Landscaping of Hospitals and

Educational institutions
Dr.P.Prashanth
Principal Scientist (Hort.)
SKLTSHU, Hyderabad
Benefits of Landscaping in hospitals:
1. Physical benefit –
 Looking nature produces ‘micro restorative experience’ that enhances a sense of
well being
2. Psychological benefit -
 Rigid regulation of time and activity in hospital can have negative psychological
effect
 High blood pressure and heart activity caused by stress can be decreased if exposed
to natural scenes
3. Social benefit –
 Natural environment in health care facilities contribute to social integration by
providing spaces for social interaction and support
 Patients with strong social support networks typically experience less stress and
better health and early recovery
Outdoor Hospital landscape areas:
1. Landscaped grounds-
Green areas between buildings, used for waiting and eating , link the architecture
with walking paths
2. Landscaped set backs –
Planted area in front of the main entrance
Separate hospital building from the street
3. Front porches –
 Area where vehicles can pick up or drop off passengers, sitting area, signs with
directions, a mail box, telephone booth, bus stop etc.
4. Entry garden –
Located near hospital entrance
5. Courtyards –
Central and most often used spaces in a hospital building
Sufficiently large to prevent overcrowding
Shaded trees, water features, flower beds, seats
6. Plazas –
Out door areas typically paved and furnished
Easy access to wheel chairs, walkers and crutches
Shade from flowering trees or evergreens, seating areas decorated with plants,
coloured shrubs, ground cover, water feature
7. Roof terraces -
Long narrow balcony occupying one side of the roof of a hospital building
Comprises of plants and seating area
8. Roof gardens –
Gardens located on roofs
Visually attractive, enabling patients to look out from their rooms and have a
comforting view of grass, paving stones, benches
9. Healing garden –
Gardens which serve as safe and meditative environments for healing
Purpose – looking at the garden from window, sitting, eating, reading
taking a nap in the garden, prayer and meditation
walking to a preferred spot, gardening,
exercise, sports and children play
Objective – Stress relief, relieving physical symptoms and enhancing the feeling of
well being
Fundamental design principle -
i) Enhance feelings of control
ii) Have a prevalence of green material and area – Soft scapes of 70% and rest hard
scapes
iii) Encourage exercise - walking paths
iv) Provide positive distractions –
v) Minimize intrusions – minimize negative factors like urban noise, smoke and
artificial lighting
scented flowers and other scents should be avoided for chemotherapy patients
10. Meditation garden –
 Small, enclosed, quiet garden is designed with a focal point to help patients
concentrate and relax as part of the healing process
Simple design, minimalist
comprising a circle = life, a square = order
symbols such as the celtic knot = travel
Lawn, with seating area, water feature
Cool colours such as violet, blue and green
Meditation garden
11. Viewing gardens:
Small enclosed garden that can be seen but not entered
Flowers, water feature seen from seating area
11. Viewing/walk in garden:
Green space can be entered from corridor or waiting room
12. Edible garden:
Herbs, fruit plants and vegetables
Simple and balanced with wandering paths demarcating public and private spaces.
Annuals and perennials
HARD LANDSCAPE DESIGN:
1. Gateways and entrances:
 Provide cues to find way around site
 Landscaping at main access point
 Sufficiently wide
2. PRKING AREAS:
 Parking for staff behind the hospital
 Patients near to the entrance
 Use directional signs to identify the parking space
3.PATHS:
The paths for public and private should be demarcated
Minor walkways should be at least 1.5 m
Two way traffic ways should be 2.1 m
Paving surfaces should be smooth
3. Children’s garden:
Space set apart they can move as freely as need or wish
Flexible play area should be designed to stimulate imaginations
Use of primary colours , with climbing structures
Path maze, chalkboard masonry wall,
Surfaces with decomposed granite, asphalt, wooden boardwalk, resilient mats,
4. Dining areas:
Used by more people
6. Art:
Art works form part of healing environment
Featuring images of nature , sculptures and other design
7. Water:
 Hearing water running in a fountain
Seeing fish in a pond
sunlight reflecting on water
Sights and sounds create sensory focal points for garden spaces which attract all ages
8. SITE FURNITURE:
i) Seating :
 Where people would actually want to use it
 Benches, chairs and social seating arrangement for groups (right angled or
centripetal benches, or movable chairs)
Seating arrangement under shade of trees
ii) Signage:
Signs should be fixed at a height of 150 cm
iii) Lighting:
To enhance the safety and security
Parking areas, entrance and service roads etc.
Therapeutical benefit of night light is - safe use of the space at night
iv) Receptacles:
Locations of the trash containers should be considered as an essential element of
health care facility
Litter containers at all transition areas such as doors, building entries, parking area etc.
Should be place at least 3.6 m away from where people tend to socialize/
PLANTING DESIGN:
Plants with little water requirement
Native vegetation with new plants
Native trees are useful, as they attract wildlife, butterflies
Fountains or bird baths
Dark woodland environment
 Seasonal changing flowering trees, shrubs and perennials
Vegetation with contrast and harmony through textures, forms, colors draw peoples
attention
Large canopy trees create shade – change microclimate
Shrubs should be trimmed to emphasize their natural form - space looks well cared
reflects the well caring of patients
Scented and brightly colored flowers and leaves provide an attractive sensory
experience
Edible garden is useful concept
Hazardous or thorny plants should not planned in childrens garden, or psychiatric
hospitals
Elevated gardens – pots and planters should be raised to a height of 61 cm
Raised plant boxes – width 1.5 m to view all sides, 0.75 cm one side
Table planters
Landscaping Educational Institutions

Master Plan
Aim of master plan –
Barrier against the Noise, storm, dust, Provide shade
Planting:
Large trees peripheral areas
In front with medium sized flowering trees
Roads and paths – medium to tall flowering trees
Shrubs – around playgrounds, between trees, paths
Climbers – Bougainvellia, Bignonia venusta, Ficus repens, Campsis radicans