Goede architectuur traint lichaam en geest

The design of hospitals is increasingly being based on scientific research. Spaces are designed in such a way that they contribute to the healing process - the ‘healing environment’. Thinking about the hospital of the future should not be purely focused on the optimal building. It is also important to develop a vision of the connection between the institution of the hospital and society as a whole. It could be asked how increasingly short treatment times affect the way the patient experiences hospital. A compact hospital located in a town centre could take part in local activities. It is possible that social interaction between patient and passer by could be beneficial. Prevention and health education could possibly reach larger sections of the population more simply and directly. This sort of integration between society and hospital may not only be beneficial to patient health but also to the society in general.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: none declared.