healing environments in radiotherapy - Agnes van den Berg

Healing Environments in Radiotherapy Project Report
In the context of spatial design, it is also interesting to note that children perceive the environment
differently from adults. Children are mainly concerned about the functional aspects of the
environment, such as whether a tree affords climbing. Adults consider, ‘what does the environment
look like?’, whereas children ask, ‘what can I do here?’ (Whitehouse et al., 2001). This is important to
consider in children’s wards, but also in the waiting areas of all healthcare settings. The provision of
some form of entertainment for children, such as small tables with drawing materials or a playing
corner with toys can significantly reduce annoyance levels of everyone involved; the children, their
parents, other patients, and staff. St. Charles Medical Center addresses this need for playfulness also
for adults, by placing many large tables in public spaces of the hospital, on some of which lie
uncompleted puzzles that invite patients and visitors to continue fitting pieces into the puzzle.
Art and positive distractions
Healthcare settings often provide art and decorations in order to improve the
aesthetics of the environment and provide visual distractions. “In UMC
Groningen, even the parking garage underneath is made attractive, [based on
reasoning that] when people don’t feel safe and well when they are entering
an environment, it’s not a good beginning.” (A. Kwint, Plants for People).
Martini Ziekenhuis Groningen implements a concept of reflection and
inspiration as distraction for the patients. The four themes of this concept are spirituality, nature, art
and sports, and the aim is to make the patient feel as comfortable as possible. Similarly, at Parrish
Medical Center, a "Circle of Life" theme is repeated throughout the building, which is intended to
imply hope and optimism. At the control hospital, several artworks and sculptures are placed
throughout the department. An art renting company regularly replaces the artworks, so that new
distractions are offered on a regular basis. In the largest waiting area, a big white elephant sculpture
entitled ‘Wish I Could Lift You Up’ is hanging under a glass ceiling (figure 25). The symbolic meaning
of this sculpture is explained on a wall panel as intending to make light what is heavy. With this, the
elephant represents the ideology of the control hospital’s radiotherapy department to make the
heavy journey of the patients through radiotherapy as ‘light’ as possible. However, it should be kept
in mind that this can also be interpreted differently. Some patients may see this as something heavy
hanging over their heads.
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