Comparative analysis of hospital environments in Australia and China using the space syntax approach

Abstract

PurposeSpatial arrangement of hospital environments has been proven to have impacts on hospital users such as wayfinding, privacy and operational efficiency. Many studies examined the spatial quality of hospitals, but there is a lack of comparative research between Chinese and Australian hospitals. Hospitals in both countries have salient features that are worth to learn and can inform hospital stakeholders internationally on design decisions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the spatial quality of hospitals from both countries using space syntax approach and field observation.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses space syntax analysis and observation to provide qualitative and quantitative data. Illustrative case studies from both countries are selected for comparison. The main benchmarks involved in measuring the spatial qualities, such as step depth and visual connectivity, are analysed using Depthmap X before comparing with the results from observation.FindingsFor Chinese hospitals to be more human-centred, public space design and facility management need additional attention. Australian hospitals could learn from Hospital D on how to design highly centralised nursing stations that cope with a high patient flow. Global policy and decision-makers should consider the potential inconsistency between initial design intention and practical use.Originality/valuePractical implications were made based on the results for bettering hospital environments. It is hoped that the methodology presented in this research is of significance to the enhancement of global healthcare environment research.

Using Space Syntax Analysis to Measure Patient Aggression Risk

“…In ED-A, the layout had multiple corridors and zones clustered in different directions, which created lower visual and physical access at the system level. Previous studies show that clustered layouts featuring zones that are gathered/bunched in different directions have a higher mean visual depth compared to double linear layouts in hospitals where zones are arranged along parallel corridors (Geng et al, 2020). The layout of ED-B had a more compact arrangement of zones, which contributed to a lower mean visual depth compared to ED-A.…”

“…Visual step depth is the number of steps needed to cover a subject area, and the number of steps is measured by how far one can see; that is, in isovist terminology, the least number of visual steps from a point “V” to a single universal sample location where a path goes through the threshold of all visible spaces from the previous visible step (McElhinney, 2020). Because the studies indicate that a lower mean visual step depth is linked to the ease of wayfinding and spatial orientation, designers favor a lower mean visual depth for hospital layouts (Geng et al, 2020). A lower mean visual depth can be linked to ease of accessibility to different units across a floor plan in terms of security personnel involved in the event of an incident.…”

Identifying measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in outpatient clinics

“…Step 1: building observation . Walk-through observation was adopted as a tool for this step (Waroonkun and Prugsiganont, 2022; Geng et al , 2021; Pilosof, 2021; Fronczek-Munter and Prugsiganont, 2018). Data were collected through photographs and architectural building plans.…”

Identifying built environment solutions, in Thai community hospital outpatient clinics, to prevent the spread of COVID-19

“…First, physical setting observation through photographs and architectural plans. Data were collected regarding the current physical setting of the OPD hospital buildings [16], [21], [22]. Second, in-depth interviews, where participants were recruited from medical staff who work in the OPD buildings of Mea Wang and Doi Saket hospitals.…”