Healing by Design: Healing Gardens and ... - InformeDesign

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ImplicationsIn the book The Sanctuary Garden by C. ForrestMcDowell and Tricia Clark-McDowell (1998), theysay, “…the key to a (healing garden) is to honor andcelebrate our broader human relationship withnature and spirit, notjust plants.” TheMcDowells proposedSitting bench at Cortesia’sHealing Sanctuary in Oregon.seven design elementsas a guideline for designand as a means to identifythe intention of thespace, that is, a marriagebetween the gardenkeeper and thespirit of nature. Theseven design elementsare:—A special entrance that invites and embraces thevisitor into the garden—The element of water for its psychological, spiritual,and physical effects—A creative use of color and lighting (be they plantor human-designed light sources) to elicit emotion,comfort, and/or awe in the visitor—The emphasis of natural features as groundingpoints, such as the use of rocks, wood, naturalfences, screens, trellises, wind, sound, etc.—The integration of art to enhance the overallmood/spirit of the garden—Garden features that attract wildlife and providehabitat to a diversity of wildlifeOverall, the healing garden design should comfortthe soul and renew the spirit—no matter if it consistsof a bench next to a tree or an intricately designedlandscape. Of greatest importance is the intention ofhonoring the design element and its relationship tothe spirit of nature.www.informedesign.umn.edu4DefinitionsAllopathic Medicine: theory of treatment that isbased on germs causing disease. Allopathic treatmentis a system that seeks to cure a disease by producinga condition different from or incompatiblewith the effects of the diseasePsychoneuroimmunology: focuses on the correlationbetween stress and healthReferences—Beal, H., (2004). “Natural Healing.” ArchitectureMinnesota, 30, p. 48-53.—Bilchik, G. (2002, August 12). “A Better Place toHeal.” Health Forum Journal.—Coile, R., Jr. (2002, July-August). “Competing byDesign: Healing Environments Attract Patients,Reduce Costs and Help Recruit Staff.” ThePhysician Executive, p.12-16.—Cooper-Marcus, C., & Barnes, M. (1999). HealingGardens: Therapeutic Benefits and DesignRecommendations. New York: John Wiley & Sons.—Gerlach-Spriggs, N., Kaufman, R., & Warner, Jr.,S. (1998). Restorative Gardens: The HealingLandscape. New Haven, CT and London: YaleUniversity Press.—McDowell, C. F., & McDowell, T. C. (1998). TheSanctuary Garden. New York: Fireside Books.—Joint Commission for the Accreditation ofHospitals Organization. (1999). “Management ofthe Environment of Care,” ComprehensiveAccreditation Manual for Hospitals. www.jcaho.org.—Tieman, J. (2001). “Healing through Nature,”Modern Healthcare, 31(2), p 34-36.—Ulrich, R. (1984). “View Through a Window MayInfluence Recovery from Surgery.” Science, 224, p.420-421.Where Research Informs Design ®
ImplicationsHealthcare Costs andEnvironmental DesignJean LarsonMary Jo Kreitzer, Ph. D.Despite an increase in scientific research to supportbenefits of healing environmental design, few healthcarefacilities seem to be inclined to include therapeuticgardens or any other access to nature in theirremodeling or new construction design. In 2002, only20% of hospitals include healing environmental factorsin their construction plans (Bilchik, 2002).However, evidence-based design supports therapeuticenvironments decreasing health care costs. Forexample, Derek Parker (1991) estimated the cost savingsfrom better-built healing environments (i.e.,with shorter stays, drug savings, and labor costs) at$10 million per year for a 300-bed hospital. Parker’s$10 million estimate of the annual impact of a betterbuilthealing environment could be upwards of $15-$20 million in today’s dollars (Coile, 2002).Also, in 1998, researchers at the Johns HopkinsUniversity prepared a comprehensive review of 84studies about the impact of the health care environmenton patient outcomes. Results indicated thatpatients who were happier with their healthcare environmentused fewer strong medications, were easierto care for, returned to their homes sooner, and recommendedthe hospital to others (Coile, 2002).In the competitive market of healthcare the messageis clear: it is to the advantage of the healthcareadministrator to provide an environment that is welcomingto patients as it improves quality of life andsupports families and employees, or else, suffer theeconomic consequences (Tieman, 2001).www.informedesign.umn.edu5“Healing by Design” Lecture SeriesThe Center for Spirituality and Healing (CSH; est.1995), is charged with integrating complementary,cross-cultural and spiritual aspects of care into theeducation, research and clinical care programs of theUniversity of Minnesota’s Academic Health Center.This is accomplished by teaching healthcare professionals,students, and the greater community aboutthe interconnectedness of body-mind-spirit and thevital role that world culture and spirituality play inachieving optimal health and well-being.In February, 2005, the University of Minnesota willbegin hosting a lecture series entitled Healing byDesign: Therapeutic Health Benefits throughLandscape, Garden, and Interior Design. Leadingprofessionals will share their knowledge and insightgenerated from the fields of environmental psychology,neurosciences, medicine, therapeutic horticulture,clinical psychology, evolutionary biology, andpsychoneuroimmunology. Presenters are ClareCooper Marcus (2/17/05), Forrest McDowell andTricia Clark-McDowell (5/11/05), and Jain Malkin(9/21/05). For more information on this lectureseries go to:http://www.informedesign.umn.edu/Calendar.aspxReferences—Coile, R. (2002 Competing by design. PhysicianExecutive, July-August: 12-16.—Kaplan, R., Kaplan, S., & Ryan, R. (1998). WithPeople in Mind: Design and Management ofEveryday Nature. Washington, DC: Island Press.—Lewis, C. (1996). Green Nature/Human Nature: TheMeaning of Plants in Our Lives. Urbana: Universityof Illinois Press.Where Research Informs Design ®
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