Architecture of Healing: A New Paradigm to Heal Body and Mind

Abstract

Humans are influenced by the conditions of their surroundings. The environment has a profound impact on people such that physiological condition and psychological state are affected in both conscious and unconscious ways. People in contemporary society spend much of their time within constructed buildings; however, the design of interior environments often fails to address the specific needs of a person’s body and mind. The aim of this research is to expand the boundaries of conventional spatial design and create a new paradigm of architecture in which interior environments heal both the physiological and psychological conditions of the occupants. The final product of this research will be an inpatient cardiac surgical recovery facility that expedites the recovery process and minimizes physical and psychological discomfort. The design of the facility will be developed based on scientific evidence on human-environment relationships and information from established concepts of healing.