ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
The question isn’t whether we can afford to prioritise biophilic design in healthcare – it’s whether we can afford not to. In an era of rising mental health challenges and healthcare worker burnout, nature-connected design offers evidence- based solutions that support both clinical outcomes and human flourishing.
Further reading n Cagni Williams. 2025. Midland Metropolitan
University Hospital.
https://www.cagniwilliams.com/ projects/view/midland-metropolitan-hospital.
Snøhetta featuring secluded wooden shelters near Oslo University Hospital and Sørlandet Hospital; and finally, the Acute Psychiatry Ward at Östra Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden designed by White Arkitekter, featuring a corridor-free design and healing environments, which have been studied for their positive impact on patient wellbeing and reduced aggression. The opportunity before us is unprecedented. We can
create healthcare environments that don’t just treat illness but actively promote mental health and wellbeing for everyone who enters them. These spaces can demonstrate that high-tech medical care and connection to nature aren’t opposing forces but complementary elements of truly healing environments. The decisions made today about biophilic integration will influence patient experiences, staff mental health and healing outcomes for the next half-century. We must ensure these 40 new hospitals represent not just the future of medical technology, but the future of human-centred, mentally supportive healthcare environments.
n Cagni Williams. 2025. University College Hospital, Grafton Way Building.
https://www.cagniwilliams.com/projects/view/ uclh-phase-4-and-proton-beam-therapy-unit-london-uk.
n Foges C. 2024. Creating an impression: Midlands’ massive hospital.
https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/ midlandmetropolitan-university-hospital-birmingham-cagni- williams-hkssonnemann-toon-wellbeing-recovery.
n Huntsman DD, Bulaj G. 2022. Healthy Dwelling: Design of Biophilic Interior Environments Fostering Self-Care Practices for People Living with Migraines, Chronic Pain, and Depression.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8871637.
n Living Future. 2025. Healing Through Nature. https://
livingfuture.org/case-studies/award-winner-khoo-teck-puat- hospital.
n Miola L, et al. 2025. The healing power of nature: Biophilic design applied to healthcare facilities. https://www.
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X25000624.
n Snøhetta. 2025. Consolatory shelter for long-term patients.
https://www.snohetta.com/projects/friluftssykehuset- outdoorcare-retreat.
Above: The Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore by KTPH with its superlative planting on balconies, courtyards and bridges.
Left: The award winning landscaping on the roof garden of the UCL Grafton Way Building (First NHS proton beam therapy centre) improving the wellbeing of patients, staff and residents overlooking the building.
November 2025 Health Estate Journal 63
Paul Raftery
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