LNAK10062U Health Design
Course Contents
From an environmental psychology perspective the course will give
an increased insight into the importance of outdoor environments
for human quality of life, comfort, health and well-being. It will,
based on international literature, peer-reviewed research papers
and on Nordic cases, give an international perspective on:
1. The concept of Health Design, origin, definition, status etc.
2. The concept of Universal Design (design for all), origin,
definition, status etc.
3. Explanatory models on the interaction between outdoor
environments and human health
4. Health promoting characteristics of outdoor environments and
health promoting outdoor activities
5. History, background, development and current status of health
promoting city planning
6. History, background, development and current status of outdoor
environments in institutional settings
7. Theories on healing mechanisms concerning healing gardens and
horticultural therapy
8. Reflections on the concept of human health
9. Use, needs and preferences for different user groups ( e.g.
different age groups, patients etc.)
All over the world there is an increasing interest in research
results and practice experiences showing the impact of the physical
environment on people’s health and well-being. The realization that
good design, both indoors and outdoors, not only generates
functional efficiency but also strengthens and improves health
processes has given rise to a new branch of architecture, called
Health Design. This should not be viewed as new discoveries but as
rediscoveries or confirmation of a notion that has been considered
quite self-evident for thousands of years. Ever since our early
history there have been ideas to the effect that human health and
well-being are influenced in a positive way by his spending time in
natural surroundings – wild nature as well as enclosed gardens.
During 2007 researchers calculate that for the first time in
history the majority of people in the whole world will live in
urban areas. As a result people in the industrialized world are
living their lives farther and farther away from nature, spending
much of their time indoors. This may be connected to the fast raise
in obesity, heart disease, diabetes II, osteoporosis, depression,
stress and mental fatigue we now experience in the Scandinavian
countries. An increasing number of governments around the world
find an advantage of focusing on factors that determine health
instead of the pathogenic diseases themselves, in that public
health work will become more effective. Such a health policy means
a shift in perspective towards an approach that will concentrate
more on factors that stimulate people’s own health capacities. In
this course we view Nature as a health factor; both for improvement
of ill health (healing gardens) and maintenance and fortification
of good health (nature and urban green spaces).
Outcome:
After completing the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
- Seek, present and describe relevant theories (environmental
psychology, landscape architecture and architecture)as relevant to
the planning, development and understanding of health promoting
outdoor environments
- Examine and analyse the varying needs, interests and preferences
of different user groups with regard to health promoting outdoor
environments, on the basis of gender, age, cultural context, social
situation,
diagnosis and functional disability
- Examine and analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the
interaction between institutional outdoor environments and specific
health care activities
- Describe in detail how an institutional health promoting outdoor
environment may be designed for different user groups, e.g. small
children, elderly people etc.
- Present in detail practical and theoretical knowledge in the
field Health Design to professionals and lay people.
Skills:
- Improve the understanding on the health promoting interaction
between the patient, the environment and the activity
- Seek, read and analyze peer-reviewed scientific papers
- Design a health improving institutional outdoor environment for a
specific patient/user group
- Write a paper, arguing (based on research) for the design of
health improving institutional outdoor environment, in a correct
way
- Using methods for analyzing health quality of the institutional
outdoor environment
- Present research, theories, analyses and design visions in oral
presentation
Competences:
- Work independently and self-directed in project work
- Cooperate efficient and communicative in group work
- Apply the course theories to related subjects in other courses
and projects
Main literature will be:
Cooper Marcus, C & Barnes, M. 1999. Healing Gardens.
Therapeutic benefits and design recommendations. John Wiley &
sons, New York.
Kaplan, R., Kaplan S. & Ryan, R.L. 1998. With People in Mind.
Design and management of everyday nature. Island Press, Washington
D.C.
Further literature, primarily based on peer-reviewed papers, will
be distributed and referred to.
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 33
- Excursions
- 50
- Guidance
- 65
- Lectures
- 57
- Practical exercises
- 65
- Project work
- 142
- Total
- 412
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- PortfolioOral examination, 20-30 minProtfolio is to be understood as individual project work - A Health Design Project
- Exam registration requirements
- - Hand in the individual project work in time
- Participate in the sketch presentation
- Participate in at least one literature seminar - Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
Quality of individual project work; design solution
based on background knowledge regarding usergroup
site/location conditions and Health Design therories
Understanding of course literature and basic theories
Oral presentation of the project work
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LNAK10062U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 2, Block 2, Block 2 And Block 2
- Schedule
- A (Tues 8-12 + Thurs 8-17) And C (Mon 13-17 + Wednes 8-17)Course activities will take place on:
Monday afternoons (13-17)
Tuesday mornings (08-12)
Wednesdays, (08-17)
Thursdays, (08-17)
Fridays, Monday mornings and Tuesday afternoons, students are expected to work with their individual projects - Course capacity
- max. 50 students
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Geosciences and Management
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Course responsibles
- Anne Dahl Refshauge