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Designing Health
he ancient Greek archi- in the patient or his fami-
tects seemed to have ly.
Thad the right idea about Starting in the front
the design of healthcare facili- lobby and main waiting
ties or “temples of healing”. areas, medical facilities
These were complex and elab- must impart the promise
orate buildings within which of care and of emotional
were gardens, libraries, and support … not just in
even theatres. It appears that plaques of goodwill on the
the philosophy of restoring walls, but within the phys-
health was to honor the weak ical design itself. The
and sick in an emotionally overall appearance of all
caring ambience. Beauty was aspects of the interior
not only for the strong and the BY BRENDA WEISS, M.S. must transmit a sense of
healthy, nor was it approached friendliness, care, trust
simply from a cosmetic stand- and confidence in the
point. Beauty and nurturing walked hand treatment to be received. Among the many
in hand, and beauty meant far more than elements and factors in the interior space,
just another “pretty” building. Beauty was the color design must be highly effective,
understood to be a fundamental human for color is indeed a great communicator
need. The human being seeks it out and visual language. As such, it is a key
because it has valuable restorative powers. messenger of the kind of care to be
Beauty in itself is a temple of healing, and it received.
was well understood by the ancient Greeks. With this in mind, the ambience of the
When illness strikes us or our family lobby must be in agreement with the quali-
members, we look to our hospitals and ty of the entire environment, namely the
healthcare facilities for our literal survival. facility. A sensitively designed waiting area
No one is ever happy over the prospect of holds promise of good care to follow. Exam
having to enter a hospital or visit a diagnos- rooms that are starkly finished or poorly
tic center for testing, even when the patient designed can lead to a patient’s lack of con-
knows it will be of great benefit to do so. fidence in the facility in general. The design
Most people feel intimidated by and fright- integrity must be maintained, so that the
ened of these facilities, which have their environment fully speaks to the institution’s
own customs, their own clothing, and lan- patient care philosophy. Corridors which
guage that often is incomprehensible. The assist in providing clear directions to a
patient and his family finds him/herself in a patient’s destination are vital in diminishing
strange land with rules that govern almost anxiety levels. This can be achieved simply
every action. The patient can feel uncertain, through the proper use of color on walls,
apprehensive, and virtually ignored. It the floor plane, and other areas, as well as in
remains within the domain of the architects effective and unambiguous signage. Correct
and designers of these establishments to lamping and light levels for various func-
speak to the needs of the patient and their tions of the hospital are also vital in main-
families and to design for comfort, under- taining an emotionally “correct” ambience.
standing, emotional support, and to pro- Other key elements in good healthcare
mote wellness. design are the proper use of artwork, floor
Architectural and interior design can patterning and other visual elements with-
support a hospital’s efficiency, functionality, in the environment, a controlled level of
and technical perfection, without sacrific- visual noise, and the incorporation of
ing humane design which focuses on the nature in effective and creative ways.
psychological and physiological well-being Keeping these general design objectives in
of the patient. Often this concept is miscon- mind when building and/or renovating
strued to be that hospitals should look like medical facilities can promote good design,
“homes” and have a highly “residential” which in turn will promote healthful design
ambience, in an effort to “minimize the and contribute to the overall reason for
institutional look”. This is just not so. Often their existence, namely to promote healing.
exaggerated charm, too much playfulness Brenda Weiss, M.S., Interior Designer /
or strength in color or even an overly casu- Professional Color Consultant, A.S.I.D.,
al aesthetic can be perceived as a poor I.A.C.C., Weiss Design Group, Inc., can be
attempt to express friendliness. In fact, reached at (954) 383-3740 or
these elements can be counterproductive to weissdesg@aol.com or visit her website at
the institutions ability to instill confidence www.weissdesigngroup.net.
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South Florida Hospital News hospitalnews.org December 2007 49
