In all aspects of healthcare design, the patient should come first. This perspective is rightfully a commonality. However, what if the salutogenic perspective is applied to hospital staff? That would mean that the hospital aspires to continuously improve the environment of its base: the care professional, researchers and teachers of the new generation of hospital staff. What type of surroundings, physical and non-physical, supports the healthy lifestyle of staff and prevents setbacks such as stress, tension, injuries, or even illness? Here, the hospital and architect can join forces in proactively planning and envisioning, together with staff, in order to formulate an approach to salutogenic architecture. What would help the staff cope with a stressful job, stimulate health and happiness? In order to aspire to improve its staff’s health promotion and the quality of life at work, the hospital can benefit from exploring how a high-tech environment can also encompass ‘soft touch’ elements.
