First, Do No Harm: Integrating Wind-Generated Movement into Healthcare Spaces as a Means of Reducing Stress

Abstract

Stress is known to be detrimental to health, but many healthcare spaces inadvertently subject patients to additional stress by forcing them to wait for long periods in under-stimulating environments. This thesis examines how contact with nature, a proven stress-reducer, could be used to address this problem architecturally. Although a range of natural elements, including daylighting, natural ventilation, and indoor plants, could potentially be used for this purpose, the study argues that an effective means of reducing stress in a range of indoor healthcare environments without compromising the work of medical staff would be strategically located external vegetation. After setting out the arguments supporting this claim, the thesis demonstrates how the natural wind-generated movement of foliage can be integrated with the patient and medical staff needs in four common healthcare room types: waiting areas, examination rooms, outpatient treatment suites, and hospital inpatient rooms.