ABSTRACT
Healthcare design architects embraced ‘evidence-based design’ long before other areas of the profession, going back to roots in the nineteenth century. In 1984, Roger Ulrich’s research launched current interest in daylight and views in hospital settings. Evidence is particularly compelling relative to daylight and view’s influence on patients’ sleep quality, depression, pain management, and recovery time. Resulting reductions of hospital costs have gotten the attention of hospital administrators and planners.
In addition to patients, daylight and views are also important for doctors, nurses, staff, family, and other visitors. Children and the elderly are particularly sensitive. There are many parallels with how animal ‘patients’ experience daylight and views, who might be considered as proxies for human patients who are not able to articulate their needs. This can be especially poignant for hospice patients and family, for whom the fleeting ‘nowness’ of a view can provide essential solace.
