DESIGNING FROM THE GROUND UP: EMPOWERING CHILDREN IN HEALTHCARE SPACE DESIGN

Abstract

Children in healthcare spaces experience low levels of autonomy, competence, and relatedness due to architecture designed around the medical equipment rather than the patient. This can negatively impact mental health and prolong physical recovery. While distraction-based design is commonly used to reduce stress, it fails to address the diverse personalities and developmental needs of pediatric patients. This thesis proposes a child-centered architectural approach to pediatric recovery spaces. Through analysis of patient surveys, contemporary healthcare design, and child-focused precedents such as schools, the research identifies key contributors to anxiety and opportunities for architectural intervention. The thesis culminates in a new pediatric recovery typology that integrates child-centric design from the earliest stages to create environments that are empowering, relatable, comforting, and playful for children ages 4 to 12.