INTERIOR DESIGN
The impact of hi-tech medical equipment is humanised through the use of integrated joinery and art at The London Clinic Cancer Centre.
Use of high quality finishes, a warm colour palette and artwork give a feeling of a hospitality space in the waiting areas at The London Clinic Cancer Centre.
and also supports way finding and wellbeing for patients, visitors and staff. The integration of nature into interior design requires access to filtered natural light and external views, which may include a visual connection to sky, water and vegetation. For example, at the South West Acute Hospital in Northern Ireland, all patient circulation routes benefit from natural light. Glimpses of the beautiful landscape of Fermanagh are possible from all locations within the hospital, including patient bedrooms, consultation and examination rooms, cafes and public amenities. Similarly, at the Meyer Children’s Hospital in Florence, a large atrium space creates a visual dialog between the inside spaces and nature, and the design of the structural columns within the atrium take the shape of trees, providing a further connection with the natural world. Where a genuine connection with
Conversely, the use of accent colours alongside a neutral base palette can add interest, achieving the design goal of variety, while aiding way finding and zoning. This approach was used successfully at the Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto to create an interactive and age appropriate environment. It is important to remember that
colour also has cultural connotations. For example, in Naufar Wellness Centre in Qatar, the main patient clinic is decorated in a pale, almost white, colour palette, which symbolises purity in Arabic cultures. However, in the Chinese culture, a similar colour palette would have connotations of death and grief.
Outdoor spaces Aligned to the spatial organisation and interior palette selection is the need to connect the indoor environment with the outdoor space wherever possible. Access to the exterior and natural environment has been proven to accelerate healing
IFHE DIGEST 2018
nature is not possible, artwork and technology can be a viable substitute for views and daylight. For example, at the London Clinic, to overcome the lack of views, digital technology in the waiting area helps patients to relax with live virtual views of Regent’s Park, while in the Cancer Centre at Guy’s Hospital, a digital art installation in the lifts gives the patient the experience of travelling from a forest floor up thought the tree canopy.
Positive health outcomes Research has shown that the arts have the capacity to produce positive health outcomes. Evidence for art as a healing modality includes not only the visual arts, but also music and performance, media and interactive art, and art therapy in which patients, family and staff benefit from the participation in creative expression. The arts are a counterbalance to the stress-creating aspects of a medical environment; they provide opportunities
Medical equipment is integrated into the interior design to create comfortable rooms at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Doha.
for respite, make spaces more personal and add elements of discovery and delight. They are also a key component in creating a culturally relevant environment in a building design driven by international standards.
It is also within the remit of the interior
architect to ensure that the spatial layout enables wider integration of performance arts with wellness centred design principles. The success of the multi- purpose atrium at the South West Acute Hospital as a venue for performance and exhibitions evidences the value of this approach.
Conclusion Hospitals are functional buildings and an interior architect working in the healthcare sector should never lose sight of the practical requirements of the space that they are designing. However, if we are to redefine hospital interiors by focusing on wellness and positive outcomes rather than succumbing to illness and fear, we must think beyond the medical and remember the impact of design on people, including patients, their loved ones, their clinicians and the wider community.
IFHE 33
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