FEATURE A PICTURE OF HEALTH
How can the colour of flooring in healthcare settings affect patient and staff wellbeing and outcomes? Tomorrow’s Care talks to Dr Axel Buether, one of the world’s leading colour experts and pioneer of modern evidence-based colour psychology, who has worked in collaboration with Bona to develop a new colour collection.
TOMORROW'S CARE: TELL US ABOUT YOUR COLOUR RESEARCH
Dr Axel Buether: I head up the Institute for Colour Psychology at the University of Wuppertal in Germany, and my research projects focus on the effects of colour on the human brain and how colour impacts experience, behaviour, wellbeing and health in various living and working environments.
What makes my research different is that unlike conventional studies, which are confined to laboratories, my research is grounded in empirical data drawn from real-life contexts, with studies taking place across multiple sectors including healthcare and hospitals.
I am also the author of the book The Mysterious Power of Colors, a popular science bestseller that details how colour controls our behaviour without us noticing, what role it plays in our wellbeing and health, and how it affects our psyche.
TC:HOW DID YOUR CAREER IN COLOUR BEGIN?
DAB: My career began with training as a stonemason and working as a restorer and freelance stone sculptor. This led to studying architecture in London and Berlin. Aſter setting up a successful design agency, I achieved a doctorate in perception psychology and environmental design, and accepted a professorship in Color Light Space at Burg Giebichenstein University of Art and Design in Germany.
TC:TELL US ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATION
WITH BONA DAB: I collaborated with Bona on the development of the Bona Resilient Colour Collection – an exciting range of new products that has never existed in the healthcare sector before.
What’s unique about the collection is that it has been specifically tailored to the needs of patients and staff in organisations across the healthcare sector such as nursing and care homes, hospitals, children’s clinics, therapy centres and more.
With the Bona Resilient Solution Colour Collection, interior environments are transformed into tranquil sanctuaries contributing to increased trust and confidence of the healthcare workforce, while also improving staff focus and patient experience.
The collection is for use on the renewal of resilient flooring – an option which is saving organisations in the healthcare sector thousands of pounds. Rather than removing an old resilient surface, such as linoleum, PVC or rubber, resilient renewal transforms the old flooring in situ into a brand-
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new looking surface but without the high cost of a brand- new installation. It is also a much more environmentally sustainable option and can be completed much quicker than a new floor installation.
TC:HOW DOES NATURE AFFECT OUR HEALTH?
DAB: Nature has always had a fascinating effect on us humans. But did you know that even a simple look at nature can have a significant positive impact on your health and wellbeing?
Nature has indeed long been associated with health and wellbeing, and the Bona collection goes beyond pure aesthetics and creates environments that promote health in every way.
This phenomenon is the subject of intensive research in various scientific fields – from psychology and neuroscience to environmental science.
Biophilia is a term coined by the American biologist E.O. Wilson and literally means ‘love of nature’. He describes the innate relationship between humans and nature, which was deeply rooted in our evolutionary history and is crucial for the survival of our species.
Not only the direct view of nature, but also the natural design of interiors, for example with plants, natural materials and colours, creates many positive effects on our wellbeing and our health. This aspect of spatial design and environmental psychology is therefore of central importance for the entire health sector. A progressive and humanistic design of care facilities, therapy centres and hospitals that integrates elements of nature contributes to improved patient wellbeing, faster recovery and lower stress levels for staff. Colours play a central role in our perception and have a significant influence on our mood and wellbeing.
TC:WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF FLOORING COLOUR
IN HEALTHCARE? DAB: For organisations in the healthcare sector, providing a healthy environment is front of mind, but commonly the surface walked on may not have entered the conversation.
Resilient flooring such as PVC, rubber, and linoleum features heavily in the sector, largely due to its cost-effectiveness, durability and ergonomics – yet it also has a hidden attribute that organisations could exploit to create a positive atmosphere and enhance the wellbeing of not only patients and visitors, but staff too.
The effects of colour choice in a healthcare environment are immense. By incorporating natural elements into interior spaces, starting with the floor colour, it can profoundly
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