Architectural characteristics that contribute to well-being and experienced safety for innovative healthcare centres
Improving the experience of a healthcare centre through architecture
S.V. Heusen (TU Delft - Architecture and the Built Environment)
Clarine J. Van Oel – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Design & Construction Management)
P.M.M. Stoutjesdijk – Mentor (TU Delft - Architectural Technology)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Urban healthcare centres face considerable pressure due to the negative health impacts associated with cities and increasing urban density. These challenges add strain to healthcare providers already dealing with imbalances in care provision. Research indicates that environmental factors play an important role in physical recovery and stress reduction, yet many outpatient care facilities lack these beneficial features, presenting an opportunity for enhancement. By integrating healing architectural characteristics, patients can be encouraged to communicate openly about their health concerns, experiencing reduced mental and physical stress during examinations or treatments. Implementing such features not only reduces reliance on pain medication but also reduces aggression toward healthcare providers and diminishes the need for recurrent visits. This paper hypothesizes that patients' stress levels have escalated since the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily due to concerns about airborne diseases in healthcare settings. Architectural features can mitigate the risk of contracting such diseases, potentially enhancing the perceived safety within these environments. Through a review of existing literature, this paper identifies current and future hurdles in healthcare centres, including airborne diseases, and proposes evidence-based design solutions aimed at enhancing patients' visiting experiences.