Patient Architecture: A Space for Care and Care of Place
Table of Contents
In the hospital, caring can no longer be reduced to treating. Welcoming, listening, interacting, supporting: care begins well before the medical procedure. It requires attention to those – children and adults alike – whose psychological disorders or fragilities make independence tough. However, our establishments are still struggling to think about this welcome. Architecture itself must become a tool of care, a space that soothes, supports, connects. This is the issue raised by the architecture workshop Tolila+Gilliland in their work Patient architecture. Place of care and care of place: rethink our places of hospitality starting from the most vulnerable,to make vulnerability not a weakness,but a creative strength.
The hospital system is going through a silent but essential crisis: that of receiving care.beyond protocols and medical devices, care is a relationship – attention to others – which must be able to be deployed over time. Though, contemporary hospitals have frequently enough forgotten that caring means firstly offering a presence, a listening ear, a setting that reassures and makes autonomy possible, even fragile. For people living with psychiatric disorders, addictions or forms of autism, this welcome is essential: it conditions the way of relating to the world, of relating to others, of inhabiting one’s own body.
This question of Care – “taking care” – does not only concern medical teams.It involves the places themselves. Architecture can accompany or attack, support or constrain. “Thinking about space starting from the most vulnerable,” write architects Gaston Tolila and Nicholas Gilliland of atelier d’architecture Tolila+Gilliland in their work Patient architecture. Place of care and care of place , it is recognizing that vulnerability can become a creative power. And that architectural forms, far from being simple envelopes, can be tools of care.
A work of long patience
« Dealing with complexity, hearing contradictory injunctions, paying attention to multiple and diverse dimensions, is a path that requires patience and attention. » The treatment takes place over a long period of time.Architecture too. Nothing standardizable, nothing reproducible. Each situation is unique, like each person. The pathologies differ – autism in Chevilly-Larue and Soisy-sur-Seine, addictions in Meulan-en-Yvelines – but the need is the same: to be welcomed, recognized, protected, while remaining open to the world.
This is the meaning of the three hospital structures designed by tolila+gilliland, nestled in a park where nature, light and the seasons speak of the possibility of renewal. these repair places, necessarily secure, must never become places of withdrawal. They open perspectives towards the outside, invite movement, relationship, a possible return to the othre – one day, at their own pace.
Architecture as care
Here, every detail counts: thicknesses that separate without enclosing, roofs that protect without crushing, spaces that connect without losing, colors and textures that speak of hospitality, transparencies that open the view without drowning it, thresholds that allow you to move forward without colliding,… The proportions are designed at human level – of those who inhabit the place, the patients, the residents, the caregivers – day and night. architecture becomes an habitat that supports people in their relationship to themselves, to others, to the world.
Care and Architecture: A Growing Interconnection
The relationship between care and architecture is undergoing a significant re-evaluation. Traditionally viewed as structures providing physical shelter, buildings are increasingly understood as environments deeply intertwined with human well-being, social connection, and the very act of caring. This shift recognizes that architecture isn’t simply about form and function, but about fostering environments that support and enable care – both for individuals and the planet.
The historical Disconnect
Historically, architecture has often prioritized monumentality, efficiency, and aesthetic ideals over the needs of those who inhabit and maintain spaces. This approach, rooted in modernist principles, often resulted in buildings that were difficult to adapt, expensive to maintain, and disconnected from the rhythms of daily life. As architectural theorist Elke Krasny points out,architecture has traditionally been designed for the protection of human life,but often neglects the ongoing work of maintaining that protection.
Redefining Architecture Through care
The emerging discourse around “care” in architecture challenges this historical disconnect. It proposes a move away from buildings as static objects and towards understanding them as dynamic ecosystems requiring ongoing attention, repair, and adaptation. This viewpoint draws inspiration from feminist theory,ecological thinking,and the recognition of the frequently enough-invisible labor involved in maintaining the built environment.
Key Principles of Caring Architecture
- Adaptability: Buildings should be designed to evolve with the changing needs of their inhabitants and the surrounding environment.
- Maintenance & Repair: Acknowledging and valuing the ongoing work of maintaining buildings, rather than designing for obsolescence.
- Accessibility & Inclusivity: Creating spaces that are welcoming and usable by people of all abilities and backgrounds.
- Environmental Duty: Designing buildings that minimize their environmental impact and contribute to ecological health.
- Social Reproduction: Recognizing architecture’s role in supporting everyday life, community building, and the reproduction of social relations.
The concept of social reproduction – the activities and processes that sustain daily life – is central to understanding the link between care and architecture. Architecture directly impacts the conditions under which this work takes place.Spaces that are poorly designed or maintained can increase the burden of care work, while spaces that are thoughtfully designed can support and facilitate it.
Examples of Caring Architectural Approaches
Several emerging architectural approaches embody the principles of care:
- Tactical Urbanism: Small-scale, community-led interventions that address immediate needs and improve the quality of urban life.
- Circular Economy in Construction: Utilizing recycled and renewable materials, designing for disassembly, and minimizing waste.
- co-housing: Intentional communities designed to foster social interaction and shared responsibility.
- Biophilic Design: Incorporating natural elements into the built environment to promote well-being.
The Future of Architecture is Caring
The growing recognition of the importance of care in architecture represents a fundamental shift in how we think about the built environment. By prioritizing adaptability, maintenance, inclusivity, and environmental responsibility, we can create spaces that not only shelter us but also nurture our well-being and support a more lasting future. ultimately, as the initial quote suggests, caring for the built environment is intrinsically linked to caring for ourselves and the planet.
Key Takeaways
- Architecture is increasingly being understood as more than just physical shelter; it’s a crucial component of human well-being and social life.
- The concept of “care” challenges traditional architectural priorities like monumentality and efficiency.
- Caring architecture emphasizes adaptability, maintenance, accessibility, and environmental responsibility.
- Social reproduction – the sustaining of daily life – is deeply intertwined with the design and maintenance of buildings.