MDNews - San Antonio

++++++++++++++++++++ OFFICE DESIGN +++ +++ ++++++++++++++++++++ + + Connections Creating Human to Nature in Medical Office Design By Brent Anderson AS O U R SO C IE T Y MOVES f ur ther from agricultural and indus t r i a l economies and into the information age, our human need to develop a positive, experiential relationship with nature grows. This concept is referred to as "bio- philia," the tendency to create a positive connection between humans and nature. In the world of architecture, we refer to this as "biophilic design," the concept of bringing buildings to life through their relationship with nature to enhance human experiences. Keeping this concept in mind, we can begin to pursue some of the physical and mental health benefits associated with biophilic design. Some of these associated benefits include reduced stress and anxiety, as well as faster healing in medical patients. There are ways to accomplish biophilic design in medical offices through the human senses of sight, sound, touch and smell. Considering the sense of sight, we might think of creating views of nature and utilizing natural daylight to enhance people's experiences with the natural world. Examples of this include enabling views of vegetated gardens or courts from a patient's window, the provision of natural daylight funneled through skylights, and establishing a visual connection to time through the solar tracking of shadows in a medical facility courtyard. With increased natural daylight levels, we can experience the pulsating kaleidoscope of the kinetic sky, thus putting us in touch with the healing benefits of the natural world around us. Our biophilic experience with nature can be enhanced through the sense of sound. Most likely, we have all experi- enced how sounds of nature can bring a sense of calm and release stress. The sound of trickling water running through a brook or the chirping of birds heard through an open window as a breeze blows the white linen drapes back and forth reminds us of simpler times, thus putting us in a relaxed state of mind. Such connections to nature might be created with the use of a trickling fountain in the lobby entrance to a medical building or a beautifully landscaped aviary centrally located in an atrium where patients wait to be seen by their physicians. The senses of touch and smell can play vital roles in our experiential connection to nature as well. Through these senses, one can begin to experience nature in a way that might not be so obvious. Using a man-made tree sculpture or other organic form and its natural, aromatic smells in a children's indoor waiting room or exam room creates not only an imaginary place for a child to play, but also a way to connect to nature in a biophilic manner by bringing understood textures and smells of the outdoors inside. Achieving the right balance of our connections to nature through design and ordinary functions of a medical office is important. Moving toward a more experiential relationship with nature and accomplishing the comfort levels to which we have become accustomed within medi- cal offices will only push the technology of the modern building envelope to new and higher levels of performance. Brent Anderson practices architecture with MSA Architecture + Interiors, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer. His company specializes in the design of health care-related professional office buildings and interiors as well as high-end residential design. He serves on the BOMA Board of Directors, the City of San Antonio Building- Related and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board, the San Antonio North Chamber Sustainability Committee, the San Antonio Real Estate Council Government Affairs Committee, and the San Antonio Healthcare Think Tank. He also serves as Co-chairman for the BOMA Sustainability Committee. He is licensed to practice architecture in the state of Texas and is a LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction through the United States Green Building Council. He can be reached at brenta@msaofsa.com or (210) 408-7553. ■ ADVERTISERS' INDEX Amegy Bank ..................Inside Back Cover API ProAssurance .........................................9 Bjorn's .............................Inside Front Cover The Broadway San Antonio ...Back Cover HP ..................................................................... 15 Paesanos ........................................................ 13 South Texas Radiology Imaging Centers .......................................5 Strasburger Price Oppenheimer Blend ................................9 Travis Commercial Real Estate Services .............................. 11 UT Health Science Center ..........................5

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