Perhaps the two words “Architecture” and “Medicine” next to each other is a new concept, yet the goal of Architectural Medicine is to discuss how these two fields can overlap for a better built environment to live and work in.
The fields of Architecture and Medicine have changed quite a bit in the past fifty years, and while there have been many beneficial developments in each of these very large fields, there are still gaps relative to Health in the built environment.
These topics also include the increasingly important issues of building Energy Efficiency such as Green Building, and the impact on the ecology in terms of a more Sustainable Building future.
The Definition of Architectural Medicine
While there are great developments occurring in each profession, from Green Building, Environmental Psychology and Building Science in Architecture, to Integrative Medicine, Evidence-Based Design and Environmental Health in Medicine, these fields continue to be increasingly complex with many facets within each field.
The intent of Architectural Medicine is to support the integration of these various fields for best practices and to support the creation of new systems. It has also been created to support the overall fields of Architecture and Medicine in creating healthier built environments.
“Building” the Bridge to Wellness
A main goal is to help the professionals and general public in navigating these various fields, and to participate in creating “bridges” between these fields in how they can all fit together.
In this way, the average person as the General Public can feel empowered to make best decisions in supporting their health for themselves, for their families and for future generations.
It also provides Architecture and Medical professionals helpful solutions to achieve these goals of Health and Wellness.
It’s also very important to recognize that the professionals in these fields have much to know in their own professions, and deserve to have supportive, integrative solutions so they are able to address client and patient issues to utilize best practices towards health, healing and wellness.
Can Architecture Be Healing?
The impact that the built environment has on human health and well being is becoming a topic of increasing study, interest and recognition. Both the Medical fields and the many fields connected to Architecture, are learning of this influence on human health in their research.
As these fields continue to develop, there becomes an increasing need for these many fields to connect the “dots” of their research together, for the benefit of both the professions involved in the built environment and in the health fields. It’s also important that the general public, who are influenced and affected by the built environment – physically, mentally and emotionally – to also have access to information towards their own good health.
Architectural Medicine works to connect these “dots” to provide updates on the latest information related to these professions and fields, and to help build bridges for healthier, greener and more sustainable built environments.
And this process also includes the processes of new professionals; the Architectural Doctor and the Healthy Building Inspector. Each of these professionals and their work is discussed in more detail throughout this website.
Conclusion
We have chosen to discuss this topic with the simple question, “Can Architecture Be Healing?” We think and feel that the answer to this question is a profound “Yes”, and this website and other means of communication and development are working towards achieving this goal.
This website has many resources of information on these various topics of health in the built environment. Tune into our news updates and social media accounts, as we continually add more information for both the professionals and the general public for better health and wellness in the built environment.