Active Projects

Optimisation of luminous environments of healthcare spaces

The physical characteristics of healthcare facilities can have positive impacts on the occupants.They can reduce the level of anxiety and stress, and aid patient recovery. The concept of designing therapeutic environments is not new; however, the relationships between environmental stimulus and response are complex and not fully understood. Healthcare facilities that have been appropriately designed with specific reference to the needs of patients, staff and visitors are delivering positive outcomes; nevertheless, there is a high degree of complexity involved with many often conflicting environmental parameters that need to be considered and reconciled.

Project Facts

Start date: December 2008
End date: November 2011
Investigators Professor Andrew Price; Dr. Monjur Mourshed
Staff Employed Shariful Shikder, Part-time PhD Student
Status Active

Project Partners

  • Babington Court Care Home
  • Leicester City Council

Project Partners

HaCIRIC
Department of Civil and Building Engineering
Loughborough University
Ashby Road
Loughborough
Leicestershire
LE11 3TU
T: +44 (0) 15 0922 2627
E: s.shikder(at)lboro(dot)ac(dot)uk

This project aims to develop and demonstrate how innovative design solutions relating to aesthetics and lighting (e.g. the availability of natural light/ day light and use of the arts) of healthcare spaces impact on the clinical outcomes of patients, staff productivity and facility performance. The project is developing a decision support system through modelling and simulation to optimise lighting design of healthcare spaces; and suggest innovative/alternative design strategies for existing and new facilities.