Environments that heal : an oncology centre at mediclinic midstream, South Africa

Abstract

This study focuses on creating optimal healing environments. It uses the healthcare sector as the vehicle for design, research and understanding of the negative experiences associated with healthcare environments. There is an untapped potential for these spaces to become not only curative but also spaces of healing. This provides an opportunity to conduct a critical assessment of what optimal healing environments are and the translation thereof to tangible and meaningful design. This is done through the implementation of evidence-based theories made visible through design. This transformation takes form from the concept of skin as a regenerative healing and protective organ - a comparison is drawn to buildings and their ability to perform and protect. Spaces are identified as consisting of interdependent elements and layers, which, in this study, are referred to as "enablers". These enable a designer to create spatial literacy, which is fundamental in transforming information into visible design. Ultimately, spaces can then become catalysts for healing through layers of intervention. The design outcome of the theoretical investigation is a design proposal for an Oncology Centre in the future extension of Mediclinic Midstream. The proposed design aims to reinvigorate the senses of cancer patients burdened by the emotional, biological and physiological typical of appointments at various medical practitioners, chemotherapy sessions and operating rooms. The intention is to be a reflect a movement in the field of interior design, which endeavours to shift the perception of healing in the medical sector. It encapsulates the natural and structural elements of design in an environment that stimulate the senses - imitating the ever-regenerating skin cells of the human body. Proving that that interior design should play an active and critical role the healthcare sector.

Hierdie studie fokus op die skep van optimale gesondheidsorg omgewings. Dit maak gebruik van die gesondheidssektor as die voertuig vir ontwerp, navorsing en begrip van die negatiewe ervarings wat verband hou met gesondheidsorg omgewings. Daar is 'n onontginde potensiaal vir hierdie ruimtes om nie net fisiese genesing maar ook ruimtes van emosionele genesing te word. Dit bied 'n geleentheid om 'n kritiese evaluering van wat optimale genesing omgewings is en die vertaling daarvan na tasbare en sinvolle ontwerp uit te voer. Dit word gedoen deur middel van die implementering van bewysgebaseerde teorie?, sigbaar gemaak deur ontwerp. Hierdie transformasie neem vorm binne die konsep van die vel as 'n regeneratiewe genesing en beskermende orgaan - 'n vergelyking word gevestig op geboue en hul vermo? van diensbaarheid en beskerming. Spasies word ge?dentifiseer as bestaande interafhanklike elemente en lae, wat in hierdie studie, verwys word as 'enablers'. Hierdie stel 'n ontwerper in staat om ruimtelike atmosveer te ontwerp, wat fundamenteel is in die transformasie van inligting in sigbare ontwerp. Uiteindelik, kan spasies dan katalisators word vir genesing deur lae van ingryping. Die studie neem vorm in die ontwerp van 'n onkologie-sentrum in die toekomstige uitbreiding van Mediclinic Midstream. Dit is ontwerp om die sintuie van pasi?nte gebuk onder die emosionele, biologiese en fisiologiese gebondenheid van die hospitaal afsprake, chemoterapie sessies en die operasie kamer te versterk. Die verhandeling is 'n weerspie?ling van 'n ontwerp proses wat daarop gemik is vir die verskuiwing van die persepsie van genesing in die mediese sektor. Dit omvat die natuurlike en strukturele elemente van ontwerp in 'n omgewing wat die sintuie stimuleer - boots die immer-groeiende vel selle van die menslike liggaam na. Hierdie ontwerp is in teenstelling met die meer steriele omgewing van die aangrensende hospitaal. Die doel is om uiteindelik 'n ontwerp te skep, wat die rol wat ontwerp kan speel in die gesondheids sector, te bewys.