RESEARCH

Therapeutic Gardens for Oncology Hospital. Architectural Students Proposals to Alleviate Stress in Healthcare Environment Created During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The findings from the student design proposals and the online voting provide valuable insights into the preferred characteristics and solutions for therapeutic gardens in a healthcare setting, reflecting the needs and desires of potential users, including medical staff, patients, and the public. Moreover, the study serves as a basis for discussing the potential evolution of therapeutic gardens in a post-pandemic world and demonstrates the surprising effectiveness of Emergency Remote Teaching for architectural design studios, highlighting its potential for future professional training.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Chronic/Acute Health Conditions, Caregivers/Healthcare Professionals

Setting or Context: Hospitals/Clinics, Public/Botanical Gardens

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Physical Health, Longevity & Aging Well

Allied Profession Intersections: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Landscape Design, Counselling

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Indoor Plant Care, Outdoor Gardening, Edible Plant Gardening, Nature-Based Arts & Crafts, Vocational Skill Development, Forest/Natural Area Immersion, AI/Digital Tools in Therapeutic Horticulture

Evidence Type: Peer-Reviewed Studies, Case Studies, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research

Measurement and Evaluation: Patient-Reported Outcomes, Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

This paper explores the use of therapeutic gardens as a method to alleviate the heavy stress burden on medical staff, caregivers, and patients in healthcare environments, particularly focusing on oncology settings. Recognizing the historical awareness of nature’s healing properties and drawing on the theory of therapeutic landscapes, which emphasizes the combination of material, social, and spiritual values to promote holistic health, the study highlights the re-emerging scientific interest in the beneficial effects of contact with nature. The research underscores that while any garden can potentially promote health, therapeutic gardens are specifically intentionally programmed and designed to offer therapeutic benefits. They share values with therapeutic landscapes, striving to unite material, social, and spiritual elements for the holistic health of patients, families, and staff.

The study design involved an architectural student competition where students from the University of Science and Technology in Bydgoszcz developed design proposals for therapeutic gardens for the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz – Fordon. This design studio was conducted remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring semesters of 2020 and 2021, with students working individually. The objective was to create integrated proposals for interior winter gardens and exterior spaces, addressing areas like an unfinished winter garden, a nearby forest, and a vast parking lot. The student proposals were presented online, and an architectural competition was organized in both years where “internauts,” including students, faculty, medical staff, patients, families, and inhabitants, voted anonymously online for their preferred solutions. The results of this voting provided insights into preferences for therapeutic solutions and qualities.

Link

Trojanowska, M. (2024). Therapeutic gardens for oncology hospital. Architectural students proposals to alleviate stress in healthcare environment created during the COVID-19 pandemic. Architecture Civil Engineering Environment, (2)

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