
   • for nearby views, be visible within 300 feet or 92 meters of the building(s) window
   • for distant views beyond 300 feet or 92 meters, be uninterrupted by buildings or other architectural elements.
3. Ensure a minimum of 51% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common areas within the project is located within views of outdoor natural elements.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all residential occupants will have access to views of nature from common areas that include a qualifying outdoor natural element.
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload an annotated plan or design drawing detailing:
    • the distance between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view for all buildings with common areas
    • all building(s) or structures between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view.
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings identifying the percentage of views of nature across all regularly occupied areas within the project.        

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all residential occupants within the project will have access to views of nature from common areas that include a qualifying indoor natural element.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload annotated design drawings or plans identifying all furniture partitions, or other permanent features above 42 inches or 106 centimeters, and indoor natural elements in view.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings identifying the percentage of views of nature across all regularly occupied common areas within the project.        

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all residential occupants will have access to views of nature from common areas that include a qualifying outdoor natural element.              
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload an annotated plan or design drawing detailing:
    • the distance between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view for all buildings with common spaces
    • all building(s) or structures between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view.
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings identifying the percentage of views of nature across all regularly occupied common areas within the project.        

Built Pathway (LR+)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all residential occupants have access to views of nature from common areas that include a qualifying outdoor natural element.
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) of the qualifying outdoor natural elements in view.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload an annotated site plan(s) detailing:
    • the distance between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view for all buildings with common areas
    • all building(s) or structures between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view.
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) of the outdoor natural elements in view for each side of the building(s) that include common areas within the project.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photographs identifying the percentage of views of nature across all regularly occupied areas within the project.        

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all residential occupants within the project have access to views of nature from common areas that include a qualifying indoor natural element.
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) of each of the qualifying indoor natural elements in view for each common area.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload annotated design drawings, plans or photographs identifying all furniture partitions or other permanent features above 42 inches or 106 centimeters and indoor natural elements in view.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photographs identifying the percentage of views of nature across all regularly occupied common areas within the project.        

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all residential occupants have access to views of nature from common areas that include a qualifying outdoor natural element.
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) of the qualifying outdoor natural elements in view.           
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload an annotated site plan(s), map(s), or photographs detailing:
    • the distance between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view for all buildings with common spaces
    • all building(s) or structures between the building(s) facades and the outdoor natural elements in view.
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) of the outdoor natural elements in view for each side of the building(s) that include common areas within the project.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photographs identifying the percentage of views of nature across all regularly occupied common areas within the project.