Environmental Comfort and Biophilia Metrics in High-Complexity Hospital Design: Towards a Humanized Engineering Model

Abstract

Contemporary hospital architecture has incorporated approaches aimed at enhancing the user experience, most notably biophilia and therapeutic architecture. In this context, the present study aimed to determine how the integration of these approaches can improve the patient experience in the main hospitals of Trujillo. The research was conducted under a mixed-methods approach, combining a specialized scientific literature review with the analysis of real-world scenarios through the application of a hospital architectural environment perception survey, administered to both patients and healthcare staff.The data collection instrument was structured around five dimensions: general environmental comfort, natural lighting, the relationship between space and health/well-being, visual contact with nature, and global perception of architectural design. The results show a positive assessment of spaces that integrate biophilic and therapeutic criteria, highlighting their influence on emotional well-being, stress reduction, and the enhancement of the hospital experience. Furthermore, it was identified that these aspects benefit not only patients but also healthcare personnel by fostering more comfortable and functional environmental conditions. In conclusion, the findings support the need to prioritize the incorporation of biophilia and therapeutic architecture principles in hospital design, consolidating them as fundamental strategies for the comfort of healthcare spaces.