STUDY OF HEALING ARCHITECTURE

A DISSERTATION

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the

requirements for Ninth Semester of the degree

of

BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE

by

DIKSHA

B. ARCH/20001006026

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE DEENBANDHU CHHOTU RAM UNIVERSITY

OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, MURTHAL (SONIPAT), HARYANA – 131039
(INDIA)
TABLE OF CONTENT

CHAPTER-1 SYNOPSIS
1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................
1.2 Problem statement ...................................................................................
1.3 Research questions .................................................................................
1.4 Aim ...........................................................................................................
1.5 Objective ..................................................................................................
1.6 Scope .......................................................................................................
1.7 Research methodology………………………………………………………..
 CHAPTER 1

1.INTRODUCTION

"Architecture is the art which so disposes and adorns the edifices raised by man that the sight of
them contributes to his mental health, power and pleasure"

(Ruskin, J. 1849. The Seven Lamps of Architecture. New York: John Wiley)

The term ‘healing architecture’ was first coined in the 1980s, and is a specific discipline of the
‘healing environment’, which investigates the influence of the environment on patients’ healing and
recovery process. It originates from a study published in 1984 by Roger Ulrich, Professor of
Architecture at the Centre for Health Design in Sweden. He showed that patients could be
discharged earlier, and needed fewer painkillers post-surgery, if they were in rooms with a view of
a park with trees. Later studies demonstrated which other factors are important not only for the well-
being of patients and residents, but for employees as well.

Healing through architecture has been practiced by architects and artists throughout the different
eras of architecture history using different techniques. One of these techniques is incorporating the
natural environment in the building’s exterior and interior design, like the carvings of plants and
vegetation in the Rococo style and the fluid natural forms of art nouveau. Studies have proved that
having such natural elements in the facade design with high levels of detailing are generally healing
and more reassuring. Browning introduced in his article “14 patterns of biophilic design”, Hotel
Tassel by Vector Horta as an example of such style. This is an early example of art nouveau, in
which fluid natural forms and colours create a calming, restorative effect. (Browning, 2014)

Focusing mainly on function and forgetting all the meaningful aesthetics, this trend has suddenly
stopped in the 20th century with the industrial revolution, which introduced the minimalistic approach
of modern architecture and healing effects a building could have on its user. This movement has
spread widely becoming international and spreading its hazardous effects on human beings in
different regions, and raising the first cases of sick building syndrome. (Salingaros, 2015)
Architects are designing buildings with well-being in mind, according to the Global Wellness
Institute. In other words, buildings that make us, practically, healthier and happier We spend up to
90% of our time within building, so even the spaces where we stay, work and rest have an effect on
our well-being how we tend to feel, eat and even sleep at night. Spaces are a good medium for
emotional impact. Wherever strong emotions are high, objects, noises, tastes, light, and colour have
a huge impact on how people view themselves and cope with their environments. For example, the
experience of the patient is often underrated in hospital healing spaces that contribute to recovery,
overshadowed by the roles and operations of medical treatments and busy schedules. (Brown,
2016)

The human body, when put in supportive healing conditions, has an incredible ability to "self- heal."
A variety of factors include maintaining a safe environment, ranging from natural elements to man-
made facilities. Citizens living in urban areas prefer to spend most of their time in an indoor
environment where people are exposed to diseases associated with housing Moreover, the choices
we make related to the use of energy resources, building materials, and waste disposal practices,
all lead to a two-way street-one leading to an enhanced way of life, personal health and
environmental safety, and the other leading to increased pollution and slow deterioration of the
quality of nature. (Paiva, 2018)

Fast-growing technology has changed daily life. Humans try hard to learn new technologies and
adapt to changing environments. However, humans are one of the slowest evolving animals.
(Giedion, 2002)

They cannot keep up with the speed of growing technology during their limited lifespan. The original
purpose of developing advanced technology is to make humans more comfortable but this fast-
growing technology causes stress.

Many architects and physicians are currently fighting the sick glass buildings of the international
style with green architecture and many new emerging theories leading back to biophilic design,
which aims to reincorporate the natural environment into human dwellings with the purpose of
healing and producing healthy communities on the building scale and urban scale. This approach
is especially encouraged in -yet not limited to-health care buildings, because of its effect in helping
patients heal faster. (Browning, 2014)

Many previous researchers have approached healing environments from a theoretical perspective.
This research focuses on the methods of implementing the concept of healing architecture in place
design. It explores different building elements which can be designed to aid healing, and further
expands the scale into healing gardens and restorative urban design. All with the aim to set a list of
recommended strategies and approaches including new trends of biophilic designs that can lead to
healthy, and well-designed spaces that promote healing and stress reduction.

1.2-PROBLEM STATEMENT

Spatial quality is defined as strategies in designing spaces. The spatial qualities of form, colour,
texture, sound and light will affect the human behaviour in an enclosed space. In architecture, a
space is not just a simple physical space; the Architects take a lot of consideration in designing a
space that had the spatial quality whether it is a good space or bad space. In relation of creating a
space that can influence people psychologically, it is called experiential or sensory space by
enhancing all five senses through visual, acoustic, olfactory, thermal or tactile. Hence, in designing
a space there are a lot aspects to be consider such as the location of windows, type of materials for
walls and floors, lighting and depth of the space.
Thus, the research will focus on:
a) The appropriate healing environment in urban setting which could help reduce the stress and
enhance psychological health and well-being.
b) Integrating elements of nature in healing environments promote ―self healing.

1.3-RESEARCH AIM

The research aim is to apply the natural environment; such as day-lighting, water element, and
views and garden, to enhance the spatial quality of healthcare design to support healing
environment.

1.4-RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

The research objectives for this study are:

i) To identify the relationship between human health and environment.
ii) To find out the effect of integrating the natural environment within the healthcare facilities in
order to create a healing environment.
iii) To outline environmental strategies that can be applied in healthcare buildings to promote a
healing environment.
1.5 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The research questions use to conduct the study are;

a) What are the environmental factors that influence the people psychologically?
b) How does the natural environment can affect the indoor environmental quality and human
wellbeing?
c) What are the architectural design guidelines for space planning to support a healing environment?

1.6-SCOPE

The current design of healthcare buildings is mostly described as harsh and rigid, rarely designed
as therapeutic and causes the occupants to become depressed and stressed. The study focuses
on spatial quality of the space design that can affect human wellbeing.

1.7-SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The significance of the study is to find out what elements that can enhance healing environment,
more specifically, methods in which to provide Architectural solutions in space design that can
transform the spatial quality to create a healing environment that could promote self-healing through
the application of natural environment in healthcare building.

1.8-RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research methodology used in this study is aimed in identifying and collecting the data regarding
the application of natural environment in space design that promotes healing environment. The
study starts with collecting data on environmental factors that affect human health psychologically.
This is to identify the spatial qualities needed in space design to achieve a healing environment.
Subsequently, the issues are further derived based on the objective of outlining the relationship of
natural environment with human health through literature reviews of natural environment and effect
of plants on indoor environmental quality.
 The research focuses on selected case studies to understand the design principles and design
approach and also identifies the architectural solutions on the spatial quality of space design that
promotes self-healing.

LITERATURE STUDY

EXPLORE ARCHITECTURAL PARAMETERS OF SPACE WHICH LEADS TO WELL BEING OF HUMAN

IMPACT OF ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT OF SPACE OF HUMAN NERVOUS SYSTEM

CASE STUDIES/DATA COLLECTION

COLLECTION OF SECONDRY OR PRIMARY DATA OF DIFFERENT SPACE WHICH PROMOTE WELLNESS

AND HEALTH CARE CENTRE TO STUDY THE SPACE AND ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

DRAW INFERENCE FROM LITERATURE STUDIES AND CATE STUDIES.