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INFRASTRUCTURE: DESIGN
Above left: A piano in the Diavalkaniko
Hospital entrance lobby
Left: Greenry at the Papageorgiou
Hospital
Above: The Diavalkasiko Hospital
qualitative characteristics for creating a healing environment,
as in Asklepieia is evident; it is seen in various
interpretations. We will notice such interpretations in the
mentioned two Thessaloniki’s hospitals, the Papageorgiou
General, State Hospital and the Diabalkaniko (Interbalkan)
Private Hospital.
The presence of nature and natural resourses
The plan of the Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki where
the abstract, embodied in the God Appolon’s properties, the
philosophical characteristic of the notion of a healing
environment: respect for the natural healing powers, is
applied with plants and court spaces that are used for the
creation of not only an immediate contact with nature, but
also for an energy efficient design. Here the tallest plants will
grow up to a grid protecting patients and staff from the strong
Greek summer sun. During the winter, their leaves will fall
off, allowing the sun to warm up the interior spaces.
At the Diabalkaniko Hospital in Thessaloniki, the
restriction of the site did not provide a clear base for the full
use of surrounding nature in the healing process. However,
internal openings with the roof natural lighting prevent the
creation of deep planning, opening the space to the eye for
the better understanding of the building.
The contribution of the arts
Considering art as a means for upgrading the health care
facilities environment, as it was also proposed by the
philosophical characteristic of the notion of a healing
environment derived from God Appolon’s properties, seems
simple and obvious.
The visual arts contribution in Papageorgiou Hospital,
includes painting and metal net structures perceived as
modern sculptures
However, in contemporary health care environment, the
visual arts are given the highest priority while some other art
expressions have been occasionally and unsystematically
mentioned; it is the piano in the entrance lobby of
Diavalkaniko Hospital, which has a symbolic presence.
However, in Asklepieia, everybody, patients, visitors and staff
used the theatre. The piano performances were perceived as
a means for the therapy of the soul and the mind in the
context of a ‘holistic’ approach to health care. Now, the
theatre facilities in modern Greek hospitals are convention
spaces used mainly for medical scientific purposes.
However, discussions are on-going for its use by the patients
and visitors as well.
The social environment
In modern Greek hospital regulations, the understanding of
the strong social need of an average Greek for special
attention but at the same time not depriving him/her from
their social, mainly family, context, is observed. Rooms with
more than four beds are not recommended by the
‘governmental order 202/91’, which combined with the
elasticity concerning visiting hours in hospitals, creates a
strong social environment. The preferred hospital room
space is where the patient enjoys both exclusive attention by
26 | World Hospitals and Health Services | Vol. 40 No. 3