AN ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE A DESIGN APPROACH IN HOSPITALS: A CASE OF KTU CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

Abstract

Healthcare buildings have complex and dense functional programs. This study, it is aimed to reveal the current and original solutions used in the design of healthcare buildings. For this, KTU (Karadeniz Technical University - Trabzon, Turkey) Children's Hospital was chosen as the study area. Additionally, it requires many different design decisions, features, and necessities as well as the basic hospital system. In the study, the case study analysis method was used, and layout, mass-form, function structure, circulation, facade, and interior space were explained. The hospital is self-sufficient with its intensive building program and also has a relation with the main hospital which is a training and research hospital (KTU Farabi Hospitals). The scope of the design in the project is aimed to analyze the immediate environment and the hospital mass. The main users in the hospital are primarily children, parents, healthcare, and other personnel, and their needs and expectations were considered. A unique circulation scheme was proposed during the design process for inpatient-outpatient / healthcare personnel-patient separation. The relationship between day and night usage and complex relations between independent units has been solved with a holistic approach. Considering the importance of open/semi-open spaces in the hospital, open spaces in the immediate surroundings were effectively used. In addition, establishing the relationship with the main building and implementing the solutions for the parking lot problem in hospitals were other important design decisions. As a result, effective and original solutions were produced in hospital design based on function and unique needs. This architectural design may be recommended for future hospital applications and may be a reference hospital. On the other side, arrangements of visual environmental conditions will reduce the possible stress over children and will establish stronger ties with the hospital.