This article aims to identify theoretical references, which elucidate the concept of restorative environments; examines its definition, historical background, different theoretical approaches and advances in research. Articles published between 1991 and 2011 in scientific journals available on the website of CAPES were analyzed. The current interest in the field was verified through an increase of studies published over the last three years. Studies on restorative environments seek to investigate the factors that help to promote the well-being of people and reinforce the interdisciplinary movement between psychology and, for example, health and prevention, education, architecture and urban planning.
restorative environments; environmental psychology; psychophysiological stress recovery theory; attention restoration theory