The Role of Glass in Humanizing Healthcare Architecture

Keywords: Healthcare architecture, glass for healthcare architecture, glass solutions in healthcare, glass solutions, healthcare spaces.

In today’s world, where the environment we inhabit significantly impacts our well-being, the design of healthcare facilities takes on critical importance. Let us explore how healthcare architecture can help shape environments.

Healthcare architecture plays a pivotal role in shaping spatial surroundings that are not only functional but also promote the well-being of patients, caregivers, and visitors.

This article highlights key takeaways from Architect Monica Gupta’s insightful webinar on glass solutions in healthcare architecture, presented by Saint-Gobain India’s Glass Academy. 

Architect Monica Gupta, a 2005 graduate of Chandigarh College of Architecture, has devoted her career to healthcare planning, inspired by the transformative power of healing architecture. With a master’s degree in the field and over 18 years of experience, she now serves as a Director at Sikka Associates Architects in Delhi. Her dedication and expertise have earned her recognition as a guest speaker at the 167th CPWD Day, where she presented on Emerging Medical Technologies in Healthcare Infrastructure.

Ar. Monica emphasises the significance of humanising hospital design through intelligent design interventions, particularly the use of glass. This webinar delves into various aspects of glass solutions in healthcare settings, focusing on how thoughtful design can improve the quality of life and even facilitate better recovery.

Understanding Health and Well-Being

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Modern hospital designs often focus on the physical well-being of patients, neglecting other critical aspects such as mental, environmental, social, and emotional needs. There is a growing need to humanise hospital design, moving beyond green architecture to address the holistic well-being of patients and caregivers.

Ar. Monica introduces the concept of RHED, highlighting two key principles: biophilic and salutogenic design approaches. Biophilic design aims to connect building occupants more closely to nature, enhancing their well-being. Meanwhile, salutogenic design focuses on creating environments that enhance the manageability, comprehensibility, and meaningfulness of patient treatment, thereby contributing to natural recovery processes.

Role of Glass Solutions in Healthcare Architecture

Glass is highlighted as a crucial element in achieving the goals of RHED. It not only enhances aesthetics but also supports health and comfort through several features:

• Natural Light: Glass allows natural light to flow into buildings, which has been proven to improve occupants’ comfort. Exposure to daylight positively affects heart rate, blood pressure, immune system, metabolism, and mood.
• Stress Reduction: Access to natural light and outdoor views helps reduce stress and provides better working conditions.
• Energy Efficiency: Modern glass technologies, such as low-E coatings and double glazing, reduce energy consumption, thereby promoting sustainability.

Ar. Monica provides examples of how the innovative use of glass can significantly impact patient recovery, support caregivers, and ensure the comfort of attendants and visitors. In patient rooms, aligning beds with windows ensures exposure to natural light and outdoor views, aiding in faster recovery and reducing stress. In general, wards using switchable smart glass solutions instead of traditional curtains, enhances hygiene and patient comfort. In chemo daycare wards, designing spaces with large windows overlooking green landscapes helps cancer patients cope better with their treatments.

For caregivers, switchable privacy glass in corridors and isolation wards allows monitoring of patients without entering contaminated areas, while windows with controlled daylight in operating rooms reduce stress during long procedures. For attendants and visitors, creating cheerful, naturally-lit reception areas reduces stress, and decentralized OPD waiting halls with ample natural light and ventilation reduce chaos, while improving the overall experience.

Future Trends and Innovations

Ar. Monica further discusses current trends and innovations shaping healthcare architecture:

• Smart Technologies: In modern healthcare spaces, the integration of smart technologies such as patient portals, dashboards, wearable gadgets, and IoT-based systems play a crucial role in enhancing patient care and operational efficiency. Patient portals allow for easier access to medical records and communication with healthcare providers, while dashboards provide real-time data analytics for better decision-making. Wearable gadgets monitor patient health remotely, enabling continuous care, and IoT-based systems automate routine tasks, improving workflow efficiency throughout healthcare facilities.
• Biophilic and Salutogenic Design: There is an increasing emphasis on biophilic and salutogenic design principles in healthcare architecture. The biophilic design integrates natural elements like greenery, natural light, and water features into the built environment, promoting stress reduction, faster recovery times, and overall well-being among patients and staff. Salutogenic design focuses on creating environments that enhance patients’ sense of control, understanding, and meaningful interaction with their surroundings, which supports natural healing processes and improves treatment outcomes.
• Sustainability: Eco-friendly designs and materials are integral to creating healthier and more sustainable healthcare environments. Energy-efficient glass, for example, reduces energy consumption by optimizing natural light while maintaining thermal comfort. Sustainable materials and construction practices minimize environmental impact and promote long-term operational efficiency. Integrating sustainability into healthcare spaces reduces carbon footprints, lowers operational costs, and contributes positively to public health and environmental stewardship.

Challenges in Healthcare Architecture

Ar. Monica also shared insights and the obstacles encountered while designing healthcare facilities:

• Changing Requirements: Flexibility in design to accommodate new technologies and changing client demands.
• Emergency Adaptations: Quick modifications in response to emergencies, such as altering HVAC systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Cultural Considerations: Balancing cultural requirements, such as providing smoking zones or specific facilities for doctors during long procedures.

Selecting the Right Site for Healthcare Facilities

Selecting the right site for healthcare settings is critical to its success. Key considerations include understanding the demographics and healthcare needs of the catchment area, and ensuring the facility can effectively serve its target population. Proximity to essential services such as transportation hubs and emergency services is crucial for ensuring timely access to care. Additionally, evaluating existing competition from nearby healthcare facilities helps gauge market saturation and identify potential gaps that the new facility could address. By carefully analyzing these factors, healthcare providers can make informed decisions that maximize the facility’s accessibility, effectiveness, and overall impact on the community it serves.

Collaboration and Interdisciplinary Approach

Ar. Monica emphasizes that effective healthcare architecture demands close collaboration with healthcare professionals and stakeholders. An interdisciplinary approach is essential, where architects work closely with medical staff to understand their needs and operational workflows. This user-centered design ensures that the final structure meets the needs of patients, caregivers, and visitors by incorporating their feedback and preferences.

The webinar underscores the importance of humanizing hospitals through thoughtful design. By integrating elements such as glass for healthcare spaces, architects can create environments that promote healing, reduce stress, and enhance the overall welfare of all users. Embracing the healing power of glass solutions and other sustainable materials in healthcare architecture can significantly elevate the human experience.