Lessons learned from a collaboration between architects and medical practitioners in the architectural design process of the healthcare building

Abstract

This study was part of the research entitled “the development of the standard and prototype for the built-environment and facility to promote medical tourism for healthcare service in the lower Northern of Thailand”. It aimed to explore and compare the perspectives of architects and of medical practitioners on the design of healthcare buildings. The study process consisted of 1) acquiring opinions from an expert in hospital standards, 2 ) learning from the case study, 3 ) acquiring information from medical practitioners by means of a group meeting, and 4 ) analysing data obtained from the previous stages of the study and applying them to the pilot design of healthcare facility. The research results were displayed in the forms of architectural, interior, and landscape designs. Furthermore, the lessons learned from the design process were categorised into 3 topics: 1 ) architect practitioners’ perspectives on the healthcare building design 2) medical experts’ and practitioners’ perspectives on the healthcare building design, and 3) what architects may overlook in designing healthcare facilities. This study demonstrated the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in the design process of the building. It also pointed out the importance of international standards in developing the design that can fulfill the users’ requirements and promote medical tourism.