H O S P I T A L E X P E R I E N C E + H E A L I N G A R C H I T E C T U R E
S U R V E Y R E S U L T S : [ 9 3 P A R T I C I P A N T S ]
[ 1 ] I N W H A T W A Y H A V E Y O U U S E D A H O S P I T A L ?
[ 2 ] D I D T H E B U I L D I N G A N D S P A C E S M A K E Y O U F E E L B E T T E R T H E
S A M E O R W O R S E ? W H Y ?
[ 3 ] D O Y O U T H I N K T H E D E S I G N O F H O S P I T A L S H A S I M P R O V E D I N
R E C E N T Y E A R S ? W H Y ?
W H Y ? [ A N S W E R V A R I A T I O N S ]
YES:
More open areas and cafes in entrances | There is better designated departments in hospitals | Many hospitals have been modernised and brought in line with what is required for 21st Century hospitals Z They are easier to navigate, with better access ie lifts/ramps automatic doors, good parking etc
A LITTLE:
The more modern brighter hospitals help ease anxiety and stress but many modern hospitals now have computerised check in for appointments and as reception making the process uncaring and faceless | think they have started to include more nature inside. They are still really large and intimidating though | From my experience, a few have improved the design at the start of the hospital by incorporating shops and coffee shops like Costa to try to normalise it, but once you go down to treatment areas it still is very clinical | New hospitals are slightly better and more modern but it's hard to change the design of older hospitals | need sprucing up - modern but not in the sense of white and clinical | Maybe only in newly built hospitals. I think most established hospitals are so busy that they can't afford to redevelop them time, space, or financially.
I'M NOT SURE:
Nothing to compare it to | I haven't experienced any far enough back to know how they've changed | I haven't experienced enough to say, or know of any that are really good
NO:
Gone too modern and regimented, no character. White white white ; still not a pleasant place to spend time, they could at least put bloody comfy seats in! ; Not in the examples I have used, older ones are out of date and new ones are white and sterile
[ 4 ] D O Y O U K N O W O F A N Y H O S P I T A L S T H A T H A V E E X C E L L E D I N T H E W A Y T H E I R B U I L D I N G S A R E D E S I G N E D ?
P A R T I C I P A N T S U G G E S T I O N S :
- Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, Exciting design, large open spaces with a breathable environment. In the summer I could imagine it been like a green house they must have a serious ventilation system
- The Orthpaedic Hospital in Birmingham has a really good teenage treatment area.common room, sofas , PlayStation etc
- Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
- Great Ormond Street - the externals have remained similar for a long time
- Nottingham Circle treatment centre
- Burrswood, Christian Hospital. Views to countryside, un-ruined. Feels more like a hotel or country house than a hospital. Small.
- Groot klimendaal? green colour, glass, tall voids, interesting angles. Keeps it different;
- Boex healthcare design, the use bright colour to enhance the rooms therefore giving the users a better experience
- Not strictly a hospital, but Maggie Centres are notoriously successful in providing good design to healthcare related buildings
- Not excelled, but i liked Pembury Hospital (new), it has an easy to find and bright entrance and there are lots of trees planted around the site
[ 5 ] I S A R C H I T E C T U R E A N D T H E W A Y A S P A C E I S D E S I G N E D R E L E V A N T T O H E L P I N G A P A T I E N T H E A L A N D S U P P O R T I N G H E A L T H A N D W E L L - B E I N G ? W H Y ?
W H Y :
YES:
If a space is warm and inviting, you feel safer, happier and relaxed. I believe hospitals can hold a very negative atmosphere. This certainly adds to the trauma and pressures associated with various treatments and so, the more inviting and comfortable a space makes you feel, the happier you will be. This would surely lead to a faster recovery as a healthy mind helps to sustain a healthy body | A happy light environment effects your mood which then makes you more positive about your recovery | If a patient is in a more pleasant environment it can mean they are in a better mood and feel more uplifted which may support their healing | Whereas if the space is dark, small or unpleasant it may make them feel down and so slow down the healing process | I think it is important psychologically not to feel 'imprisoned' in a hospital, particularly for long stay patients. I think a light airy atmosphere where there is as much natural daylight as possible and to be able to see the outside world is necessary to have a positive effect on well-being | I can only comment on when I used a space that I think is beautiful and well-designed that I feel good in myself, so this must apply to hospital environment as well. Think it’s worse when you feel ill - you just want to be at home.
NO:
The state of urgency in needing a hospital outweighs the appreciation for how a building looks. Churches and other public buildings can serve a more appreciative purpose | pretty walls didn't heal my broken leg
[ 6 ] I N A D D I T I O N T O T H E U S E O F M E D I C I N E , T O W H A T E X T E N T D O
Y O U B E L I E V E A R C H I T E C T U R E I S I M P O R T A N T I N A I D I N G
R E C O V E R Y F R O M I L L N E S S O R I N J U R Y ? [ 1 B E I N G V E R Y
I M P O R T A N T A N D 5 B E I N G N O T I M P O R T A N T ]
[ 7 ] D O Y O U T H I N K N A T U R A L L I G H T A N D V I E W S O F T H E O U T D O O R S W O U L D H E L P I F Y O U N E E D E D T O R E C O V E R ?
[ 8 ] A E S T H E T I C A L L Y , W H A T W O U L D Y O U L I K E T O S E E I N H O S P I T A L
D E S I G N T H A T M I G H T A S S I S T T H E P A T I E N T ' S H E A L I N G P R O C E S S ? E . G . I D E A L L O C A T I O N , N A T U R E , L I G H T , W I N D O W S , M A T E R I A L S , C E R T A I N C O L O U R S , A R T W O R K , S I Z E O F I N T E R I O R S P A C E S ?
P A R T I C I P A N T C O M M E N T V A R I A T I O N S :
Where it is easily accessible, in a pleasant environment e.g. gardens surrounding | Light - bright Windows - so you can see the outdoors and the natural light can come in. Colours - neutral colours, not dark and bold colours Size - not too big so that the space feels empty, but not too small so that it feels enclosed | Ideal location would be semi-rural, to be able to see nature and plenty of light would be essential for me | Clean lines and easy clean materials. Colourful, interesting artwork to add interest to a room/ward. I think the preference of sizes of internal spaces will vary for a lot of people, however, I would prefer a private smaller room rather than being on a large open ward. The Tunbridge Wells Hospital has private rooms rather than wards and some staff find this hinders their ability to see their patients as easily | More natural lighting. More bedside space. Good communal facilities I.e. Recreation rooms | I think it's dependant on the illness and what the building is designed for. If for example it's a children's ward then there should be a greater emphasis on colour and space. For an older person ward light and space is needed for mobility reasons with beautiful views and nature | Floor to ceiling window views of nature/therapeutic outdoor environment. Sensitive use of colour, not to neutral and clinical but not too invasive e.g. yellows or orange in social or concentration zones. Same with artwork, and gives something to look at. Mixture of spaces | Clear layouts to enable most efficient care, not feeling like you are left to fend for yourself. Larger private spaces, i.e. Not just a curtain that wraps around. But not isolating so can encourage social communication if desired | Perhaps bed facing windows to allow patient to feel like they are keeping track of the 'real world' | Colourful and less clinical, not just white everywhere | What about activity rooms? Ways to make the spaces open to personalisation for home comforts (pin boards for photos or bed side tables to put photo frames) | Variation of size spaces for different use, social bigger and private smaller - natural clean materials - creative lighting, not florescent strip lights - comfortable seating
[ 9 ] I N W H A T W A Y S C O U L D M E D I C A L A N D H E A L T H B U I L D I N G S H E L P T O R E D U C E T H E S T R E S S O F T H O S E T H A T U S E T H E M ? C H O O S E
F O U R O F T H E F O L L O W I N G O P T I O N S .
[ 9 ] W H A T S P A C E S I N E V E R Y D A Y L I F E D O Y O U F I N D M O S T
T H E R A P E U T I C ? W H Y ?
ANSWER VARIATION AND SUMMARIES:
HOME:
Comfortable, personal space | comfortable, familiar environment | feel relaxed | can feel relaxed and looked after if I’m ill | relaxed and calm at home or with friends | familiar and makes me feel calm | everywhere at home, clean cosy and can do what you want
LIVING ROOM:
Family space where I feel most comfortable and myself, soft furnishings and adaptable lighting, fun | cosy and natural light, good for relaxing | can get to my garden and open the doors wide to get fresh air
BEDROOM:
Sense of peace and ttranquility| personal space | homely, safe and comfortable | my own space and can control what it is like
GARDEN / OUTDOORS / NATURE:
Natural and relaxing, avoids stress | quiet and peaceful | walks and fresh air is therapeutic for me | uplifting beneficial effect on well-being | open, green, tranquil space fresh air and natural surroundings | outside and fresh air makes me more relaxed | uses all of your senses, allows you to mentally escape | provides a feeling of freedom and space | relax, breathe, take in fresh air and surroundings | garden can make it tidy and read | park to walk home and people watch, know I’m getting closer to home | allows time to process thoughts | being in touch with nature makes me feel calm and happy | sitting in sunshine and having cup of tea | smell/sound/touch of nature makes me feel relaxed | Garden room as I feel connected to being outside because of large glass windows but feel nice and warm. Calming green on the wall.
KITCHEN:
Can cook and lose myself | listen to music and relax | My kitchen, i can cook and play music and switch off. it is a cosy but modern design
CAFE'S:
Cafe's - they have a calming atmosphere, soft architecture and nice muted tones, that are also warm and welcoming | Coffee shops I find them relaxing
OTHER:
The main pavilion building on my university campus, it is very spacious with large windows that allow a large amount of natural light in to the space. The colours all complement each other and are not too harsh. Also, the materials used to furnish the building are natural and give a contemporary feel | The shower, it's quiet and warm and easy to think in | Normally driving to work if the traffic isn't too bad just watch the morning rise and think about everything I've got to look forward to in the day. General contemplation on life | Social areas, comfortable seating | Being in a spa massage room, similar in terms of the senses e.g relaxing music to help you mentally shut off, smells etc - but also being able to have time out in a dimmed room with no natural light and maybe soft lighting is also calming | I find small personal spaces therapeutic because there are no distractions and I can think for myself without hearing other noises, depends what mood I'm in | Yoga room, contemplation and refreshed mind and body. It's relatively plain, green colour elements. Skylights | Studio with music on, plants and light, feel active | Church on a Sunday - peaceful and community feel | Games room, I can spend ages there and not get bored
HAYLEY MARCROFT
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE | NTU
N0495471