• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2012

This study aims to examine the outdoor environment of a geriatric hospital and explore its stress-relief impact upon those who utilize it. Post Occupancy Evaluation is employed to assess the effectiveness of a healthcare setting. This study is based on survey questionnaire including the users' perception of outdoor environment, their perceived restorativeness, and quality of life. A total of one hundred and sixty individuals including patients, families and visitors, and healthcare staffs. As a result, it turns out that the therapeutic outdoor environment and its users' health outcomes, such as reststroativeness and quality of life are significantly correlated. In conclusion, the finding of this research seems to demonstrate the potential that the therapeutic outdoor environment has for the improvement of its users' health by enhancing.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.1-13
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• 2003

The purpose of this study is to understand the importance of exterior environments and to identify the design guidelines for the therapeutic garden for cognitively impaired seniors with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. The data was collected from 4 Adult Day Care Centers, 2 Nursing Homes, & 1 Assisted living in the U.S.A. from 2001 to 2002 by interview and the floor plan about the outdoor space. Although some may believe that patients with Alzheimer's disease and related disorders are unresponsive to environment, evidence shows that environments especially designed for cognitively impaired seniors can maintain or increase their level of functioning. The use of specially designed exterior environments nay have in reducing incidents of aggressive behavior, and contributing significantly to a wanderer management program. The checklist includes 6 dimensions： safety environment, various sensual stimulations, social interactions, wandering, privacy, and support orientation and reality. The results indicated that the exterior environment have to support wandering behavior, orientation and reality.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2007

The Outdoor space is an essential element among healing environments for older people. The purpose of this study is to identify outdoor design issues which can improve the health conditions of the elderly living in nursing home. At first, the design principles of outdoor space for the mentally ill have been collected from the literature survey. Secondary, outdoor design requirements for the care program in nursing homes have been explored. Thirdly, good design elements have been collected from 6 nursing homes which have good outdoor space. Finally, Basic design principles of outdoor space of nursing homes in which older people with dementia live have been proposed by analysis and synthesis on the three stages before. As a result of this study, 6 dimensions in architectural planning of outdoor space for nursing homes have been presented : safety environment, various sensual stimulation, social interactions, support physical ability, accessibility, meditation.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.17-25
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• 2017

Purpose: Since hospitals have a big impact on the natural and social environment, hospitals' sustainability must be considered in various aspects including environmental, social, and economical aspects. So far, research on sustainable hospitals has mainly been conducted on indoor environment, but outdoor space of hospital is as important as well. The purpose of this research is to study the sustainability of hospital outdoor space and to make proposals for improving sustainable regional public hospitals. Methods: Through preceding research analysis and literature review, the concept of sustainable outdoor space of hospital was defined. Also, the evaluation contents of outdoor space were extracted from domestic and foreign green building certification criteria. With this analytic frame, we visited 4 regional public hospitals in Korea, interviewed the facility managers, and analyzed sustainability of hospital outdoor space. Results: Analysis of 4 regional public hospitals reveals that there is a lack of consideration for sustainability in all 4 categories; urban and network, natural environment, community, and user. In terms of community, sustainability has rarely been applied to all four hospitals. The site selection and terrain of the site were essential to sustainability. Implications: Establishing a master plan considering future expansion is critical. Also more attempt to show regional characteristics is needed. It is necessary to design a comprehensive outdoor space that considers sustainability and also healing environment. Level difference in the site can be used as a design element.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.26-37
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• 2016

As activities and convenience of residents in outdoor spaces in apartment houses have been considered important, strategies for making outdoor spaces in apartment houses healing spaces have emerged as a major interest. The purpose of this study is to draw elements for planning healing to create healing spaces in collective housing areas and to present design guidelines. The findings of this study are as follows. Functional elements of a healing environment were classified into safe environment, therapeutic environment, ancillary environment, orientation-reinforcing environment, amenities, and social environment. Outdoor spaces in collective housing areas were divided into collective housing entrance areas, internal and external spread areas, outdoor activity areas, and areas by theme. First, collective housing entrance areas should be planned in such a manner that residents can feel the area is private and easy to recognize. Second, internal and external spread areas should be planned in such a manner that they are easy to access and communicate with neighbors. Third, outdoor activity areas should be divided into an open space, resting space, playing space, and sports space. Open spaces should be planned in such a manner that they can command a fine view and respect the privacy of nearby residents. Resting spaces should be equipped with a shelter that protects users from direct sunlight, rain, and snow as well as include a movable bench. Playing spaces should be built considering development of children's curiosity, adventurous spirit, character, stimulation, and physical health. Playing spaces should be designed in such a manner that roadways and sidewalks can be separated for safe traffic. Sport spaces should be planned in such a manner that they can be associated with a pavilion and trail that provide residents with an opportunity to communicate with each other and rest. Fourth, spaces by theme are classified into sense garden, therapeutic garden, experiential garden, and learning garden. Sense gardens are a small garden based on the five senses. Sense gardens should be designed in such a manner that they can improve users' mental and physical health through programs that stimulate the sense of sight, auditory sense, and olfactory sense. Therapeutic gardens should be designed in such a manner that they can provide a comfortable and relaxing space by minimizing noise. It is advisable for therapeutic gardens to be equipped with a medicinal herb garden, meditation garden, and sense garden. Experiential and learning gardens should be designed in such a manner that they can provide users with a space in which they can enjoy nature and leisure activities. It is advisable for experiential and learning gardens to be equipped with a tea garden, vegetable garden, and camping garden. Healing programs should be designed in such a manner that users can feel relaxed by providing a healing environment, making the most of the natural environment. Further research on evaluating whether the findings of this study are effective in healing in a qualitative and quantitative manner is needed.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.517-525
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• 2010

Horticultural therapy is a complementary therapy by trained professionals utilizing plant and horticultural activities as media to pursue the positive change of clients, which resulting from stimuli of plant nature, activities, and interaction with other people. Outdoor horticultural activities provide clients with the opportunities of the contact to nature such as fresh air and sunlight as well as plants. But the importance of plant nature to client's health has not been fully acknowledged compared to that of therapist's role and activities in horticultural therapy in Korea. In horticultural therapy it is possible for client to participate on the various levels from passive viewing to active gardening according to the client's ability. Therefore it is necessary for horticultural therapists to consider the therapeutic factors of plant nature to maximize the therapeutic effect of horticultural therapy. The purpose of the research is to clarify the therapeutic factors in the contact of client with plant nature and to emphasize those importance in horticultural therapy. From the review of the experimental researches five therapeutic factors were revealed: Natural light, plant natural view, natural sound, aroma(volatile oils of plants), and plant itself. This paper raises the importance of outdoor activities in horticultural therapy and the necessity for severely handicapped clients to the contact with plant nature, though passively.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.1-17
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• 2011

This study aimed to analyze health promotion villages from the perspective of therapeutic architecture, and to provide basic information for planning relevant health facilities. On the basis of a review of previous literature, the characteristics of therapeutic architecture were classified into eight categories: safety, comfort, sociality, autonomy, openness, diversity, privacy, and natural environment. Field study and observation were performed in four health promotion villages that conduct programs for lifestyle improvement, physical fitness, and treatment; these villages were also considered to have a healthy residential environment. The researcher and three assistants visited the facilities and checked utilization of space through interviews with the staff and guided tours. Basic information about the subject facilities, such as the purpose of establishment, was gathered from websites before visits. Two of the villages examined in this study had a traditional Korean wooden structure, while the other two were reinforced concrete and masonry block structures. All the facilities emphasized the use of environmentally friendly material and harmony with nature. Each site was divided into the following areas: office, residence, health/treatment, public/rest, and outdoor. The safety standards of the healing architecture were not completely satisfactory at all facilities. In particular, it was found that they lacked adequate universal design equipment. However, the healing characteristics of autonomy and diversity were strong. With regard to autonomy, the facilities allowed visitors to select indoor-outdoor moving lines and the use of front- and backyards constructed on slopes. In addition, they were equipped with many entries, staircases, void, terraces, and crossroads. The architecture was aesthetically designed using feng shui symbolism, and visitors found the scenes depicted in various spaces in the villages to be stimulating. Besides, the facilities were constructed using natural materials, had a natural indoor environment, and provided a sense of spaciousness and flexibility.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.5 no.9
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• pp.107-116
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to present reference materials for the planning and research of related environments by introducing the theoretical background and samples of the environments for older people with cognitive impairments. Major contents of the study include cognitive impairments and residential facility of older people, model environments for special care unit, therapeutic dimensions of environments, outdoor garden, activity calendar, and site-visits of the sample facilities. Some results of the study could be summarized as follows ; 1) Special care unit for the people with cognitive impairments has been required and developed. 2) Weiss Institute, Corrine Dolan Alzheimer Center, and Wood Place in Oakmont were analyzed as model environments. 3) Therapeutic dimensions such as safety & security, awareness & orientation, opportunities for socialization, regulated sensory stimulation, provisions for privacy, ties to the healthy & familiar, and autonomy & control were proposed. 4) The advantages of outdoor garden for the people with cognitive impairments were explained. 5) Activity calendar for a facility was introduced and recognized as a essential guide for environment planning. 6) Sample facilities showed small size households and various ideas of environments for the older people with cognitive impairments.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.57-63
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• 2002

This landscape design was proposed for the Buchon Special School Competition, held by the Kyonggi Province Office of Education. The authors collaborated on this design and won first prize in November of 2001. In the design proposal, on the basis of the knowledge of; mentally retarded children the children's activities, nature and health, and the healing gardens, the special school outdoor spaces were designed to meet the particular needs of the users. The school outdoor spaces are design for various types of users-children, adolescents, parents, siblings, staff, volunteers and visitors. The following are some of the basis concerns in the design of the school outdoor spaces : garden site planning, garden location, security, microclimate, entering and exiting, accessibility, usability, user group territories, supervision, attracting trained volunteers, a range of high-quality social settings, accommodation of different student types, accommodation of needs for both challenge and rest, child nature interaction, diversity of natural settings, hands-on activity, integrating the arts, and maintenance. The following are some of the major features in the design of school outdoor spaces : pleasant and inviting entry areas, sports grounds with different levels of challenge, gardens with plants having strong fragrances and/or tactile qualities, resting places with many types and forms of seating and weather-mitigating features, play grounds for all student types, roof gardens for users to experience nature in man-made environments, and walkways and winding paths with various trees, shrubs and flowers. In the special school outdoor spaces, people would perceive a unique sense of place through the various types of spaces and features described above. An example of the true meaning of a playing and resting place and a restorative and therapeutic environment is provided in the school outdoor spaces.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2003

Day care center for the elderly is an alternative for community care for frail elderly who need social participation and physical cares and services outside the family. The purpose of this study was to identify the present situation of day care center for the elderly and to suggest desirable interior space plans for elderly day care center. Data were collected by two ways; a mail survey and case studies of existing day care centers. Five cases of day care centers were analyzed to find out Physical and space problems, available programs and services. Also, the staffs in 96 day care centers for the elderly in nationwide were selected for a mail survey and 68.8 percentage of all was collected and analyzed. From the result of case studies, narrow space and lack of accessibility features for wheelchair or other prosthetic devices were the major problems. From the result of a mail survey analysis, the elderly users were over 73 years old, and high proportion had suffered from dementia and apoplexy Also, staffing ration was 1:7 In other words, one staff was caring of 7 old people, and supporting staff was insufficient. Therefore, supportive, therapeutic environment Was more important issue to improve quality of care. Separate program room and outdoor space, lounging space, treatment room by gardening, separate counselling room, bedroom, a simple kitchen unit, staff office, separate physical treatment room, resting room for staff was indicated more necessarily. When priority of planning interior space was safety followed by accessability and convenience, it was also reported that sire of each room was generally narrow. The most serious problem in interior space was the lack and narrowness of space, and accessible features for mobility. Based on the literature review and the findings of this study, two types of floor plans for elderly day care center were suggested;‘a mixed type for the elderly with and without dementia’and‘a separate type for the elderly with dementia.’The main goals for designing interior space for two types of elderly day care center were to provide safe environment, encouraging environment for remaining abilities of users, sanitary environment, therapeutic environment, familiar environment, and socially-encouraging environment. The recommendations for further studies were suggested.