Hospital Garden Design for Cancer Patients: A Case of Malatya Oncology Hospital
Abstract
Clinical findings have shown that gardens have a positive effect on the mental well-being of patients and also contribute to an improvement in the physical condition. However, cancer patients who have to stay in hospital for a period of time to complete their treatment usually do not have access to open areas with natural elements. Gardens with fresh air and a calm environment help cancer patients control their feelings of hopelessness and anxiety and improve their mental ability to cope with a difficult situation. This study aims to design a hospital garden with therapeutic value and to provide specific design strategies for the healing gardens of cancer patients. To achieve this goal, two balconies of İnönü University Oncology Hospital in Malatya, Turkey, were selected as design examples. The method consists of four consecutive steps: (1) a literature review to determine the design criteria of healing gardens, (2) analysing the case study, (3) identifying the needs and evaluations of cancer patients and experts, and finally (4) developing a list of design strategies based on the data obtained in the previous steps. As a result, specific design principles for the creation of an internal hospital garden were proposed, which can serve as a model for future hospital gardens and also provide practical guidance for architects and landscape architects.
Keywords
Supporting Institution
Ethical Statement
References
- Andrade, C.C., Devlin, A.S., Pereira, C.R., & Lima, M.L. (2012). Do the hospital rooms make a differ-ence for patients’ stress? A multilevel analysis of the role of perceived control, positive distraction, and so-cial support. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 32(3), 219–226. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2012.03.001
- Arkiv. (2023). İnönü University Oncology Hospital (IUOH) architectural project description. Erişim adresi: https://www.arkiv.com.tr
- Ateş, O., & Sabaz, M. (2013). İnönü Üniversitesi Merkez Kampüsü’nde Arboretum Park Oluştu-rulmasına Yönelik Bir Araştırma. İnönü Üniversitesi Sanat ve Tasarım Dergisi, 3(8). https://izlik.org/JA89BT82YD.
- Cervinka, R., Röderer, K., & Hefler, E. (2014). Are nature lovers happy? On various indicators of well-being and connectedness with nature. Journal of Health Psychology, 19(3), 379–388. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105312466863
- Cooper Marcus, & C., Barnes, M. (1999). Healing gardens: Therapeutic benefits and design recom-mendations. New York: John Wiley & Sons.
- Eckerling, A., Ricon-Becker, I., Sorski, L., Sandbank, E., & Ben-Eliyahu, S. (2020). Stress and cancer: Mechanisms, significance and future directions. Nature Reviews Cancer, 20(4), 197–213. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41568-019-0223-8
- Fleming, L., & Figueiredo, M. (2013). Healing gardens for cancer populations. A Quarterly Publicatıon of The American Horticultural Therapy Association, 41(2), 13-15. https://www.hopeinbloom.org/press/HealingGardens.pdf
- Frumkin, H., Bratman, G.N., Breslow, S.J., Cochran, B., Kahn Jr, P.H., Lawler, J.J., & Wood, S.A. (2017). Nature contact and human health: A research agenda. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(7), 075001. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1663
Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Landscape Design
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
May 10, 2026
Submission Date
January 29, 2026
Acceptance Date
April 24, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 5 Number: 1
