An inventory of biophilia design attributes within Child Life play spaces

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*Brenner * Duke * Jeff Gordon * Levine * N.C. * New Hanover * Presbyterian Hemby * Vidant

Biophilia- What is it?

The human need to relate with life

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Operationalizing- The process Questions Conclusions IRB Analysis Site Visits

Case Studies

Matrix & Surveys

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Photography exploration of the sites

North Carolina Children’s Hospital play atrium

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Hospitals- North Carolina Children’s Hospital

Play Atrium

Recreational Therapy

Teen Game Room

Teen Activity Room

Music Therapy Room

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Hospitals- New Hanover Regional Hospital

Play Room

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Hospitals- Presbyterian Hemby

Play Room

Teen Room

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Hospitals- Brenner Children’s

floor

8th floor

Teen room

9th floor

6th

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Hospitals- Vidant Medical Center

Teen Room

Play Room

NICU Room

Rehabilitation Room

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Hospitals- Levine Children’s Hospital

8th floor Play Room

9th floor Play Room

Teen Room

10th floor Play Room

11th floor Play Room

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Hospitals- Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital

Teen Internet Cafe

Play Room

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Instrument #1- Matrix Element categories • Environmental Features • Natural Shapes and Forms • Natural Patterns and Processes.

• Light and Space • Place-Based Relationships • Human-Nature Relationships Example: One part of the individual matrix for Presbyterian Hemby

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Instrument #2- Surveys

Questions were: How effective is the space in its support of child life? Please briefly explain your reply.

What aspect of the space best supports child life? Please briefly explain your reply.

Are there aspects of the space that impede child life? Please briefly explain your reply.

If you could change anything about the space, what would it be and why?

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Last instrument = Case Studies

Matrix

Part of the analysis of New Hanover Medical Center that aided the case study.

Survey response Q#1

It is a beautiful space with an aquarium, open space and a sand castle for younger children, my office with musical instruments(to be used when supervised), and a teen space. The environment, lighting and design are wonderful, the teen side needs more resources and different furniture to make it more appealing to the older children.

We also could use a sink. We do have hand sanitizer dispensers but a sink would be more effective for art work.

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Interpretation of findings- matrix

The beginning and end of the analysis chart for all spaces and attributes

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Interpretation of findings- matrix

N.C. Child Life Play Room Matrix Scores N.C. Child Life Play Rooms

39

37

30

18

20

24

22

21 16

Biophilia Matrix Score

19 16

19 15

20 17

21

25

27

25 19

19 14

18

15

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Interpretation of findings- case studies Biophilic presence

• Spaciousness and daylight most common desires • Natural Patterns and Processes- highest presence • Place-Based Relationship and HumanNature Relationships- tied for lowest presence • Multiple attributes in an item New Hanover Medical Center signage

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Interpretation of findings- case studies Survey Child Life Play Room Effectiveness Not Effective Score

Neutral Score

Effective Score

Very Effective Score 37

14

15 1516

18 17 16

18 19 19 19 19 19

22 20 20 21 21 21

24 24 24 25 25

27 27

39

30

#17 #11 #22 #9 #5 #13 #24 #2 #12 #10 #16 #16 #23 #14 #3 #15 #8 #14 #4 #18 #18 #18 #19 #21 #20 #20 #7 #1 #6 Play Room #: ordered from low to high scores

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Addition to the body of knowledge Additions: Case studies with photographic inventory Matrix instrument • Biophilic features added desired features • Link between nature and the effectiveness of the spaces • Case studies represent unique database of information • Additional research needed

New Hanover Medical Center signage

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Credits Sources: Kellert, S. (2005). Building for life : designing and understanding the human-nature connection. Washington DC: Island Press.

Images: Biophilia image: http://jellyfishinthesea.wordpress.com/,

http://archive.blisstree.com/live/clothing-for-tiny-tree-huggers/, http://training.schneiderchildrenshospital.org/peds_html_fixed/p eds/pregnant/anatomy.htm Process image: http://www.wondergroup.com/about-us “We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us.”

–– Sir Winston Churchill, May 10, 1941.