Amirbeiki Tafti, F.; Han, J.; Katharina Wekenborg, M.; Vande Moere, A.; Schierz, J. H.; Heylighen, A. and Marquardt, G. (2026) Designing healthcare settings with sky and water: Insights from a virtual reality study. Building Research & Information, 54(4), pp. 447-468. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Even though the positive impacts of natural elements are well established, a significant gap remains in understanding how their effects can be enhanced through design. This gap is especially evident with respect to natural blue elements, represented by sky and water. To address this, the present study explores how natural blue elements can be implemented into the built environment of healthcare settings in order to enhance their effects on patients. Medical imaging environments, specifically Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) rooms, were selected as the research setting. Employing a mixed-methods research approach allowed for measuring subjective and physiological responses, as well as the duration of head orientation during four virtual scenarios associated with natural blue elements. The findings indicate that the design strategies which incorporate motion, strategic spatial placement, and adjustments to the amount of sky and water resulted in more positive responses, consequently enhancing the effects of natural blue elements in medical imaging environments. Furthermore, adaptable design strategies that consider individual preferences, particularly regarding the sound of water, are needed to further improve the benefits of natural blue elements.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | designing healthcare settings; duration of head orientation; natural blue elements; physiological responses; subjective responses; virtual reality |
| Index terms: | design strategy, placement, preference, duration, built environment, virtual reality |
| Subjects: | decision-making and reasoning, project controls, infrastructure and transport systems, management, virtual reality, design methods |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Human Resources, Design Practice, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Time Control |
| Descriptive scope: | 1 C |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here