The Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH) in Singapore has been called a “biophilic hospital” because the entire architecture of the building is designed to complement nature, instead of erasing it.
The architects began with a few ideas in mind. They wanted to have visual access to greenery and water, as well as the sound of falling water and the smell of plants. Also, a diversity of plants, birds and butterflies, in a community-oriented space.
The hospital opened in 2010, and the public spaces have been open to patients as well as nearby residents. Some of these spaces are even used for community events like dancing, tai chi, and Zumba. In 2016, roughly 200 people were surveyed by researchers from the National University of Singapore. The respondents consisted of a mixture of patients, staff, visitors, and most of them reported an overall better sense of well-being at this hospital as opposed to others.
KTPH reportedly out-performs all other hospitals in Singapore in the annual Ministry of Health public satisfaction survey nearly every year. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital is a 761-bed general and acute care hospital, serving more than 550,000 people living in the north of Singapore.
According to the hospital’s website:
KTPH combines medical expertise with high standards of personalised care, set within a healing environment, to provide care that is good enough for our own loved ones. From intuitive wayfinding to logical clustering of services, KTPH’s design is focused on providing a hassle-free experience for patients. The hospital has been designed with patients’ comfort in mind. Since its opening, the building has garnered numerous awards for its green and energy efficient design. Patients can enjoy comfortable accommodation in different categories of wards with views of greenery and naturally cool air from improved ventilation. KTPH also provides a wide range of outpatient specialist services.
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All photos courtesy of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital