The first-ever Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award organised by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) has been awarded to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) on 8 November 2017.
Held at the Greenbuild Expo in Boston, US, the award was presented to KTPH and CPG Consultants Pte Ltd, in recognition of the innovative and extensive use of biophilic design in KTPH to promote healing and well-being.
Biophilic design is an emerging field that promotes improved health and well-being by creating connections between people and nature in the built environment. Research has shown that the presence of greenery has a therapeutic effect on people and helps reduce depression severity and rumination in clinically depressed patients. Nature-inspired activities such as horticulture also bring about an increase in patients’ psychological well-being. Hence, exposing patients to greenery may be a promising intervention in improving mental health.
KTPH’s win at a prestigious international platform is an example of the government’s blueprint for sustainable development and complements Singapore’s current efforts to build resilience against climate change.
Creating a Hospital in a Garden, A Garden in a Hospital
Central to KTPH’s building design is the idea that ‘nature would nurture’. KTPH aims to build a legacy as a quality healthcare institution with lush greenery incorporated throughout the hospital, completed with eco-friendly designs to maximise energy efficiency.
While designing the hospital, KTPH worked with CPG Consultants Pte Ltd to bring together the elements of accessibility, comfort and convenience. Jerry Ong, Senior Vice President, CPG Consultants Pte Ltd said: “The focus from start to end was to design the hospital based on comprehensive understanding of how patients will use the spaces and deliver a hassle-free experience for them. We put in place intuitive way-finding to logical clustering of clinics and ancillary services, just to name a few, for the patients’ convenience. All the designs are also user-friendly as patient safety is paramount.”
“Khoo Teck Puat Hospital surpasses traditional hospitals and opens the door towards a new kind of building type for the healthcare industry, which considers how the built and natural environment can become part of the healing process,” said Amanda Sturgeon FAIA, CEO of ILFI.
Chew Kwee Tiang, CEO, KTPH & Yishun Health, shared her belief in creating a friendly and inclusive hospital: “When we designed KTPH, we aspired to create ‘a hospital in a garden and a garden in a hospital’. While the surrounding flora and fauna act as a healing oasis for our patients, they also serve as a shared space for the community at large. Moving forward, KTPH will do more to engage and encourage staff, patients and the community to practise and nurture strong values in environmental sustainability.”
