1. © Erwin Wurm
CREATING
HEALING
ENVIRONMENTS
Dr. Tanja Vollmer & Ir Gemma Koppen
kopvol architecture & psychology
Psychology behind Architecture
TU Delft 18.03.2013

2. © 2013
Definition
Creating Healing Environments
(1)Develop architectural / design interventions, which
a) support the process of recovery
b) prevent illness and co-morbidity
c) are able to heal (!?)
(2) Base the intervention on scientific evidence
(3) Evaluate the impact of the intervention
(= provide scientific evidence)
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

3. Kopvol Work Concept
Creating Healing Environments
(1) Deep understanding of the psychological
constitution of the client (group)
(2) Conducting hypothesis directed research
(3) Developing a design (criteria) based on the
research results / evidence
(Vollmer, Koppen, Hedy D’Ancona Prijs 2012)
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

4. Project Example
Creating Healing Environments
Architecture as Second Body
Research by Design Project on Cancer
Patients Environmental Needs
Funded by the Netherlands
Architecture Fund_2008-2010
(Vollmer, Koppen, Layout 11_SFA 2010)
© 201305 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

5. (1) psychological constitution
Architecture as Second Body
“When our most important protection space,
our body, becomes ill, our mind follows!
The more severe an illness is and the more threatening
the changes are experienced,
the stronger our whole system is stressed!”
(Vollmer & Koppen, Sickness of Space (Die Erkrankung des Raumes_Utz Verlag_2010)
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

6. (1) psychological constitution
Architecture as Second Body
“As compared with cancer-free persons, the relative
risk of suicide among patients receiving a cancer
diagnosis was 12 times higher during the first week and
3 times higher during the first year […]”
F Fang, K Fall, M Mittleman et al.: Suicide and Cardiovascular Death
after a Cancer Diagnosis. New Engl J Med 366;14 April 5, 2012
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

7. Subjective
Two Types of Coping with Cancer
70% Positive Coping
30% Negative Coping
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013
I will die!

8. (2) Hypothesis directed research
Architecture as Second Body
Are there environmental factors that stimulate
cancer patients’ positive coping?
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

9. orientation odor sound protection
daylight perspective
(far view)
psychosocial
support
(2) Hypothesis directed research
Architecture as Second Body
© 201305 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013
7 environmental factors stimulate
cancer patients’ positive coping

10. (2) Hypothesis directed research
Architecture as Second Body
Are these
environmental
factors implemented
in the Netherlands
oncology care and
cure system?
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

11. (2) Hypothesis directed research
Architecture as Second Body
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

12. 05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

13. 05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

14. ODOR
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

15. PERSPECTIVE
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

16. (2) Hypothesis directed research
Architecture as Second Body
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

17. © 2012
disorientation and long paths
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

18. SMELL
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

19. PERSPECTIVE
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

20. A mental map of cancer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn9spu_at5I

21. (3) The design: Architecture as Second Body
The OPPO Prototype
(1) Fusion of oncology policlinic and
psychooncology service center
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

22. (3) The design: Architecture as Second Body
The OPPO Prototype
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013
(1) Fusion of oncology policlinic and
psychooncology service center

23. (3) The design: Architecture as Second Body
The OPPO Prototype
(2) Redefining of the program and
changing the DNA of cancer centers based
on the coping with cancer strategies
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

24. (3) The design: The OPPO Prototype
No discrimination of medical and psychosocial program
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

25. Section B-B
(3) The design: The OPPO Prototype
© 2013
architecture becomes an active
integral part of the care
concept and prevents co-
morbidity
05 PR_CREATING HE_LECTURE_TU DELFT_VOLLMER KOPPEN_MRT 2013 © 2013

26. © Erwin Wurm
Thank you
for your
attention!