Thesis: Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley

Thesis: Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley

Simultaneity: The Interplay of Oppositions in Healthcare Design

This thesis examines how the prioritization of one user group over the other can negatively affect healthcare facilities. By analyzing recent research and case studies, this thesis explores the needs of all inhabitants and how architecture affects them. Evidence reveals that well-designed environments can positively promote mental and emotional well-being, thus supporting the users’ physical health in the process. Simultaneity investigates the current practices in healthcare design and argues for a more holistic approach to care through the interplay of opposing ideas – comfort AND discomfort. Through a series of research bolstered by community engagement and collaborative design, this thesis reimagine an existing care facility as a holistic healing, nurturing place for everyone by enhancing the healing of physical and mental health through the built environment.

Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania - Pavilion was chosen as a site for the thesis. Specifically, the first floor, second floor, and an inpatient floor in the existing facilities were chosen to reimagine care facilities as a space of sensual experiences. To further enhance the healing properties of the built environment, Simultaneity proposes a wellness center to aid emotional healing for not just the Pavilion but the entire University of Pennsylvania medical campus.
Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
Studies and interviews revealed that most people find hospitals’ spaces stressful. Specifically, a patient revealed her source of anxiety stems from not being able to see medical providers while waiting between appointments. A series of windows and sliding doors was implemented in the provider’s workspace to ease said discomfort, thus dismantling the offstage-onstage ideology in healthcare. This application positively affects the providers as it allows visibility in the hallways, making it easier to collaborate between different teams.
Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley

Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
The area chosen for redesign on the second floor acts as the landing point of traffic to and from the original Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, the space is often used as a place for lunch provided by the restaurant nearby. The amount of traffic by providers makes this the ideal spot for a wellness center, specifically for the medical providers. The space is made up of 2 staff lounges for the passersby: one closed off to the public and one more adaptable. Through a curtain system, certain spaces can become enclosed or opened per the user’s needs, thus allowing for a sense of privacy and intimacy in a public space.
Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley

Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
The ground floor was chosen for the wellness center to create easy public access to the facility. The program builds on the existing open space and further enlarges the square footage to implement an array of public programming. Acknowledging the need for social gathering, the wellness center reimagine this space as a variety of spaces with social gathering spaces ranging from a small cafe, food court, living room, and lecture spaces. Additionally, the center recognizes the need for separation, thus a series of refresh rooms were created and tucked away throughout the space. The refresh rooms are meticulously placed somewhat out of sight to stimulate our natural attractions towards wonder and mystery. The secretive locations allow the users to feel a sense of privacy and intimacy in a large public area and present them with opportunities to take a breath, catch up on work, or even close their eyes for a minute or two.
Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley

Kitachon Pimsri-Bradley
Through community engagement and collaborative design, Simultaneity proposes a new way to look at architecture – an approach that is much more true and beneficial to the human experience. This thesis argues for the unheard voices of the users during the design process and proclaims the need for integration between research, users, and designers. By taking a more collaborative approach, Simultaneity actualized into humanistic spaces that respond to the physical, emotional, and mental needs of the users – allowing The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania - Pavilion to become a more holistic medical facility while creating equal opportunities for everyone to feel a sense of comfort.