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ARCHITECTURE
& DESIGN

Highlighting the Practice of Design within

the Practice of Medicine

By Carlos N. Moreno, AIA

Health and the Built Environment: this the case? How could the process be further navigated to see
Bringing Delight into Design the trifecta become complete? It turned out the answer was always
Vitruvius, the 1st Century Roman Architect, taught that all archi- present: not all consumers are patients, but everyone is certainly a
tecture must inhabit the following three attributes: Comfort, Com- consumer of design.
modity and Delight. How simple, yet how challenging.
30 years ago, my introduction to healthcare architecture began. Evidence of improved Health via Design :
It remains an exciting and evolving experience. In the beginning, Aesthetics and impact on Health
though, it involved climbing the steep curve on issues relating to Through the eyes of patients I met during a POE (Post-Occu-
infection control, the application of healthcare regulations and pancy Evaluation) on a med-surge floor, it was readily apparent that
building codes, while also addressing the needs of my client’s ob- the newly designed environment was more than a byproduct of a
jectives for efficient space programming, medical equipment, oper- strong operational space program and a code compliant assembly
ational and financial goals. Amazingly, the notion, or presence of of materials. It was a tangible and experiential environment that be-
“design”, was rarely a driving force within the conversations with came part of the patient’s daily routine and ultimately became part
my clients. “Where was Vitruvius?” “When do we move from Com- of what they found to be helpful in the overall improvement of
modity to Comfort and Delight?!” their health. This med-surge floor became an extension of who they
As an architect, the topic of design is always part of the equation. were, in addition to what their families recognized as a “transitional
However, it became quickly apparent that it was not an integral part home” for their loved-ones.
of my client’s formula for a successful and holistic project. Why was With this experience and all others since then, the following man-

12 San Antonio Medicine • September 2018