School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

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    ENVIRONMENT BUILT FOR HEALING
    (2024) Abel, Paul; Kelly, Brian; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    ABSTRACT Title of Thesis: ENVIROMENT BUILT FOR HEALING Paul Abel, Master of Architecture, Master of Community Planning, 2024 Thesis Directed By: Professor Kelly, School of Architecture Planning and Preservation Healthcare facilities can be intimidating places. To many people these facilities represent things that they fear like pain, disease, and death. However, while they are associated with these things the connection is misplaced. These facilities contain unpleasant human experiences for the purpose of resolving them. As advancements are being made in medical technology more operations are becoming available to patients. This means more patients are being exposed to fear inducing situations than ever before. These operations are also more commonly on an Out-patient basis where an extended hospital stay is not necessary. Healthcare facilities are often large hulking central hospitals with winding labyrinthine corridors separated from the world outside. These environments can cause fear and stress in their own right, piling on to the already difficult situations of the patients and their families. The typology of out-patient medical facilities provides an opportunity to address the fear and anxiety patients experience when anticipating an operation. This thesis will explore the role of the built environment in health and how architectural design can address medical fear, anxiety, and stress. Healthcare spaces can be welcoming, nurturing, healing, spaces that people no longer fear but recognize for their role of restoration and recovery.
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    Road to Recovery: Bringing the Outdoors In
    (2023) Mencer, Abigail Brurya; Williams, Joseph; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Patients in oncology centers experience extreme physical and psychological anguish due to illness. Patients spend a lot of time in these facilities, often during the most turbulent times in their lives. Current healthcare facilities are designed around medical technology. Medical centers thrive on scientific ingenuity and innovative technology. However, through this process the wellbeing of patients is disregarded almost entirely, leaving healthcare facilities barren and cold. Incorporating biophilia into the design of healthcare facilities provides for a patient’s health and wellbeing. Utilizing biophilic design with a focus on health and wellness within healthcare design can transform the recovery of patients as they seek care. This thesis investigates how designing for a patient's wellbeing can benefit their medical experience. The philosophy for the design of this thesis is to utilize biophilic design approaches to focus on the wellbeing of patients as they receive care. This includes design strategies that include natural elements, views to nature, as well as a biophilic approach to materiality and lighting. The context for this project is a cancer center that incorporates biophilic design with the technology of modern medicine resulting in a facility that is designed for a patient's wellbeing.