The Healing Potential of Architectural Design

Within the last twenty years a growing body of scientific documentation has developed suggesting that the physical environment on hospitals have an impact on patients' and staffs experience of well-being, stress and the general outcome. As Denmark is in the midst of investing and planning hospital facilities replacing the facilities designed and built in the sixties and seventies, this research is especially relevant currently.
The research project 'Healing architecture' compiled and reviewed research that links the physical environment on hospitals with patient and staff outcomes. The project addressed the question whether architectural design has a healing potential. The objective was to develop a tool that could give an overview of this research for the building clients and decision-makers responsible for the huge investments in future hospitals and healthcare facilities in the coming decade. Drawing upon phenomenological architectural theory a categorical model was developed that facilitated sorting and communicating the research findings. The project concluded that the research findings can be used to inform the decision-making in the briefing and design process. Especially well documented was the impact of light, sound, views to green outdoor areas on the experience of pain, stress and days of admission as well as on the general well-being of patients. It was therefore concluded that architecture can support the healing process of the individual.