THEORY TO PRACTICE OF EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN IN HEALTHCARE: EXAMINING ULRICH’ STUDY

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 2 Sayı: 2, 141 - 148, 30.09.2025

Nurcan Yıldızoğlu

Öz

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has clear roots in evidence-based design (EBD), an approach in which design decisions are supported by scientific evidence. The basic theoretical framework of EBD and its translation into scientific theory in the architectural field of the positive effect of environmental issues on healthcare settings was created by the pioneer, Roger Ulrich. This paper examines the implementation of EBD in healthcare environment design, exploring its transition from theory to practice, with a focus on the foundational principles of EBM. This study addresses the gap in the literature arising from the limited number of studies examining the methodological transition from EBM to EBD in depth, and by discussing this transition in its historical, conceptual and methodological dimensions, it makes visible the epistemological foundations of EBD in architectural design decisions and contributes to the literature by presenting a methodological framework for its applicability in the design of healthcare facilities. It also focuses on examining the analogies, parallels, relationships, and limitations of the transition from EBM to EBD. In addition, this paper dwells on the principles and contributions of EBD in healthcare architecture, taking into account the framework of Ulrich's pioneering work. It also evaluates the implications of this EBM-based approach on the discipline of healthcare architecture and presents a possible direction for future research and practice.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Evidence-Based Design , Healthcare Environment , Evidence-Based Medicine , Ulrich

Teşekkür

This article is derived from a term paper originally submitted for the doctoral course AR562 Architecture and Science. I would like to thank Assoc. Dr. Ülkü İnceköse for her insightful comments, encouragement, and critical suggestions, which significantly contributed to the refinement of this study.

THEORY TO PRACTICE OF EVIDENCE-BASED DESIGN IN HEALTHCARE EXAMINING ULRICH’ STUDY

Öz

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) has clear roots in evidence-based design (EBD), an approach in which design decisions are supported by scientific evidence. The basic theoretical framework of EBD and its translation into scientific theory in the architectural field of the positive effect of environmental issues on healthcare settings was created by the pioneer, Roger Ulrich. This paper examines the implementation of EBD in healthcare environment design, exploring its transition from theory to practice, with a focus on the foundational principles of EBM. This study addresses the gap in the literature arising from the limited number of studies examining the methodological transition from EBM to EBD in depth, and by discussing this transition in its historical, conceptual and methodological dimensions, it makes visible the epistemological foundations of EBD in architectural design decisions and contributes to the literature by presenting a methodological framework for its applicability in the design of healthcare facilities. It also focuses on examining the analogies, parallels, relationships, and limitations of the transition from EBM to EBD. In addition, this paper dwells on the principles and contributions of EBD in healthcare architecture, taking into account the framework of Ulrich's pioneering work. It also evaluates the implications of this EBM-based approach on the discipline of healthcare architecture and presents a possible direction for future research and practice.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Evidence-Based Design , Healthcare Environment , Evidence-Based Medicine , Ulrich

Kaynakça

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