The Role of Evidence-Based Design in Enhancing Architectural Design Process of Healthcare Buildings: A Case Study of General Hospitals in Sulaimani City

Abstract

This study investigates the role of Evidence-Based Design (EBD) principles in decision-making and enhancement of the healthcare architectural design process. The investigation includes correlations between participants' prioritization of hospital design aspects such as circulation, accessibility, wayfinding, visibility, and privacy and their professional background, experience, and considerations in EBD. The research utilizes a mixed method in a systematic, multi-phased approach for data collection. This includes qualitative phone interviews, structured questionnaires, and interviews to gather subjective insights from architects working in three offices in Sulaimani City. Furthermore, the research incorporates case studies and spatial analysis using DepthMapX to obtain objective insights. The discrepancy between subjective perspectives and objective analysis prompts a deeper exploration of the practical implementation of evidence-based design (EBD) in healthcare architecture. The findings emphasize the importance of collaborative decision-making, the influence of online resources, and the preference for certain design aspects in inpatient unit layouts. These results shed light on areas of strength and potential improvement in healthcare facility design. Despite limited awareness of Evidence-Based Design (EBD), participants were willing to integrate evidence-based approaches in future projects, highlighting the need for increased awareness and formal evaluation criteria. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of the complex relationship between Evidence-Based Design (EBD) principles and decision-making processes in healthcare architectural design. Through combining subjective viewpoints and objective spatial analysis, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the EBD's role in shaping architectural design decisions and healthcare outcomes. These insights will help improve future healthcare architectural designs.

Keywords

• evidence-based design (ebd)
• healthcare architecture
• inpatient unit layouts
• architectural decision-making
• spatial analysis
• space syntax
• depthmapx