Hospitals of the future: a technical brief on re-thinking the architecture of hospitals

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of national preparedness for natural and human-induced disasters, emergencies and other social crises. The ability to deliver uninterrupted health services is crucial in these situations, and the design of architecture for health is a way to address the multiple drivers that are transforming society, economy and the environment. Hospitals are particularly important in this regard as they best interpret these transformations, promote urban regeneration, and have positive impacts on a widespread scale across any given territory. For a hospital to remain functional during emergencies and disasters, it must be designed with strong and flexible infrastructure, high resistance to hazards, and a focus on safety and comfort. The COVID-19 pandemic has also emphasized the significance of the hospital environment in the transmission of pathogens and highlighted the need to ensure sustainable compliance with hygiene standards. World Health Assembly resolutions and the COP26 Health Programme are taking steps to address these issues and promote better health in Europe. This technical brief is structured as a guide for health care planners and designers to improve the safety, comfort and efficiency of refurbished and redesigned hospital projects and new hospital facilities across the WHO European Region.