A third-year project.

Westwood Health is a Traditional Chinese Medicine/ Acupuncture clinic. The clinic is situated just outside of Chinatown, and its clients are largely elderly, with some suffering from dementia and macular degeneration. The onus was on giving agency back to patients in the space, making them feel in control of their surroundings and medical decisions.

The 5 elements of TCM: Fire, Water, Metal, Earth, and Wood are all represented throughout the space, and a key characteristic of the clinic is the use of these elements as wayfinding cues. By increasing the legibility of the space and creating defined landmarks, the goal is to reduce patient anxiety in a typically stressful environment.

Drawn using ProCreate; the waiting area features two waterfalls which contribute white noise and act as a positive distraction for those about to receive treatment.

The signature clinic hallway features four treatment rooms, each with a distinct element, leading patients to their destination and aiding in location recognition for those with memory impairments. Large numbers on the doors are strategically placed lower to fit into the typical cone of vision of an elderly person, who often look down.

Treatment rooms make use of the existing brick in the historical building; a material subtly representing fire as it’s created using heat. Other walls are pared back, letting artwork shine through and leading attention to the ceiling which has customizable projections to act as positive distractions while one is on their back receiving treatment.

Space Plan

RCP. Cove lighting is used in the treatment rooms to avoid harsh glare when patient is on their back. All lights are dimmable and tuneable to aid patient comfort, and the ceiling feature is a statement in the waiting area to provide distraction.

Separation of Patient (blue) and Staff (green) spaces aids in wayfinding ability and patient agency over the space. One central corridor is straightforward yet protects patient privacy through considered sight-lines.

SKETCHES