Hospice Architecture

This thesis project is attempting to address an architectural issue that is not being addressed today. The architecture is inward focused, with attention to the individual’s room and the sensory experience of the dying individual who needs charity, compansionship, and comfort. The kind of state ent ade by the ar hite t re st re e t the gentleness of God’s mercy and the charity shown by loving people. Rather than being bold and dramatic, I think this project calls for humility, simplicity, and richness in sensory experiences.

SPIRITUAL

SIGHT

SMELL

TASTE

TOUCH

SOUND

MIND mental stimulation- communication with the patient - companionship - physical presence - lifting up and not belittling - counseling

BODY comfortable clothing - keeping skin clean and moisturized - rotating positions every two hours - “range of motion” exercises to prevent pain - administering pain medication - massages - aromatherapy - acupuncture - regular bathroom care and trips - “spa” experiences - scented baths

SOUL prayer - meditation - contemplation - music - conversation - chaplain direction - reading scripture - receiving the sacraments - mass - bringing peace - experiences in nature

ROAMING e ently ad itted residents, sta , and visitors should be able to roam free

WALKER Individuals that are able to walk but need assistance and may or may not be able to go outside on uneven pathways alone

WHEELCHAIR Individuals who are unable to walk on their own and must be accompanied by care takers CHAIR hose that are onfined to hairs and don t have the energy to move, but are able to go from bed to a chair

BED ndivid als that are onfined to the bed and no longer have mobility, meaning the bed must become mobile to experience outdoors

For the individuals, this architecture becomes their residence, not a medical facility. In part, it’s up to the residents and the caretakers to make it so.

The architecture must strive to create places of interaction in order to stimulate place making for those who want the feeling of community.

“People who suffer become similar to one another through the analogy of their situation, the trial of their destiny, or through their need for understanding and care, and perhaps above all through the persistent question of the meaning of suffering” - St. Pope John Paul II Salvifici Doloris

Chaplain

Social Workers

Bereavement Counselors

Registered Nurses

Physician

Administration

ta ro nds

Volunteers

SPIRITUAL bereavement counseling - chapel - grieving rooms - meditation & prayer spaces

PRIVATE bedroom - bathrooms - private outdoor space - overnight accomodations

NATURE views - natural light and warmth - balconies and patios - biophilia - gardens - outdoor contemplative spaces - indoor/outdoor spaces

THE AFTER displaying - saying goodbye - expressions of remembrance ARRIVAL “hidden” direct parking - protected entryway - entry sequence

COMMONS large and small community rooms - activity rooms - dining - kitchen - resource library - places for pets

SERVICE nurse’s stations - housekeeping - building & grounds management - employee rooms - storage - back of house

TRANSITIONAL ayfindin arti lated thresholds circulation

BEREAVEMENT COUNSELING Having a social worker or bereavement counselor available to comfort those who are in need of counsel, and need a dedicated space

CHAPEL sa red s a e to elebrate ass, rovide o ort, re rieve, and an es a e or all ho ish to find it

GRIEVING ROOMS la e here the ra e otions and rie an be e erien ed, instead o sti ed, and a atharti e erien e can be had

MEDITATION AND PRAYER SPACES ither indoors or o tdoors, these s a es are or onte lataion, editation, and re e tion or those that feel the need, but don’t want or feel comfort in a chapel

BEDROOMS Providing privacy for the individual is important, especially for the end when most people want privacy in their final o ents o ortable bed ill be the last la e the individ al e ists so hile all the rnishin s are i ortant, the bed is the ost i ortant

BATHROOMS alan in on the line bet een o ort and edi al, the bathroo s sho ld allo the individ al riva y, cleanliness, and relief

OUTDOOR SPACE rivate bal ony or atio or the individ al to easily a ess

OVERNIGHT ACCOMODATIONS Spaces for families and loved ones to stay overnight close to the resident in this time

VIEWS More than just big windows, the architecture should frame in views to nature from the bed of the individual, so they can see the beauty up until they are no longer able

NATURAL LIGHT AND WARMTH As the senses go, natural light turns into natural warmth and the individual is still able to experience life with the senses

BALCONIES AND PATIOS The ability to walk out into the fresh air and bathe in the sun is so important for residents who can’t walk around outside but still crave the outdoors

BIOPHILIA Introducing vegetation and plants in the appropriate manner can help those who aren’t mobile enough to go outside

GARDENS Gardening can be a meditative and very contemplative act and should be provided for the residents who are able to take part

OUTDOOR CONTEMPLATION SPACES Spaces of contemplation, mediation, and simply being outdoors provides a respite for the residents, family, vol nteers, sta or anyone ho needs it

WATER FEATURES Water is an essential part of life and should be included in this project

INDOOR/OUTDOOR SPACES a es that are a threshold bet een indoor and o tdoor s a es or are e ible to o en to the o tdoors is a ood ay to o en and e tend the li its o a s a e

DISPLAYING Certain cultures practice displaying the body for a set amount of time to be mourned, either covered or open

SAYING GOODBYE he la e sho ld have any di erent ays or the o ntiy to say oodbye to the individ al, ro ro essions to en ir lin the body to ro rayer, hants, or individ al are ells

EXPRESSIONS OF REMEMBRANCE n e ression o re e bran e, or residesnts ho have assed a ay as a sy bol o o nity, o remembrance, and of love - Sculptures - Engravings - Plantings/Landscape - Knittings - Architectural Elements

“HIDDEN” DIRECT PARKING he reality is that ar in st be rovided as ell as lose dro o or atients or elderly enterin the residen e ire t a ess is a ne essity, b t it sho ld be hidden to reserve the aestheti o the architecture

PROTECTED ENTRYWAY n le ent eather rain, sno , seasonal han es a es enterin the ar hite t re di lt at ti es, so a protected entryway prevents bringing the elements indoors

ENTRY SEQUENCE rote tin the indoors ro the o tdoors, es e ially ith residents ho are in riti al onditions ter the rote ted entry ay, a el o in entry ay that has dire t ayfindin is ne essary

LARGE AND SMALL COMMUNITY ROOMS Flexible rooms that can be used for large or small group meetings and activities for residents who want to be together for companionship with other residents, volunteers, family, or others.

ACTIVITY ROOMS Since the architecture is also about celebrating the life of the individual, these rooms are for activities such as art, music, games, therapy, etc.

DINING Food is such an essential part of being human and having a dedicated table where bread can be broken, while still having the option for private eating in the individual rooms.

KITCHEN Opening the kitchen to residents who still have the desire to cook will give them dignity as their life comes to a lose bvio sly not all ill have the a ability or desire to oo , b t it an a e the orld o di eren e to those that do.

RESOURCE LIBRARY Having literature available, especially for the demographic who is most likely to use it, can provide comfort to the individual dying or the family accompanying them during this time

PLACES FOR PETS For many people, a pet is like a child, so providing space for that bond to remain is so important. Whether that is an indoor space or an outdoor space depends on the individual and their wishes, however most regulations won’t allow interior spaces

NURSE’S STATIONS The centralized station where the nurses report to and from, do their tasks, and serves as a landmark within the residence. It should have quick access to the rooms so the residents get the quality care and the nurses can limit the amount of running around

HOUSEKEEPING Cleanliness is a top priority, especially for those with compromised immune systems. Spaces for cleaning and cleaning storage is needed

BUILDING AND GROUNDS MAINTAINANCE n i ortant servi e that needs stora e s a e as ell as dedi ated roo s or the sta

STORAGE Storage for all medical supplies, necessary machines, and any other items needed

BACK OF HOUSE

WAY FINDING ire t ayfindin is ne essary or ne residents, vol nteers, or ers, a ilies, and rrent residents, es e ially those e erien in e ory iss es

ARTICULATED THRESHOLDS i ni yin a han e in s a e and ro ra via arti lated thresholds, not st door ays or si na e

CIRCULATION