Architecture, Nature and Occupant Stress
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THE POSITIVE EFFECTS OF NATURE
Healing environments often integrate nature to help de-stress patients. Nature can be a beautiful distraction or have physiological benefits. Either way, nature is important because it has been proven to reduce pain and subsequent stress. In the book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, patients with views of trees heal more quickly and with less pain than those with views of blank walls. So, how can architecture best incorporate nature to reap all of its healing benefits for healthy environments?
BRINGING THE QUALITIES OF NATURE INDOORS
By incorporating technology, we can extract features from nature in a more conscious manner. As designers bring architecture together with nature, they can align environments with human natural biorhythms. For example, lighting properties could more closely resemble those found in natural sunlight. For better understanding, I like to think about healing gardens that are full of life and appeal to all of the human senses. Color, sound, smell, touch and sometimes even taste are embedded into garden designs. Healing gardens are places where people can find strength, both physically and mentally.
Sometimes certain healing garden characteristics can be found within healing architectural spaces. Water features, circulation pathways or social gathering areas are elements that each may have in common. From healing gardens we learn that by reaching out to the senses, design can greatly impact human well-being. The key is to appeal to human senses.
GREEN architectural features are also helping to make architectural environments more pleasant and comfortable. Interest is in spending less energy while maintaining optimal comfort conditions. In the book Ten Shades of Green, the author describes the Gotz Headquarters by stating that “every element of the building contributes to climate control”. In addition, the atrium pond and plants contribute to the indoor air quality of the building as well.
RELIEVE STRESS WITH HEALING SPACES
Unfortunately, many hospital environments are still overfilled with technology and interior design that is clunky, noisy and visually too sterile and intimidating. Patient experience in such places dampens the senses and makes patients heal in spite of their surroundings. Currently; however, there is an ongoing push to make such environments more humane, comforting and natural. Attention to color or organic textures, for example, are proving to significantly impact occupant or patient mood.
In essence, designers should not forget the healing power of nature when designing healthcare space. Again, bring forth some of what makes healing gardens so successful – such design characteristics are sure to relax, comfort and help to heal.
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I LOVE AND AGREE WHOLE HEARTEDLY with this idea! I love plants, and nature in my environment. Could you design my home to the same effect?
How do you propose overcoming issues of infection control? This is the question I am not sure I know how to answer.
Glad you agree “rdjfraser”! I love nature too!
As far as infection control – From what I understand, plants grown under correct cultural conditions have very few disease problems. As for healthcare environments, there is a clean air purification system for airborne infection control.
Additionally, designers can integrate technology using digital media and interactive architecture to embed some of nature’s characteristics without always having to use nature, itself. The key is to be selective with how and where nature and/or technology are placed.
Balance, balance, balance…
Love the ideas presented here. In regards to the question of infection control – I think it would be interesting to see how the use of more skylights and open atriums between wings of patient rooms, with natural gardens could achieve this healing. Open views of gardens and light but without having to have it in the actual rooms etc. So often hospitals etc are large box like buildings of multiple floors with views that face out over parking lots etc. It would be nice if they could face inward at a planted garden or a natural left space.