The social impact of hospital architecture: the role of new designs in healthcare projects

To think that hospital architecture is only the planning, design and construction of hospitalsis to diminish the value of the projects that are carried out today to have functional and modern hospitals. 

There are many aspects of hospitals that have evolved over time, as the needs of patients change, so do the infrastructures and the way the floors are arranged so that it is not only an efficient infrastructure, but also a habitable and humane one, where both health and administrative staff, as well as the patients and visitors themselves, feel comfortable. 

Now more than ever, we have been able to appreciate the impact that patients' mental health has on their recovery. That's why, at Árgola Arquitectos, when we design a hospital floor, one of the points we never forget to include is the humanization of the spaces. To achieve this, we always try to incorporate green spaces, plenty of natural light, familiar elements that remind us of home, or green areas that provide tranquility and promote well-being. 

This also leads us to create spaces that are inclusive for all kinds of people. This is, we believe, one of the most important points, as it involves taking into account all groups, however diverse they may be. 

In other words, accessibility to the space must be universal for older people, people with disabilities, and also in hospitals there are sick people who do not always have the strength to be able to access any part of the hospital without help.

Also closely related to this, it's essential that these spaces are present in every corner of the design, as we can't create a single garden area that's only accessible to a select few. Therefore, it's necessary to create inclusive spaces throughout the entire hospital. 

Finally, to improve the experience of patients during their hospital stay, and, of course, of all the healthcare and administrative staff, new hospital designs are attempting to create not only natural spaces, but also urban spacesthat harmoniously evoke the feeling of being in the heart of our usual neighborhoods, rather than inside a hospital. This greatly helps improve patients' mental health and thus contributes to their recovery. 

In conclusion, the impact of hospital architecture on society is undoubtedly becoming increasingly noticeable, as different aspects unimaginable years ago are being taken into account more and more, which increases the quality of life of patients and hospital staff, who thanks to this can perform their work even better.