Healthy spaces, facilitating health: rethinking the role of healthcare facilities

Abstract

In light of the new National Health Insurance scheme being implemented in South Africa, there is a need for new healthcare infrastructure to be developed to ensure the National Health Insurance healthcare is accessible to the people of the country. This thesis explores: (1) what value a holistic healthcare approach can have on healthcare services, (2) what architecture can be beneficial to patients and staff members in healthcare facilities and (3) what impact advances in medicine have on healthcare design and healthcare practice. The architectural aim of this thesis is to create healthier healthcare spaces for patients and staff members, but to extend the healthcare infrastructure to create healthier spaces within the communities they serve. Furthermore, the thesis explores ways that healthcare facilities can incorporate solutions to help communities with their long term health needs, verses short term health needs.