Healthcare design is undergoing a larger reform predominately in the west, with more attention to the health and well being of the users and the community. The upcoming designs are being based on user experience and evidence based factors.
One of the methods to enhance the user experience is to create an atmosphere for the users to access the hospital facilities effectively and to support their mental health by having landscape, access to food and other commercial amenities. Most of the new health care facilities have design aspects to help the user have a great experience when they are in the facility.
But sometimes, things could go overboard when we think about designing or modifying a space to change its appearance or experience. For instance, The Gift shop at Rush hospital could be easily be tagged for a duty free shop at the airport if the context is not provided for stranger who has not been to the hospital. Whereas the cafeteria space is at the center of all the activities that allows hospital professionals, patients and visitors to be at the same platform and share the same space.
Of course the functions of these spaces differ and their designs needs to be addressed according to their specific needs. You cannot have a gift shop in the middle of everything and a cafeteria cannot be hidden away behind glasses at a place like Rush Hospital. Their appearance makes the difference for the users who experience the spaces.
The exclusiveness of these places differ from the way they are integrated with other services of the hospital. The cafe when it is open and integrated with a communal space it is more inviting than the gift shop that is behind glass walls that makes it look rich and expensive that users might think more than twice to explore and afford.
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