Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture

Stamatina Kousidi; Zhu Liheng; Lin Zhihang

doi:doi:10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

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Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture

Stamatina Kousidi^*

, Zhu Liheng

, Lin Zhihang

Published in Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 4)

Received: 26 March 2025 Accepted: 1 July 2025 Published: 15 July 2025

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Abstract

While early 20th-century healthcare design emphasized direct engagement with outdoor spaces and natural landscapes, contemporary projects increasingly prioritize efficient spatial organization at the expense of environmental integration. Nevertheless, a growing movement within contemporary healthcare projects seeks to reintegrate nature into buildings through innovative façade design, reimagining building envelopes as spatial mediators that strengthen connections between interior and exterior environments. Drawing on modernist visions, these projects challenge conventional hospital typologies by redefining spatial flexibility, dissolving the inside/outside dichotomy, and employing architectural climate control strategies. This paper examines the evolution of nature-integrated design in healthcare architecture through a historical review and qualitative case study analysis. Interweaving recent theoretical discourses and practices, it discusses distinct façade design strategies that balance environmental performance, aesthetic quality, and spatial experience in the context of healthcare architecture.

Published in	Humanities and Social Sciences (Volume 13, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16
Page(s)	330-337
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Healthcare Architecture, Façade Design, Building-Nature Integration, Health-Inducing Spaces, Environmental Performance

References

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APA Style

Kousidi, S., Liheng, Z., Zhihang, L. (2025). Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(4), 330-337. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

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ACS Style

Kousidi, S.; Liheng, Z.; Zhihang, L. Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(4), 330-337. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

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AMA Style

Kousidi S, Liheng Z, Zhihang L. Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(4):330-337. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

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@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16,
  author = {Stamatina Kousidi and Zhu Liheng and Lin Zhihang},
  title = {Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture
},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {330-337},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251304.16},
  abstract = {While early 20th-century healthcare design emphasized direct engagement with outdoor spaces and natural landscapes, contemporary projects increasingly prioritize efficient spatial organization at the expense of environmental integration. Nevertheless, a growing movement within contemporary healthcare projects seeks to reintegrate nature into buildings through innovative façade design, reimagining building envelopes as spatial mediators that strengthen connections between interior and exterior environments. Drawing on modernist visions, these projects challenge conventional hospital typologies by redefining spatial flexibility, dissolving the inside/outside dichotomy, and employing architectural climate control strategies. This paper examines the evolution of nature-integrated design in healthcare architecture through a historical review and qualitative case study analysis. Interweaving recent theoretical discourses and practices, it discusses distinct façade design strategies that balance environmental performance, aesthetic quality, and spatial experience in the context of healthcare architecture.},
 year = {2025}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture

AU  - Stamatina Kousidi
AU  - Zhu Liheng
AU  - Lin Zhihang
Y1  - 2025/07/15
PY  - 2025
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JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
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PB  - Science Publishing Group
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AB  - While early 20th-century healthcare design emphasized direct engagement with outdoor spaces and natural landscapes, contemporary projects increasingly prioritize efficient spatial organization at the expense of environmental integration. Nevertheless, a growing movement within contemporary healthcare projects seeks to reintegrate nature into buildings through innovative façade design, reimagining building envelopes as spatial mediators that strengthen connections between interior and exterior environments. Drawing on modernist visions, these projects challenge conventional hospital typologies by redefining spatial flexibility, dissolving the inside/outside dichotomy, and employing architectural climate control strategies. This paper examines the evolution of nature-integrated design in healthcare architecture through a historical review and qualitative case study analysis. Interweaving recent theoretical discourses and practices, it discusses distinct façade design strategies that balance environmental performance, aesthetic quality, and spatial experience in the context of healthcare architecture.
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Stamatina Kousidi

Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7420-7536
Zhu Liheng

Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0001-3996-9965
Lin Zhihang

Department of Architecture and Urban Studies (DAStU), Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6871-7532

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APA Style

Kousidi, S., Liheng, Z., Zhihang, L. (2025). Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture. Humanities and Social Sciences, 13(4), 330-337. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

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ACS Style

Kousidi, S.; Liheng, Z.; Zhihang, L. Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture. Humanit. Soc. Sci. 2025, 13(4), 330-337. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

Copy | Download

AMA Style

Kousidi S, Liheng Z, Zhihang L. Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture. Humanit Soc Sci. 2025;13(4):330-337. doi: 10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16,
  author = {Stamatina Kousidi and Zhu Liheng and Lin Zhihang},
  title = {Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture
},
  journal = {Humanities and Social Sciences},
  volume = {13},
  number = {4},
  pages = {330-337},
  doi = {10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.hss.20251304.16},
  abstract = {While early 20th-century healthcare design emphasized direct engagement with outdoor spaces and natural landscapes, contemporary projects increasingly prioritize efficient spatial organization at the expense of environmental integration. Nevertheless, a growing movement within contemporary healthcare projects seeks to reintegrate nature into buildings through innovative façade design, reimagining building envelopes as spatial mediators that strengthen connections between interior and exterior environments. Drawing on modernist visions, these projects challenge conventional hospital typologies by redefining spatial flexibility, dissolving the inside/outside dichotomy, and employing architectural climate control strategies. This paper examines the evolution of nature-integrated design in healthcare architecture through a historical review and qualitative case study analysis. Interweaving recent theoretical discourses and practices, it discusses distinct façade design strategies that balance environmental performance, aesthetic quality, and spatial experience in the context of healthcare architecture.},
 year = {2025}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Facade as Interface: Building-Nature Integration in Contemporary Healthcare Architecture

AU  - Stamatina Kousidi
AU  - Zhu Liheng
AU  - Lin Zhihang
Y1  - 2025/07/15
PY  - 2025
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16
DO  - 10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16
T2  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JF  - Humanities and Social Sciences
JO  - Humanities and Social Sciences
SP  - 330
EP  - 337
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8184
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20251304.16
AB  - While early 20th-century healthcare design emphasized direct engagement with outdoor spaces and natural landscapes, contemporary projects increasingly prioritize efficient spatial organization at the expense of environmental integration. Nevertheless, a growing movement within contemporary healthcare projects seeks to reintegrate nature into buildings through innovative façade design, reimagining building envelopes as spatial mediators that strengthen connections between interior and exterior environments. Drawing on modernist visions, these projects challenge conventional hospital typologies by redefining spatial flexibility, dissolving the inside/outside dichotomy, and employing architectural climate control strategies. This paper examines the evolution of nature-integrated design in healthcare architecture through a historical review and qualitative case study analysis. Interweaving recent theoretical discourses and practices, it discusses distinct façade design strategies that balance environmental performance, aesthetic quality, and spatial experience in the context of healthcare architecture.
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download