Course syllabus

Course-PM

ACE500 Healthcare architecture 2 lp2 HT24 (15 hp)

Course is offered by the department of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Credits: 15

Modules: no

ADP: yes

 

Contact details

Teachers:

Cristiana Caira (Chalmers/ White), Examiner 

Henrik Magnusson (Chalmers/ Sweco), Tutor

Filip Rem (Chalmers/ Atelier Filip Rem), Tutor

Guest Lecturers:

Marie Larsson, Göran Lindahl and Lin Tan from Healthcare Studio 1

Johanna Eriksson (Chalmers/ Sweco)

Helena Fernberg (Sweco)

Sofia Park (Link)

Linda Björn (Marge architects)

Representatives from Region Skåne

Technical support and admin:

Ásgeir Sigurjónsson

+46(0)76 407 1208

asgeir.sigurjonsson@chalmers.se

Introduction / Course purpose

The aim of the course is to disseminate academic and profession-based knowledge concerning buildings for healthcare and to support the development of the ability to design buildings for healthcare activities integrated with applicable and relevant contextual aspects (e.g., sustainability, socio-cultural aspects, briefs, programs, laws, and regulations etc.).

Designing spaces for healthcare is one of the most challenging architectural design commissions architects and planners are faced with as it entails intricate design tasks in which many and often conflicting aspects and parameters must be evaluated, prioritized and tested against a variety of stakeholders affected by the design project in focus. In these projects, architects are needed to consider quality of design, coordinate design in relationship to patient needs and at the same time consider staff and work environment requirements. Challenging and sometimes complex work conditions, requirements for effective and efficient spatial design related to clinical needs, care logistics, advanced technical systems etc. also need to be considered.

During the course the students will design large scale, complex and sustainable healthcare buildings integrated into the surrounding environment and urban setting The projects will be related to commissions that will require interaction with real stakeholders and clients.

Specific entry requirements

The large scale and the complex brief within the course is recommended for students with prior experience in complex building design.

Learning objectives and syllabus

After completion of the course the student should be able to:

  -  Knowledge and understanding

Demonstrate advanced knowledge about history and design approaches/principles of built environment for healthcare as a part of the professional, cultural and societal context.

Demonstrate advanced knowledge and critically examine the concept evidence-based design.

-   Skills and abilities

Be able to design facilities creatively and critically for healthcare activities that takes its starting point in a sustainable development from environmental, social and economic aspects.

Be able to apply and test a design driven work method for complex commissions.

Demonstrate the capacity for teamwork with a complex brief, combining spaces for care, patient experiences, work environment considerations, logistics and systems thinking.

Be able to apply concepts of "Future proofing"-generality, flexibility and adaptability.

Be able to integrate structural design and technical requirements that are essential to fulfil the goals of sustainability and future proofing.

Be able to design healthcare buildings as integrated into the surrounding environment and urban setting, interacting with real stakeholders and clients.

Demonstrate the capacity to communicate to different stakeholders and colleagues, via presentations, using the entire repertoire of architectural media and methods, to present the reasoning and work conclusions.

• Ability of assessment and attitude

Demonstrate the ability to adopt a holistic view in making judgements and appraisals informed by the relevant disciplinary, social, and ethical aspects and to integrate the needs of all user groups as a fundament for proposals of long-term and high aesthetic quality.

Be able to show intention, commitment, and ability to identify needs for further knowledge and undertake on-going development of the student’s skills.

Course design / content

The course works with context-rich "real" commissions that are a part of the planning processes in one Swedish Region together with clients and users. A typical project is a hospital site, a new building, an extension or refurbishment with a significant scale and a complex brief. 

Students work in the very early stage of the project and can therefore nourish from the engagement and interests from the client and other stakeholders. The student’s projects might also have a chance to influence the client's process and get opportunities to engage a broader range of stakeholders.

The course takes its starting point in a combination of explorative design exercises with analytical and systematic approaches and procedures, literature studies and organized reflection-workshops on design decision-making and choices made.

There are five lecture blocks (LB) at the beginning of the course. These consist of lectures and design workshops. Each subsequent lecture block increases in complexity and builds upon the knowledge gained in previous blocks.

LB1 Introduction to healthcare architecture and site visit

LB2 Understanding of the brief and stakeholder’s requirements

LB3 Analysis of the site and context

LB4 Evidence based design, health promotive design and findings from research

LB5 Generality and flexibility in shell and core design

Key milestone as follows:

Week 45 - Course start and group work

Week 49 - Mid-critique presentation

2025, Week 2 - Final report submission

2025, Week 3 - Final presentation

Organisation

The course has a design driven approach for understanding and coordinating the design project assignment.

• The course includes compulsory participation in study visits, lectures, tutorials and seminars, interwoven with the design work.
• Reflections/workshops connected to different themes are planned, to ensure the input of skills such as critical reflection, theory and technology into the development of the design project.
• Research is an important driver in future development of design of buildings and facilities for healthcare. Research is integrated with course content.
• The design project is organized in work stages which reflect phases in professional practice. The purpose of this is to drive an articulated design process. The design proposal is developed in smaller student groups, to train the interpersonal skills of collaboration, communication and critique.
• During the design process, and connected to the different work stages/phases, compulsory presentations and critique sessions will be arranged to train the ability to present, motivate and critically give and receive feedback from teachers, external critics, clients and other students in order to further develop the design skills as well as the design projects.

Through lectures, laboratories, study visits, design work, tutorials and critics, students are trained in both practice-related, problem-oriented approach and advanced design thinking.

Collaborative group work applies, but grades will be allocated on individual basis. This takes into account participation in studio work and project groups, presentations and the final report.

A studio space is allocated on Level 5.

Tutoring/supervision and workshops

The course comprises Lecture blocks followed by a workshop.  Sketch iterations done within the workshop is a method of problem-solving, documenting and exploring ideas through integration of previously gained knowledge from the lecture. The resulting work will be presented, with an emphasis on peer-to-peer learning. The workshops are compulsory.

Two tutoring sessions, 45 min each session, are offered weekly. Some tutoring sessions might be offered as digital sessions.

Schedule
TimeEdit / Canvas

Detailed course PM will be presented 2 weeks before course start and is to find under canvas/ files.

Integrated learning

The Healthcare Studio 2 is closely related to Healthcare Studio 1 and the two courses will be sharing some common lectures, some workshops and both presentation days. Healthcare Studio 2 has a higher level of complexity in the task and the expected deliverables.

Communication & Resources

Canvas will be used to communicate and share all material and deliverables during the course.

Examination form

Detailed deliverables for each presentation will be described in a separate document.

To pass the course the complete list of deliverables (presentations as well as the final report) must be handed in on time as well as active participation at all critique sessions, lectures, seminars, study visits, tutorials and teamwork is required.

The evaluation criteria are:

1. The project’s vision and aim.
2. Context.
3. Sustainability.
4. Concept.
5. Design.
6. Method.
7. Presentation.
8. Participation and teamwork.

The course is graded F, 3, 4 and 5.

The grade is based on the evaluation criteria A-H.

Failed: The project is clearly unviable. Significant parts of the requested material are missing in the final report and presentations. Unsatisfactory level of individual participation and engagement in teamwork and studio activities.

Grade 3: The project is carried out at a sufficient level and is feasible. No parts are missing (additions can be discussed). Satisfactory level of individual participation and engagement in teamwork and studio activities.

Grade 4: The project is well executed and well feasible. All parts of the final report and presentations are included and are well implemented. Good level of individual participation and engagement in teamwork and studio activities.

Grade 5: The project is very well executed and very well feasible. All parts of the final report and presentations are included and are very well implemented. Very good level of individual participation and engagement in teamwork and studio activities.

Course literature

The Architecture of Hospitals. Coor Wagenaar (ed), NAi booksellers,Rotterdam, 2007.
The Power of Architecture - Towards Better Hospital Buildings, Hennu Kjisic, Studies in Architecture 2009/41 Public Building Design
Roger S. Ulrich, et al. A Review of the Research Literature on Evidence-Based Healthcare Design, HERD Vol. 1, No. 3 SPRING 2008
Investing in Hospitals of the Future (2009), The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.
Project Programme New Karolinska Solna (2008) - Stockholms Läns landsting
Ryd, N. (2003) Exploring Construction Briefing, from Document to Process, doctoral dissertation, Department of Space and Processes, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Fröst, P. (2004), Designdialoger i tidiga skeden, PhD diss, Chalmers pp21 -58

For more literature, see list in Canvas.

Changes made since the last occasion
The structure for the Masterprogram at Chalmers is completely new from Fall 2023. Compared to Fall 2023, Healthcare Studio 2 will be less integrated with Healthcare Studio 1.