LARC 493F/693A

Designing Healthy Places

Professor Wasserman

Design Project Proposal

Name: Sierra Goff

Name of Design Research Proposal: Therapeutic Gardens in Healthcare Design: Case Study and Post-Occupancy Evaluation of The Olson Family Garden

Summary of Topic (a few sentences):

- Therapeutic landscapes are by definition, “changing places, settings, situations, locales and environments that encompass both the physical and psychological environments associated with treatment or healing.” In other words, natural landscapes can play a vital role in the healing of illness. In healthcare environments, therapeutic landscapes or gardens are designed to meet the certain needs of a specific patient population - they often engage that population actively and intentionally, aiming to most importantly relieve stress. When done right, therapeutic gardens are a collaborative effort between architects, landscape architects and healthcare professionals - the doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, recreational therapists and staff members who understand the unique needs of their patients.

How Does this Topic Relate to DESIGN of HEALTHY PLACES?

- This topic relates to the design of healthy places because it has to do with how the design of therapeutic gardens contribute to healthier children's hospitals for staff, patients and their families.

Hypothesis:

- Therapeutic gardens at children's hospitals positively affect the health and wellness of staff, patients and their families.

Research Methodology:

- Literature Review (peer-reviewed scholarly articles/journals & published books)

One page Outline of Proposed Project:

1. Background

   1. The history of hospitals & healing places goes back centuries & at one time nature was seen as intrinsic to healing however, by the 20^th century this important connection was largely lost.

   2. Today, it is being rediscovered in the form of therapeutic landscapes & healing gardens in healthcare settings.

   3. The concept of therapeutic landscapes was first conceived in 1992 by Wilbert Gesler to explore why certain environments seem to contribute to a healing sense of place.

   4. Such environments were defined as therapeutic landscapes, “where the physical and built environments, social conditions and human perceptions combine to produce an atmosphere which is conducive to healing” (Gesler 1996: 96).

2. Introduction

   1. In healthcare environments, therapeutic landscapes or gardens are designed to meet the certain needs of a specific patient population.

   2. When done right, therapeutic gardens are a collaborative effort between architects, landscape architects and healthcare professionals.

   3. Hypothesis: Healing gardens at children's hospitals positively affect the health and wellness of staff, patients and their families.

   4. Research Methodology: Literature Review (peer-reviewed journals/scholarly articles, published books)

3. Types/Locations

   1. Children's Hospital Gardens

   2. Gardens for Cancer Patients, Frail Elderly, Patients with Alzheimer's & Dementia, Veteran`s & Active Service Personnel, & Mental & Behavioral Facilities

   3. Rehabilitation Gardens

   4. Hospice Gardens

4. Benefits of Therapeutic Landscapes

   1. Connecting with nature (fresh air, sunshine, hearing birds & water)

   2. Social interaction

   3. Learning new skills

   4. Getting away from hospital interior

   5. Experiencing greater freedom & a sense of control in a more familiar environment

   6. Relating to staff & family in a more relaxed way

   7. Potentially feeling less stress, anxiety, & pain

5. Case Study: The Olson Family Garden

   1. Location

   2. Design philosophy

   3. Features

   4. Description of outdoor space

   5. How the garden is used

   6. Key garden merits

   7. Possible concerns

6. Post-Occupancy Evaluation: The Olson Family Garden

   1. POE details

   2. Results/findings

   3. Conclusion

7. Conclusion

   1. Evaluation of therapeutic gardens

   2. Discuss whether or not hypothesis was supported

Bibliography

Marcus, C. C., & Sachs, N. A. (2013). Therapeutic landscapes : An evidence-based approach to designing healing gardens and restorative outdoor spaces : an evidence-based approach to designing healing gardens and restorative outdoor spaces. ProQuest Ebook Central https://ebookcentral.proquest.com

Gesler, W. 1996. Lourdes: healing in a place of pilgrimage. Health & Place, 2: 95-105