Ancient Medicine & Hospital Architecture

Ancient Medicine & Hospital Architecture: The Greco-Roman influence on contemporary hospitals

Prins, Tjeerd (TU Delft Architecture and the Built Environment; TU Delft History, Form & Aesthetics)

Peeters, R.V.M. (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

Architecture, Urbanism and Building Sciences

AR2A011

2024-04-18

It can be imagined that, due to fast technological innovation in the field of healthcare, current Western medicine distanced itself from ancient knowledge and practices. The aim of this thesis was therefore to find out to what extent it is possible to still recognize influences of classical medical texts and architecture in contemporary hospital architecture. Greco-Roman literature was studied to construct a theoretical framework of architectural principles that relate to classical healthcare methods. This was complemented by principles found in two case studies of Greco-Roman healthcare architecture. The framework was then applied in a case study of the nursing department of the Erasmus MC. It was possible to conclude that the case study shows many similarities to the derived framework, such as the prioritization of flexibility, focus on the individual, and climate control. In addition, some differences were discovered, such as how flexibility is achieved, the relation of the hospital to the city, and the use of daylight. This proves that Greco-Roman influences can still be found in contemporary Western hospital architecture.

AR2A011
Greco-Roman healthcare
contemporary hospital architecture
classical literature
ancient medicine

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:31f2ae7b-1965-470d-9035-a66f9d02cb59

Student theses

student report

© 2024 Tjeerd Prins