The Impact of Aromatic Plants on Supporting Mental Health: Research Participation on Behalf of the International University for Science and Technology in the Arab Architecture Week
Engineer Majida Sukkar, representing the International University for Science and Technology, participated in the activities of the 6th Arab Architecture Week 2025, held under the theme “Reimagining Cities,” from October 12 to 16, 2025, with a distinguished research paper titled:
“The Impact of Aromatic Plants on Supporting the Mental Health of Disaster-Stricken Communities During the Recovery and Reconstruction Phase in Syria – A Case Study of Damascus.”
The lecture addressed the psychological and social dimensions of natural and human-caused disasters, and the profound effects they leave behind, such as depression and anxiety. It emphasized the need to seek urban and environmental solutions that contribute to improving mental health and fostering a sense of tranquility among individuals during the recovery and reconstruction phase.
Engineer Sukkar highlighted the importance of planting aromatic plants in urban and residential design, given their influential role in reducing stress, fostering positive connections with the environment, and shaping the image and identity of the city. She also highlighted the importance of moving toward integrative therapies that combine psychiatry, architecture, and agriculture, and the importance of These included aromatherapy and color therapy, as supportive and innovative methods for treating psychological disorders. These methods are also low-cost and readily available.
The study used the city of Damascus as a research model, identifying a group of local aromatic plants that are compatible with the city’s climate and soil. Suggestions were made for their use in housing design, public and private parks, building facades, and city entrances, contributing to a healthy and psychologically balanced urban environment.
The research paper concluded by emphasizing the need to expand the list of aromatic plants by adding more, whether local, imported, or hybridized. This opens the door to choosing between different and diverse types of aromatic plants. It is also important to include the results of this research in reconstruction plans in Syria, to include the psychological reconstruction of individuals and society alongside the reconstruction of urban areas.
It is worth noting that Engineer Majida Sukkar is a graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at the International University for Science and Technology. She has represented the university at previous scientific conferences, dedicating her research efforts to highlighting the relationship between architecture, humans, the environment, and heritage in the context of Sustainable development and reconstruction.