Arvin Delacruz, Architect, AIA, NCARB
Abonmarche Healthcare Design Team
In the past decade, healthcare design has evolved dramatically, with a growing emphasis on holistic human wellbeing. At Abonmarche, our healthcare design practice is dedicated to guiding clients through innovative, evidence-based design solutions that not only improve physical health outcomes but also enhance mental, emotional, and psychological wellbeing.
The Shift Toward Holistic Healthcare Design
While healthcare environments have traditionally prioritized physical health, recent research underscores the significant impact that our built environments have on our mental and emotional states. As more studies validate these findings, healthcare spaces are shifting focus toward creating holistic environments that promote overall human wellbeing.
“The built world has a tremendous effect on our mental and psychological wellbeing, and the research now exists to prove it.” – Arvin Delacruz, Architect at Abonmarche
Innovating Healthcare Design in Response to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the healthcare landscape, pushing healthcare providers and design professionals to rethink how patients and staff interact with healthcare environments. The pandemic not only affected physical health, but its long-term social, psychological, and mental health impacts are still being studied. Healthcare systems have been overwhelmed, and the need for innovative, adaptable, and human-centered designs has never been more urgent.
At Abonmarche, we are working with healthcare clients across both public and private sectors to create environments that respond to these new challenges. As the healthcare landscape shifts to address both physical and psychological health, our design solutions are built to future-proof healthcare environments while delivering the best possible care.
Physical health priorities are now accompanied by psychological health priorities, and the designers, architects, and systems engineers are in a perfect position to lead this movement.
Key Design Strategies for Modern Healthcare Environments
Our healthcare design approach focuses on evidence-based practices that promote overall wellbeing. Here are key strategies we are using to transform healthcare spaces:
1. Biophilic Design
Incorporating biophilic elements—the integration of nature into the built environment—has been shown to positively impact our nervous systems, lowering stress and anxiety. By infusing natural elements, such as plants, natural lighting, and nature-inspired textures, we create spaces that foster healing and relaxation.
2. Hospitality-Inspired Aesthetic
Healthcare environments no longer need to feel sterile or clinical. By adopting a hospitality and spa-inspired design, we create spaces that feel welcoming and soothing. Soothing colors, comfortable textures, and relaxing sounds work together to reduce anxiety, creating an atmosphere that encourages regular preventative healthcare visits.
3. Seamless Patient Journeys
From entrance to check-out, the patient experience is shaped by each interaction with the environment. By optimizing entrance, check-in, and exit sequences, we help reduce stress and improve patient satisfaction. Streamlined touchpoints not only make patients feel more valued but also make staff interactions more efficient, reducing burnout and improving morale.
Transforming Healthcare Environments for a Healthier Future
The Abonmarche healthcare design team is committed to creating forward-thinking, healing environments that focus on patient-centered care. Our approach to healthcare design is transforming how we view and interact with clinical spaces, setting a new standard for wellbeing in healthcare.
“Our design team is helping healthcare providers create spaces that prioritize both physical and psychological health, setting the stage for a healthier future for all.”