Outdoor Waiting Rooms, Nature?EUR??,,????'?????<

Although healing gardens have a long history, there has been a revival of the form in U.S. health care facilities over the last two decades. Early hospitals in the West were infirmaries in monastic communities where herbs, prayers and a cloistered garden were an essential part of the environment.¹

 

Clare Cooper Marcus, a professor Emerita in the departments of architecture and landscape architecture at U.C. Berkeley writes of the trend for healing gardens.

She offers several suggestions on the design of such gardens:

• easily accessible and visible from inside the facility
• optimal ratio of green to hard surfaces: 7:3
• variety of longer and shorter pathway loops (surfaced to reduce glare)
• expansion joints no more than 1/8-in. in width (to prevent the wheels of IV poles getting caught)
• semi-private areas for a small group or family to be alone
• colorful flowers, varying shades and textures of green
• sights and sounds of water
• elements to attract birds and butterflies
• grasses that move with a slight breeze
• appropriate seating
• adequate shade
• seating material should not retain heat or cold (use of wood or hard plastic).