ABSTRACT
What do we mean by ‘relationability’? It is a term we have coined to highlight some specific characteristics of the space linked to relationships. In this case, unlike the other chapters, the term we refer to – relationability – does not identify a single configurational property, but it is the result of a set of properties of the layout that helps to determine informal relationships between people. Informal relationships in the healthcare sector, if geared towards collaboration and assistance, help in different ways to reduce costs, create a sense of belonging to a community, enhance a patient’s perception of being looked after and outline the institution’s sense of cultural identity. Using the three case studies, we wish to highlight which spatial factors – especially configurational ones – help to generate informal relationships.
