I remember an explanation for the calming effect of nature by David Allen of Getting Things Done fame. He claims that the environment is too complex so your mind "lets go" he repeats some of that here https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20121027044918-402563-david-a... I'm not sure what the basis of that analysis is, but he could be right. I contrast that with the jail from THX 1138 which doesn't seem like it would be relaxing http://nightflight.com/wp-content/uploads/THX-1138-6.jpg