Based in Sweden, the founder and director general of the International Academy of Design and Health, Professor Alan Dilani is currently in Australia presenting the concept of ‘salutonegic’ thinking.

He’s interested in how the theory applies to the design of new hospital facilities, which in Australia have seen a new focus on links between design and wellbeing. He highlights projects such as Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, by Bates Smart and Brisbane’s Queensland Children’s Hospital, a joint venture by Lyons and Conrad Gargett Architecture.

“Australia is absolutely one of the leading countries in the world right now,” he says.

The thinking relates to Aaron Antonovsky’s proactive health theory of Salutogenesis. Essentially, it’s a different approach to health that focuses on promoting the state of wellbeing, to reduce stress on the body.

“If we provide restorative and high tech environments, people will restore their minds and cope with stress,” he says.

It’s achieved through a range of design elements, including building proportion, art, music, social support, uncrowded spaces, colour, daylight, nature and light, amongst others. In hospitals, using these approaches directly support improved health outcomes, not only for patients, but for staff and visitors too.

“Design is all around us. It’s not science, but design is art: a process of creativity. Therefore, buildings should have these types of qualities to make people feel good,” Professor Dilani says.

But the theory goes beyond hospitals and can be transferred to other kinds of structures, such as schools, offices, public institutions and urban environments.

Lyons is hosting Professor Dilani while he is in Australia. In Melbourne, he presented a series of lectures at the University of Melbourne.

“It is the responsibility of designers and architects to create environments that support people’s health and wellbeing,” he says.

Lyons

lyonsarch.com.au

International Academy of Design and Health

designandhealth.com