How Healthy Buildings Lead to Healthy Users
The healthcare industry is shifting to a practice focused on both wellness and cure; providers are adopting new attitudes and embracing diverse tools to help patients live healthier lives. Connections to nature — and even thoughtfully designed buildings — are part of the equation.
For healthcare organizations, large-scale changes to foster health and wellness (such as new buildings) aren’t always possible. But change doesn’t have to happen on a grand scale to make a difference. Here are a few simple ways to positively affect wellness.
Characteristics of Biophilia
Contextual Relationships:
- Geographic Connection
- Ecological Connection
- Cultural Connection
- Site Responsive
- Internal Relationships
Perceptual Attributes:
- Safety/Refuge
- Order, Hierarchy, Complexity
- Enticement & Discovery
- Beauty
Environmental Features:
- Natural Light
- Color
- Water
- Plants
- Views/Vistas
- Airflow
- Natural Materials
Natural Patterns:
- Age, Change, Patina of Time
- Spatial Variation
- Linked Series & Repeating Elements