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