Interior Architecture for Healthcare Settings

This chapter illustrates lessons learned from healthcare design research, highlighting how the interior architecture of hospitals can improve outcomes for patients, their families, and staff. Historically, healthcare facilities have evolved to improve quality of care through interior design strategies. Evidence-based design research shows how implementing single room–occupancy contributes to improved infection control and patient experiences; how the spatial layout of inpatient units impacts patient care efficiency; and how the design of high-risk patient care areas such as operating rooms and intensive care units (ICUs) can be transformed to improve not only patient safety but also staff workflow and performance. Additionally, studies show how specific interior design features within hospital spaces, such as positive distractions, can reduce pain, improve mental health, and potentially reduce hospital length-of-stay. Using a systems approach, this chapter focuses on high-risk and high-complexity patient care spaces, such as those in surgical and ICU environments, to describe the impact of interior design on patient safety, mental health, and staff communication and collaboration in hospitals. Drawing from best-practices and empirical findings, case studies unveil how specific interior design features are critical indicators of safety, health and experience outcomes for individuals experiencing healthcare facilities.