Evidence-based design shows that daylight, nature and dignity measurably improve patient recovery.
A hospital is among the most technically demanding buildings we design. Yet the difference between a good hospital and a great one is rarely technical alone — it is human.
Decades of evidence-based design research now confirm what intuition has long suggested: patients with a view of nature recover faster, require less pain medication and report higher satisfaction. Daylight regulates circadian rhythms for patients and staff alike.
In our recent rehabilitation hospital, every patient room opens onto a therapeutic garden. Materials are warm and domestic rather than clinical and cold. The result has been shorter stays and happier staff.
Designing hospitals that heal means holding clinical efficiency and human dignity in the same hand. It is difficult, and it is worth it.
Daniel Whitaker
Daniel Whitaker is a member of the Vertica team, sharing insights and perspectives from across the studio.
