Hospital RoomsThe layout and architecture of a health center can improve the lives of patients. In the past, the design of these facilities focused more on supporting patients’ health providers such as nurses and doctors rather than the patients themselves. Thus, many of the decisions made in design, execution, and operation determined the highest efficiency of services in the different areas of the hospital.
The new conception of medical care facilities is moving away from monotonous spaces, committing to the interpretation of color and light. This way, spaces impact patients’ mood and bodily self-image and can help people recover more quickly. |
Design Decision(s) |
The integration of patients, healthcare providers, and other staff in a flexible building that brings together the landscape, natural light, renewable energy, and the latest technologies shows the particularities of 21st century hospitals. Architectural studies have worked to bring nature closer to the patient’s experience with outdoor and indoor gardens, glass panels for enjoying light and the landscape, and the use of natural materials like wood and stone.
|
Social Impact |
Various studies have been done on this idea. Research in the healthcare sector has highlighted the effects of working and being a patient in new or refurbished hospital buildings. For example, a Sheffield study found that patients treated entirely in the new building had an average reduction of 14 percent in their length of stay (36.5 days compared with 42.4 days). Similarly, in a hospital in South East London, UK, it was found that 78 percent of the staff recorded increased levels of morale (56 per cent) following the redesign of the hospital building.
A US study conducted at a Pennsylvania hospital recorded similar results. It found that patients with open views had shorter postoperative stays 7.9 days compared to 8.7 days of patients who looked out onto a brick wall. This also affected the morale of staff in the respective wards, as the nurses working in the open view ward were less negative about their workplace. The study looked at the effects on the post-operative recovery of patients which had rooms with glass panels allowing outside view and ample sunlight to enter vs rooms with brick walls. It was found that 23 surgical patients with open view had shorter stay and required lesser medication as shown in the table below. |
Resources
University of Sheffield, School of Architecture (1999) The architectural healthcare environment and its effect on patient health outcomes: a report at the end of the first year of study, University of Sheffield, School of Architecture in association with NHS Estates, Poole Hospital NHS Trust and South Downs Mental Health Trust
Coote, A. (ed) (2002) Claiming the health dividend: unlocking the benefits of NHS spending. London; in CABE (2002) The Value of Good Design - How buildings and spaces create economic and social value, CABE, pp3
Ulrich, R. (1984) Viewing through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, Vol 224 (27), April 1984, pp420- 421
https://hbr.org/2018/10/how-the-architecture-of-hospitals-affects- health-outcomes
Coote, A. (ed) (2002) Claiming the health dividend: unlocking the benefits of NHS spending. London; in CABE (2002) The Value of Good Design - How buildings and spaces create economic and social value, CABE, pp3
Ulrich, R. (1984) Viewing through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, Vol 224 (27), April 1984, pp420- 421
https://hbr.org/2018/10/how-the-architecture-of-hospitals-affects- health-outcomes