「英中对照」亲生命设计在医疗设施中的作用

Nature-inspired design can support staff well-being and create more welcoming, human-centered healthcare environments.

Key Takeaways:  

• A biophilic design strategy includes daylight, which helps regulate sleep and alertness, while views of trees, gardens or water can offer a calming distraction from pain and anxiety. Patient rooms should be arranged so patients can comfortably see outdoors, while designers also manage privacy and room function. 
• Effective outdoor areas provide varied experiences, such as accessible paths, quiet sheltered seating, sensory plantings and opportunities for therapeutic activities. Accessibility — including smooth surfaces, wheelchair access, regular seating and clear wayfinding — is essential. 
• Natural materials, patterns, artwork and environmental graphics can make spaces feel more welcoming and help people navigate complex buildings. These elements should be durable and cleanable; the goal is to combine the benefits of nature-inspired design with infection prevention, maintenance and accessibility requirements. 

Research into biophilic design continues to reinforce the importance of nature in the built environment, especially in healthcare settings where patients and visitors may spend long periods of time indoors.  

“I define biophilic design in healthcare as the intentional integration of nature, natural systems and nature-inspired elements into the built environment to support physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing,” says Jennifer Turner, senior interior designer for healthcare practice at Little Diversified Architectural Consulting. “For me, biophilic design is not about adding natural details. It is about designing with an understanding of our relationship to nature and using that connection to create healthier, more human-centered environments.” 

Daylight and views of nature are very important considerations when integrating biophilic design into healthcare facilities.  

“Daylight plays an important role in regulating our circadian rhythms, which influence sleep, alertness and overall well-being,” Turner says. “Views of nature also provide what we often describe as a positive distraction. Looking outside at trees, observing changing weather or watching the movement of water can temporarily shift someone's attention away from pain, anxiety or the clinical activities surrounding them.” 

In a patient room, for example, windows should be positioned to bring daylight deep into the space while providing a meaningful view of the outdoors from the patient’s bed. Arranging the bed so a patient can see the grounds without having to turn awkwardly can make the view a more consistent part of the experience. Family seating can also be positioned near the window, allowing visitors to share that connection. 

Window placement should also be coordinated with the room’s functional needs. Designers can consider how daylight reaches the patient bed and visitor seating, while managing glare and maintaining privacy. Where the building layout allows, orienting patient rooms toward courtyards or planted outdoor areas can provide views of nature rather than parking lots or adjacent service spaces.  

Where windows are limited, including imaging departments and interior corridors, complementary strategies may include circadian-supportive lighting, simulated skylights and nature-inspired artwork. Turner notes that some studies of simulated nature experiences have reported reductions in patient stress and anxiety, although outcomes vary by intervention and setting. 

Healing spaces 

Healing gardens and courtyards extend biophilic design beyond the building envelope.  

“A restorative outdoor environment should provide opportunities for people to reconnect with nature in ways that support their individual needs,” Turner says. 

That means designing outdoor spaces with a range of experiences in mind, from open gardens and accessible walking paths to quiet, sheltered areas for reflection. 

“In hospice environments, healing courtyards provide caregivers and families with a restorative retreat from the emotional demands of end-of-life care,” Turner says. “Access to nature, fresh air, daylight and quiet seating offers opportunities for reflection, emotional decompression and moments of peace. These thoughtfully designed spaces support caregiver well-being by providing calm, privacy and a connection to nature during an emotionally challenging time.” 

HFT Recommends: The Benefits of Biophilic Design in Healthcare Facilities

Sensory elements can make these environments more engaging. Ornamental grasses moving in the wind, seasonal plantings, familiar fragrances and the sounds of nature can strengthen connections to the outdoors. Edible gardens and raised planters may also encourage participation in therapeutic activities. 

“Accessibility must remain a priority. We need to consider smooth walking surfaces, appropriate transitions, wheelchair access, seating at regular intervals and clear wayfinding,” Turner says. 

These principles also apply to staff outdoor spaces. Providing accessible gardens and quieter areas away from busy clinical environments can give healthcare employees opportunities to decompress during demanding shifts. 

Natural materials and nature-inspired patterns offer additional opportunities to make healthcare interiors feel less institutional. 

“One of the biggest misconceptions is that biophilic design simply means adding plants, wood-look finishes or nature-inspired artwork,” Turner says. “We should consider how natural light, spatial relationships, materials, environmental graphics and outdoor connections work together.” 

Natural patterns offer an opportunity to incorporate biophilic principles.  

“Richard Taylor and other researchers have explored how viewing certain naturally occurring patterns, such as those found in tree canopies, water and landscapes, can influence physiological stress responses,” Turner says. “Healthcare environments can incorporate these patterns through artwork, architectural forms and environmental graphics.” 

For facility managers, these strategies require careful material selection. Wood-look finishes, for example, can provide the visual warmth of wood while allowing designers to specify surfaces suited to cleaning and maintenance requirements. Organic patterns can be incorporated into durable wall coverings, and nature-inspired graphics can bring visual interest to corridors and treatment areas. 

“In the interior environment, we can incorporate durable, cleanable materials that evoke natural elements while still meeting healthcare requirements for infection prevention and maintenance,” Turner says.  

Flooring and visual transitions also require particular attention. Large, high-contrast patterns or abrupt changes between materials can make surfaces appear uneven or create confusion for some patients, particularly those with visual or cognitive impairments.  

“The goal is not to compromise clinical performance for aesthetics. It is to find opportunities where the two can work together,” Turner says.  

Biophilic design can have a role in patient rooms, waiting areas, behavioral health environments, staff spaces and circulation areas.  

“In our healthcare projects, we have used nature-inspired imagery, large-scale murals and environmental graphics to establish recognizable landmarks,” Turner says. “These features can help patients and visitors navigate complex facilities and may reduce the interruptions staff experience when giving directions.” 

The key is to integrate these principles throughout the facility rather than concentrating them in a lobby or a single feature space. 

“I believe biophilic design will continue to evolve from aesthetic consideration into a more integrated component of healthcare planning and evidence-based design,” Turner says. “Ultimately, I believe the future of healthcare design is about creating environments that not only support care delivery but also recognize the human need for comfort, connection and restoration.” 

Elaina Myers is the assistant editor of the facilities market. She has covered various topics from pest management to resilience to sustainability and covers all holidays and special days in the facilities field. She also manages the FacilitiesNet social media accounts.