Biophilic
Hospital Room
Client
Hypothetical hospital open to complimentary healing
Location
Troy, NY
Year
2019
Services
For my senior design project, I was able to chose any problem I wanted to address, so long as I used socially responsible design to solve it. I chose to work on a passion project; the problem of the negative patient experience most people have at hospitals. I narrowed this problem down further to address the patient's room. The modern day hospital is cold in aesthetics, very specialized in pharmaceuticals, and not so patient friendly. Taking a human-centered design approach, I conducted interviews, prototyped solutions, held user testing, did lots of research, carried out surveys, and received feedback from my peers. All of this resulted in the design of a new inpatient room using the principles of biophilic design. This design is not only aesthetically pleasing for the patient, but the design inherently helps the patient to heal more quickly (based on a study done comparing the use of biophilic design verses without it).
Process
For this project I used a very iterative design process called the GADIE process. GADIE stands for goals, analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation. This process is very vague and flexible, allowing me to customize it how I see fit, while still acting as a guideline. Although this website is presented linearly, each milestone I talk about (i.e. choosing a project focus, user research, prototyping, etc.) fits into the GADIE process. As you'll notice, sometimes I follow the GADIE order, and sometimes I skip steps, or go back a couple steps. I'll explain as I go, the choices I made and why. It's important to note that in order to make my process easier to follow, I grouped all of my research into one section although it occurred at different stages. To see my full process in the order it was done, I've included a graphic at the bottom of this page.
g.a.d.i.e.
Goals: Choosing a Focus
I took part in an in-class exercised that helped me start to define my goals for this Capstone project. This exercise that made me think about myself, my passions, skills I have or want to develop, and what I think the world needs right now. Next, I had to look at what I had written down and choose a topic to continue with. I continued with sustainability and the medical system. I thought about how the local community interacts with sustainability and the medical system. I came up with ideas for problems to explore on campus, in Troy (where I went to school), and on a global scale. I got a chance to talk to my class and professor about my ideas and in return I got feedback, connections, and resources to check out.
focus and stakeholders
This is a page from my notebook showing my thoughts during an in class exercise to determine a project focus and identify potential stakeholders.
Analysis: Identifying Potential Stakeholders
The bottom half of my notebook page (pictured above) was dedicated to the next step of our exercise: identifying potential stakeholders for the topics we found interesting. In my notebook they are listed under the community and larger systems headings. I had chosen to focus on sustainability and the medical system, two things I am passionate about. Some stakeholders in the community I identified included doctors, nurses, and patients. I thought about other organizations that may have an interest in the intersection of sustainability and the medical field. I thought of the Living Building Challenge, Architects, and a masters program offered through my college, called Built Ecologies.
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Analysis: Primary Research
Ethnography
Throughout my four years as a design student, I drove home once a month to go to my local hospital for medical treatment. During my time in the hospital I noticed that the only thing I liked about the hospital, was the people. A hospital is supposed to be a place you go to get better, however, not one person I spoke to liked going there. This made no sense to me; why would you not like going someplace that's purpose is to make you feel better? I realize this is a loaded question with many different answers, so I looked a little closer.
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Through observing the nurses every month, I noticed how they always tried to decorate and make the room feel more comfortable. They tended to complain about the color of the wall or the print on the curtains. Most of all they complained about how little room the caregivers of the patient had. Not only did that make a bad experience for the guests, but for the nurses as well since they had to squeeze into tight spaces to get near the patient. The lack of privacy also bothered them since this particular room was laid out so the patients faced one another.
background info
Online Research
After deciding to pursue a project I am passionate about, I went to the internet to see just how big this problem was. I found people all over the world were trying to come up with solutions. A handful of hospitals have been implementing different methods to improve the patient experience. Some methods included using technology to engage the patients, others included creating more privacy and comfort for the patient, and some focused on implementing complimentary forms of medicine, like acupuncture.
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I also looked to other industries that are focused on user experience in a space, like hotels and spas. I honed in on aspects that would be beneficial to patients, like creating a relaxing atmosphere through various design techniques. A prominent technique that I saw over and over again throughout my research in the highest rated spas and hotels was biophilic design.
interactive tech
The video above shows the interactive media wall that researchers at UCONN created for Boston Children's Hospital with the goal of creating a more positive experience for patients and their families.
What is Biophilic Design?
Before we go any further it's important to know what biophilic design is. There are tons of studies on the health benefits of spending time in nature, however, now humans are spending most of their time indoors and are not getting these benefits. In fact, being indoors may even be negatively impacting people. Biophilic design aims to fix that.
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This design theory is based on the idea that humans have an innate love of nature because we have been intertwined with nature for most of our species' existence. It has served as our home and place of refuge for hundreds of thousands of years (for the modern human). Biophilic design uses patterns found in nature and brings them indoors to give humans some of the health benefits nature provides, including decreasing stress.​
amazon spheres
One of the most high profile examples of biophilic design is Amazon's Seattle Headquarters, the Spheres. Scroll through the pictures to see the different ways they've implemented biophilic design to increase work productivity, efficiency, creativity and overall well-being of the workers. All photographs are by Alex Garland.
hotels and spas
Scroll through the gallery above to see some hotels and spas that implement biophilic design. Click on the picture if you'd like to visit their website.
There are fourteen patterns of biophilic design that act as guidelines for implementing biophilic design in the most effective way possible. They include:
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Visual Connection with Nature
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Non-Visual Connection with Nature
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Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli
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Thermal & Airflow Variability
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Presence of Water
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Dynamic & Diffuse Light
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Connection with Natural Systems
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Biomorphic Forms & Patterns
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Material Connection with Nature
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Complexity & Order
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Prospect
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Refuge
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Mystery
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Risk/Peril. An identifiable threat coupled with a reliable safeguard
Goals: Project Pitch
In class, I had the opportunity to pitch my idea of working on the user experience of hospitals to my professor and classmates. In turn, I got a lot of helpful feedback and information about their hospital experiences as well.
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Sharing my general topic with them helped me to narrow down my project scope which is reflected in my pitch shown on the right. I was given the idea to look into some European hospitals that are using digital interfaces to display nature scenes. Someone else recommended looking into physical activity offerings in hospitals. Others voiced their concerns about hospital food and the way that it was served, suggesting room service to prevent food waste.
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The need for space for visitors and the importance of being surrounded by loved ones was also brought up. These ideas brought me back to thinking about other industries that excel at the user experience.
the pitch
Here is my project pitch that I edited with feedback from my classmates.
Analysis: State of the Art Research
Now that I had determined my problem space, it was time to do some state of the art research to see what was currently being implemented. I started by looking further into biophilic design and found that there were studies on using biophilic design to help patients recover more quickly (Ulrich, XXXX). Not only were there studies on biophilic design, but I found hospitals starting to implement it.
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I noticed that the hospitals I found in the United States that were using this design method, only implemented a pattern or two each. One hospital incorporated biophilic design through digital displays that show nature scenes. Another in Iowa used essential oils to help patients relax and reduce feelings of nausea/vomiting. At the Boston Children's Hospital, they've created a rooftop garden to give their patients a place to get some fresh air and enjoy a little piece of nature. Mount Sinai is also looking into biophilic design in the realm of lighting. Specifically, they are trying to help patients sleep better by using light to support their circadian rhythms, much in the way sunlight regulates our sleep patterns.
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biophilia in hospitals
US Hospitals have incorporated biophilic patterns sporadically. Above you can see how Boston's Children's Hospital is incorporating a rooftop healing garden. Rendering by Mikyoung Kim Design.
KTPH
Above are pictures of KTPH. You can see their commitment to give as many people as possible a view of nature, come to life.
Overseas, I've noticed a more holistic approach, rather than one-off ideas. A hospital in Singapore, called Khoo Teck Paut Hospital (KTPH), is a great example of biophilic design in the medical field. Studying this hospital gave me some ideas on how to improve patient experience while also benefitting the hospital.
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KTPH is like a man-made rainforest with plants cascading over its façade. Many hospitals are concerned about an increase in maintenance when it comes to biophilic design, however, KTPH has come up with some solutions. KTPH uses neem oil on their plants, a non-toxic naturally occurring pest deterrent [Squires, 2018]. They also use louvres to ventilate the public areas by channeling the wind while allowing natural light.
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Some features I would like to add to my design that have come from my research include: circadian lighting, plants, water features, aromatherapy, natural ventilation, and views of nature.
Goals: Problem Definition
Determining a problem definition for this project was a much different approach than past projects. Because I was so close to the problem, I wanted to change basically everything about a hospital. However, I only had one semester to develop a solution so I had to do some convergent thinking and narrow my scope. While a problem definition is developed to guide my research and solution, I used surveys, research, interviews, and many iterations to land on my final problem definition.
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To help me determining the root of the problem, I used a tool called the 5 Why's. You start with an initial problem and ask "Why?". The answer to that question is your new problem. You ask why that is problem and continue at least 5 times. Breaking down the problem in this way really helps you understand the true problem which puts you in a better position to solve it.
5 whys
Here is my 5 Why's for the problem of a stressful user experience in hospitals.
Interview 1
Dr. Chuck Ventresca
I interviewed Dr. Chuck Ventresca, an acupuncturist and chiropractor, about methods to help patients heal and put them in a state of relaxation. Dr. Ventresca incorporates a variety of biophilic design principles in his office. In his office there are pictures of nature, plants to filter the air, and a sound system hooked up to each room that plays a mixture of nature sounds and music. Dr. Ventresca recommended using all of these techniques as well as full-spectrum lighting to mimic the sun. For better sleep quality he recommended blackout shades and a way to prevent the light from the machines from reaching the patient when they try to sleep. He also recommended using aromatherapy, specifically lavender, to help patients calm down and relax. For the aesthetics, he recommended “softening” the room by adding curtains made with silver (silver makes the curtains antimicrobial), wood floors, plants, and art. He pointed out that adding tapestries can help control the sound in the room. Lastly, he said if he could redesign a hospital he would change the food to be more nutritious.
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Mood Board
After talking to Dr. Ventresca about my initial idea, I took his suggestions into account and started making a mood board to communicate the direction of my designs. I used the moodboard as a tool to get feedback quickly before moving forward with a room design. The mood board incorporates a color palette inspired by nature: the dark green inspired by plants and mosses, the blue from the sky and water, the tan from wood and dirt, and finally, the gray inspired by rocks. The mood board also includes possibilities for the floor in a variety of wood stains. The decision to include wood rather than tile on the mood board was to try and incorporate natural elements wherever possible as. The center of the board includes the word wellness to communicate the goal of the room; to promote wellness through a better patient experience. You can also see pictures on the board of hotels and spas that have utilized nature to make a luxurious and relaxing experience that people enjoy.
At this point in time, I was planning on redesigning the whole hospital and got some feedback from my classmates that I may want to limit my scope to have enough time to work on it. I took this advice and moved forward towards designing just a hospital room.
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Prototype 1
Keeping in mind my progress thus far, I moved on to create a prototype of my ideas using a free app I found online called Planner 5D. I found a lot of restrictions with this software since it did not have any medical furniture or machines that I could incorporate into my design. However, it was a good starting point for getting my ideas out and getting feedback. After looking back at this iteration of the design, I realized I had only made small changes compared to the hospital rooms I had been in. From the research I have done, I knew I could do better and incorporate more biophilic design to improve the patient experience. While creating this iteration I was also creating a room on another free software that also has an app for users to see their creation in virtual reality. I thought VR would be a great way to test out my design and really immerse people in it. This software was also very limiting due to the lack of medical equipment and plants I wanted to incorporate.
prototype 1
Online designs using Planner 5D. The design features outdoor access, a television, plants, and a couch for visitors.
Prototype 2
The feedback on these prototypes agreed with my own assessment, the designs looked like bedrooms. I took to paper and pencil to be able to better communicate my designs without the limits of the accessories software has to offer. Two views of my sketched-out designs are shown to the left and below. Yes I know I'm not an artist, but I use sketching as a tool to communicate my ideas and in that aspect, this sketch was successful.
Hand-drawn room hospital room designs featuring a wood wall, plant wall, water wall, window seat with a view of nature, comfortable recliners for visitors.
prototype 2
This view shows a projector screen for the patient to watch movies and tv shows with their guests. This room also features an arched doorway in line with the pattern "Biomorphic Forms & Patterns."​
Surveys
After narrowing my scope through refining my problem definition, I started my second phase of research; interacting and listening to people. I created an online survey about hospital design and sent it out to my family, friends, and medical professional friends who forwarded it to their colleagues.
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The survey I sent out, called The Hospital Design Survey, was very open ended and had some questions that may, at first, appear irrelevant to my project. My findings confirmed a lot of what I had learned about biophilic design and the benefits it provides. I found people favored colors common in nature like blue and green. I found the people surveyed like to get outside or get some form of movement in their day when they feel stressed or sick. When asked where they felt relaxed, most people answered with some sort of place in nature. The affirmations kept coming when most people answered that their favorite place is outdoors with the second being with family.
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surveys
Above are some screenshots of responses to a handful of the questions asked on the survey. The survey was made in Google Forms.
surveys
Chart showing most people prefer to be somewhere in nature.
The participants of the survey were sure to note that they feel hospitals are currently cold, unwelcoming, and industrial. The only positives mentioned about a hospital were the nurses and the welcome desk.
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The last time most participants felt relaxed tended to be in their favorite place, which a majority answered as somewhere in nature.
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The reasons nature made people feel relaxed varied. Many said the fresh air, and calm and soothing environment are reasons they felt relaxed. I took this feedback and tried to incorporate it into my final design.
Interview 2
Infusion Suite Nurses at Cohen's Childrens Hospital
I also spoke to the infusion suite nurses at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital on Long Island. To become a nurse in the infusion suite means you have worked at the hospital for many years in various departments. I asked the nurses what they would change or keep the same about the hospital if they could redesign it. I got many answers about the layout of different departments, however, that was out of the scope of my project. When I asked them about the room specifically, they started talking about the changing the color of the room and replacing the “ugly” curtains that are already there. In addition to this they suggested outdoor spaces for the patients, caregivers, and employees. After getting their initial thoughts, I showed them the collection of images from my mood board. They immediately reacted positively with “wow” and “beautiful.” The only concern they had were the plants in Intensive Care Units (ICU). However, my design is not for the ICU so plants may be used. For an ICU, a view of plants from a window may be more appropriate along with photographs of landscapes or nature scenes. The nurses also mentioned that nurses are never approached or asked their opinions on how spaces in the hospital could be made better. A new infusion suite is currently being built at Cohen’s and not one nurse has had any input to what they would like to see incorporated into the space.
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The nurses also mentioned that there should be two TVs; one for the patient and one for the caregiver. Also for the caregiver, the nurses thought a pull out couch would be more comfortable than the recliner chairs that are currently used for overnight guests. They also voiced their opinions about the lack of hospitality from the hospital and suggested a more welcoming lobby, greeters, complimentary coffee for patients and caregivers, and an overall “zen” feeling. I brought up the concern that biophilia may contradict the hospital’s goals of making money since patient turnover may increase due to biophilia’s potential to help patients heal and have better surgical outcomes. It also makes them less likely to have complications, meaning less hospital visits in the future. However, they assured me that this would make hospitals look better and not take business away from them. Procedures are flat rate prices. Let’s say a treatment is $50,000 and all of the hospital beds are taken up which cost approximately $11,000 a night. It is in the hospitals best interest, economically, to get patients out as soon as possible so that more procedures can be done.
Interview 3
Jodi Smitts Anderson
My last interview was with Jodi Smits Anderson, the Director of Sustainability Programs at the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). Jodi works to ensure the sustainability of New York’s building projects. She is LEED certified and expressed her interest in becoming WELL certified. She was very excited when I explained that I wanted to use biophilia in a hospital. LEED has a criterion for biophilic design so she was very familiar with it. We had a fascinating conversation about how to incorporate biophilia into a hospital. She recommended adjustable lighting in each room to optimize light for aging eyes as well as for the time of day. The light should be amber before bed, mimicking the sun, to allow for hormone levels to change and make for a better night’s sleep.
A common theme that has come up from iteration to iteration is control. We discussed that giving the patient control of their environment, or at least a sense of control, could be beneficial in improving their health and experience. She recommended allowing the control of lights, sounds, and thermal comfort. She brought up the problem of giving too much control may overwhelm patients. My solution to that is a health concierge that would explain everything to the patients. Jodi also spoke to me about using the intake process to help customize the patients’ rooms by asking them about their preferences, like music. She suggested an interesting layout for the rooms unlike anything I had ever thought of. She brought up the idea of arranging the hospitals rooms as a suite with a common area, similar to suites in a college dorm. My concern with this design is it decreases a nurse’s access to get into a patient’s room easily and quickly. She also recommended an outdoor facility for patients and caregivers and rooms that look over it.
background info
User Testing
User testing happened iteratively throughout my design process. I would give users an open ended question about how to improve hospitals and then share with them my thinking and progress I had made on designs. With their feedback I would then iterate my designs like I did when I got feedback from classmates, nurses, doctors, and others. I also used my in class presentations as a way to get some user feedback. During the presentation I played nature sounds and diffused lavender essential oils. I also dimmed the lights so they were not so harsh. I feared this would make my classmates sleepy but the feedback contradicted this. Many classmates said it made them more focused on my presentation and they were disturbed when the sounds were shut off. They hadn’t realized how soothing it was until it was shut off. I took this as a good sign that everyone preferred the sounds, lighting, and aromatherapy, and did not want them to end.
Final Prototype
I chose to design a one bed large room to make for a better patient experience. I found that a large portion of hospitals are converting rooms or building new ones that are 1 patient rooms. The size of the room accommodates visitors as well as giving the patient room to get up and walk around if they are able and desire to. The room can be seen below in Fig. 9 and includes one bed, one pull out couch, a large recliner with cup holders, two televisions, a tray table, a nightstand, a dresser, a living wall, a wooden wall, and a water feature. The couch allows visitors to be comfortable, a problem I have found both in my own experience and in an article accounting bad patient experiences [Haldar et al., 2017]. Also, when speaking with my classmates, they unanimously wanted visitors and an area for them. They saw current hospital rooms as problematic for visitors to come. Two televisions are in the space so that caregivers can watch what they want while the patient can watch what they prefer. They can also watch television together if the caregiver sits in the chair next to the patient or if the patient sits on the couch with the caregiver. The tray table is standard in hospital rooms and is quite helpful to the patient, allowing them to eat, go on the computer, or write while comfortable in bed. A nightstand is included for the patient to have easy access to items of their choosing and the dresser allows the patient and caregiver(s) to store clothes if their stay is prolonged. A mini refrigerator is available upon request and allows patients to bring food and beverages from home or to store food that visitors may bring them. A microwave is also included so they may heat up their food.
final prototype
View of the newly designed hospital room from the doorway entering the room. On the right is a living wall and water wall. To the left of that on the back wall is a dresser and coat rack for the patient’s clothes. A patient bed is against the wooden wall which features a piece of nature art. A large recliner is to the left of the patient bed for caregivers. A nightstand is to the right of that but is hidden in this image. In the center of the room are two ceiling mounted TVs. Curtains that can block out the light dress the windows and finally there is a pull out sectional for caregivers and visitors spending the night.
final prototype
View of the room focused on the plant wall, water wall, and wooden wall.
Many plants, a living wall, a wood wall and a water wall are all included in this design to increase the patient’s exposure to nature to help the patient be more relaxed [Ward Thompson et al., 2012]. This also helps them to reap the benefits that nature has to offer such as a quicker recovery time [Ulrich, 1984]. Additionally, the plants help to filter the hospital air [Wolverton, 1989] and meet the tenth biophilic design requirement. The water wall also doubles as a relaxing sound feature. The aesthetics meet the requirements of the first principle of biophilic design; visual connection with nature [Browning et al., n.d.]. The water wall also allows the second and fifth principle of biophilic design to be met; non-visual connection with nature and presence of water, respectively [Browning et al., n.d.]. The wood wall fulfills the ninth requirement; material connection to nature [Browning et al., n.d.]. These features can be shown more clearly in Fig. 10, below.
There are three large windows that allow for a view of nature which incorporates patterns one, eight, and eleven [Browning et al., n.d.]. Curtains sporting a biophilic design pattern surround the patient’s bed and windows and can be easily drawn for privacy. They meet criteria 2, 8, 9, and 12 [Browning et al., n.d.]. The pattern on the curtains is part of Designtex’s biophilic line, meaning the patterns and textures were inspired by nature. A close up of the curtain I chose is shown in the lower left corner of the image to the right.
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The room’s color palette aligns with my initial research of biophilia. In other words, the colors are inspired by nature. More specifically the colors are inspired by moss, trees, grass, plants, water, the sky, rocks, wood, dirt, and sand. These serve as subtle reminders of nature.
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final prototype
final prototype
View of room featuring windows with a view of nature, preferably, and curtains with a biophilic design. These are blackout curtains that block the light so patients may nap during the day.
After speaking with Dr. Ventresca and Jodi, it became clear that circadian lighting should be included in the design of the room. Changing the tone of the light to mimic the color temperature of the sun can help patients’ sleep patterns. When a person is exposed to the light from sunrise to sunset, their circadian rhythm is set to 24 hours. These rhythms are biological rhythms that repeat every 24 hours [Rea et. al. 2010]. If these rhythms are disrupted, a person will have an increased risk for “breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, sleep disorders, and other ailments” [Rea et. al. 2010]. To minimize these risks and promote better sleep quality, the light in the morning will be bright and cool in temperature (more blue), while the lighting in the evening will dim, become less intense, and warmer in temperature (more red), like the sunset. This also goes along with the sixth pattern of biophilic design; dynamic and diffuse light [Browning et al., n.d.]. Additionally, the patient will have control of dimming the light since many patients may be sensitive to bright light. A large window will also be incorporated to allow for as much natural light as possible, further connecting humans to nature as mentioned in the second biophilic design pattern [Browning et al., n.d.]. This window will also be able to open, allowing for fresh air to circulate throughout the room. The second biophilic design principle recommends this. A curtain to block the light will also be available to allow patients to sleep better and take naps if they wish and can be seen in the image to the left.
All of the materials used in the design are also inspired by nature. There are wood floors and a wood wall, bringing natural elements inside. This follows principles eight and nine of biophilic design; biomorphic forms & patterns, and material connection with nature [Browning et al., n.d.]. The fabrics are also inspired by nature. As mentioned above, the curtains are made from Designtex’s biophilic patterns. The couch’s color and the linens are also inspired by nature, more specifically stones. This follows the second, eighth, and ninth patterns of biophilic design. Based on feedback from a survey, patients will also be provided with a fleece blanket to make them more comfortable [Hospital Design Survey].
final prototype
A view of the patient’s side of the room. An essential oil diffuser can be seen on the nightstand.
Speakers will be incorporated into the room and the patient will be able to control the sounds, music, and volume with a universal touch screen remote, similar to a tablet. This remote will also control the other features I have mentioned like light, aromatherapy, and thermal controls, as well as the TV. Nature sounds, nature sounds accompanied by music, “spa” music, as well as all other types of music will be available for the patients to choose from. Providing access to nature sounds fulfills the second, third, and tenth biophilic design patterns.
Patients will also gain control of an essential oil diffuser with various essential oils with recommendations on which oils can ease their symptoms. These oils are the most pure form of the plants and fulfills the second and tenth biophilic design pattern. The patient can also pick a scent that is pleasing to them regardless of their symptoms. The essential oil diffuser is placed on the nightstand on the image to the right.
As I previously mentioned, a hospital room is part of a whole system and while redesigning just the room can have a great impact on the patient, supplementing the design with a variety of services, will further benefit the patient and their experience. Since there are so many customizable features of the hospital room, a health concierge will be employed to explain these various features along with the remote that controls the room. According to a paper by Shefali Haldar, et. al., many patients’ experiences have been ruined by a lack of communication and information [Haldar et. al., 2017]. Therefore, the health concierge will also be the go to person for any questions and will help connect the patients and their caregivers to the people who can help them. There will also be access to a gym, small personal fitness equipment, like resistance bands, as well as a physical therapist or personal trainer. This decision stemmed from conversations with Jodi as well as survey results that show a majority of the people surveyed, participate in some sort of physical activity when they are stressed or not feeling well [Hospital Design Survey]. Of course, the doctors in the hospital would “prescribe” the proper amount of activity for the patient’s specific situation. A nutritionist would also meet with the patients to insure their dietary needs are being met, as well as creating a meal plan for when they leave the hospital. Rather than have food carts that come to each floor of the hospital, patients will be able to order room service so they can eat when they are hungry and prevent food waste. This decision came from a class discussion in which one classmate recalled the amount of food that was wasted when his grandfather was in the hospital, purely because he wasn’t hungry when the food was brought up. Finally, there will be a variety of outdoor spaces for patients to get fresh air and get back in touch with the environment.
There is a plethora of research available for how to better the patient experience and improve their health outcomes. However, most hospitals are not utilizing this knowledge to help people due to maintenance and pest warnings that KTPH has demonstrated is not a problem. This research project uses this research to redesign a hospital room which is socially regarded as a cold place, to make it one that is comfortable and healing. Not only were research papers consulted, but the people in the field who interact with hospital rooms were consulted as well. Professionals on a variety of levels including doctors, nurses, and medical/nursing students were consulted to try to obtain as many points of views as possible.
Results
The final hospital room takes elements I have learned about through research and speaking with stakeholders, as well as user feedback, to create a room that allows for a better patient experience. The room is designed for adult use and the principles used in its design can be applied to hospitals throughout the country and potentially other countries. I made the final prototype using SketchUp, a free three dimensional modeling software. I have designed this room using biophilia and human-centered design. Had I had enough time to do more user testing, I would compare my design to a standard hospital room through immersing users in both experiences.
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Can be used in rehab facilities and short term private care where they may have more money to spend. Trickle down to hospitals when results are seen.
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