BIOPHILIC DESIGN PATTERNS AS TOOLS FOR ENHANCING PATIENTS’ HEALING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY IN THE DESIGN OF NATIONAL CANCER HOSPITAL, ABUJA
BIOPHILIC DESIGN PATTERNS AS TOOLS FOR ENHANCING PATIENTS’ HEALING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL RECOVERY IN THE DESIGN OF NATIONAL CANCER HOSPITAL, ABUJA
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2017-07
Authors
MAIKUDI, Muawiya
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
In 2014, the World Health Organization in Nigeria recorded 150,000 new cancer cases
with an estimated mortality rate of about 80,000. Even with this frightening statistic,
there are few cancer clinics and only 11 cancer registries which are located in various
teaching hospitals in different parts of the country. These facilities were approached
using a generic design as such the psychosocial needs of the cancer patients were not
considered during the planning stage. As such, this thesis aims at developing a
framework for the integration of biophilic design patterns in the design of cancer
hospital, thereby creating a connection between life, nature and the built environment
which evolve architecture that can positively contribute to the healing and psychological
recovery of cancer patients.
Based on existing literature correlating biophilic design patterns and biological
responses, strategies for the integration of biophilic design patterns were developed
based on three broad patterns of biophilic design namely; Nature in the space, Natural
analogues and Nature of the space. These strategies provided a design guideline on how
to maintain a connection with natural world into a healthcare setting. The research type
is exploratory and encompasses both the qualitative and quantitative tradition in
methods of data collection through case studies and interviews.
In order to check how these strategies were adopted in the design of existing cancer
hospitals, five cases were explored; two local and three foreign. The local cases are;
Oncology Department, National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria and Oncology Department,
Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Nigeria. The foreign cases are:
Frauenshuh cancer centre, United States, Windsor regional cancer centre, Canada and
Helen F. Graham cancer centre, United States. The result shows that across all the cases
studied, Nature in the space patterns were applied the most with the average score of 3.1
out of a total of 4, followed by Nature of the space patterns with the score of 2.6 Natural
analogues patterns have the least score of 2.4. A synthesis of the knowledge gained
through the review of related literature, the cases studied and site analysis conducted
formed an articulated design framework to accomplish an ultimate goal of creating a
biophilic cancer hospital, in Abuja, Nigeria. This architecture provides patients battling
with cancer an environment that is inspiring, invigorative and places with soothing
ambiance to reduce their cognitive and psychological stress.
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY,
ZARIA, NIGERIA
Keywords
BIOPHILIC DESIGN,, TOOLS,, PATIENTS,, HEALING, PSYCHOLOGICAL, DESIGN, NATIONAL CANCER HOSPITAL,, ABUJA,