Designed to care

PAUL NULTY EXPLORES HOW LIGHTING IN NEW HOSPITAL BUILDINGS CAN BENEFIT PATIENTS AND STAFF

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So often we see functionality at the forefront of hospital lighting design. Of course, this is a crucial factor as it affects the way a hospital and its staff need to operate, but the emotion can get left behind. We have to remember why hospitals exist.

We need hospitals to make people feel better, to keep patients safe and to envelop them in warmth and security while they go through something frightening. We all want hospitals to make people feel comfortable, but sterile design and lighting does quite the opposite. Lighting in hospitals is key and plays an important part in cultivating a safe and collaborative environment for both staff and patients. Through the use of layers of light, varying levels of illumination can provide both functional and aesthetically pleasing qualities.

The quality of light used in a hospital is really important. Different ages have different requirements for light – if you’re over 60, you will need on average about three times the amount of light as you do when you’re in your 20s. The location of a light source can be an important factor in reducing glare, which many elderly patients are sensitive to.