Environmental Healing Through the Use of Nature and the Built Space

Abstract

Integrative medicine and nature-based healing are effective ways to help those who are suffering medically to recover faster and more efficiently by utilizing the built, natural, and medical environments. Nature-based healing (NBT) is important because it allows patients to recuperate in an environment different from a hospital. Staying in a hospital too long can damage health because of increased exposure to disease, as well as damage the psyche affecting a person’s overall well-being. Because we have an impact on the environment, can nature and the built environment simultaneously work as a system to improve our wellbeing? By understanding the historical relationship between humans and nature and the principles of systemic thinking, this paper explores the relationship between humans, Mother Earth and alternative ways of healing. To demonstrate the integration of the built environment and nature two case studies using nature as a healing tool and how designers can design a retreat for healing are analyzed and discussed. In conclusion, patients who are chronically ill or suffer from acute conditions would benefit from spending time in a natural retreat to promote healing. Hospitals are designed to treat patients. The idea of how using architecture that not only embraces nature but works in tandem with natures systems to positively affect our wellbeing will be explored.