Designing for the User

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Designing for the User
Robert Johnstone, FRSA Chair Access
Matters Charity no. 1026254
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Why do we need a new approach to designing
hospitals?
University College Hospital, London
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UCLH

• 2,000 rooms, 12 operating theatres, 1,200 wash
  basins
• 26 million spent on new equipment
• Young people's floor offers a home-from-home for
  teenagers
• 1/3 of the beds are in single rooms, so many of
  our patients have extra privacy
• Houses the largest single critical care unit in
  the NHS
• 16 floors above ground, two below
• Spectacular views across central London

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Why do we need a new approach to designing
hospitals?
Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital
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Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital

• The Royal London Homoeopathic Hospital, the
  leading centre for complementary medicine in the
  NHS, joined UCLH in April 2002. The merger
  enables closer collaboration between
  complementary therapies and conventional medicine
  to provide better care for NHS patients. The
  merger co-incides with the government's
  commitment to integrate complementary and
  conventional care within the NHS, where there is
  evidence of the effectiveness of complementary
  therapies.

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Vedic architecture or Sthapatya Veda (Vastu)
Knowledge (Veda) of establishing form
(Sthapatya) Manasara and Maya Mata ancient
Sanskrit texts Designing to promote
prosperity, happiness, health and
enlightenment Improper building design
promotes anger, fear and chronic disease
Designing for the User
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Every humanly designed, man-made structure should
conform to the structure produced by Natural
Law if that structure is to be in harmony with
the structure of the universe the expression of
Cosmic Intelligence.
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BRAIN CELLS FIRING
According to the latest research in
neuroscience, BRAIN CELLS FIRE ACCORDING TO
ORIENTATION. The firing patterns of neurons in
the thalamus of the brain are altered by the
direction one is facing, thus influencing the
entire brain functioning and the whole
physiology.
EAST
WEST
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Vastu is the design and structure of a building
in harmony with Natural Law, which takes into
consideration the proper orientation of the house
with its entrance facing due East.
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Considerations that determine auspicious
and inauspicious influences

• Orientation of buildings
• Placement of rooms
• Proportions and Vedic measurements
• Slope and shape of the land
• Unobstructed rising sun
• Influence of the environment

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Architectural Concept 1 orientation
W
N
S
E
MSV takes into account the orientation of
buildings and the quality of light from all
directions
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Architectural Concept 2 room placement
living
utility
dining
study
kitchen
entrance
MSV puts particular emphasis on the position of
rooms and their functions in a house
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The study should be located where the intellect
will be most lively.
The living room should be located where social
life will enjoy greatest support.
The dining room should be located where digestion
will be most healthy.
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Gribbens House
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The Waterford House
5 bed detached 1880 ft2 bungalow
Rendered blockwork/ timber frame
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The Mercers House
5 bed 1.5 stories 1920 ft2
Brickwork / blockwork
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The Warrens House
6 bed 2.5 storey 3020 ft2
Natural stone/ timber frame
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Vedic Architecture infers that Brain cells
are sensitive to magnetic field orientation in
particular to the rising sun Healthiest to
sleep with head pointing east most unhealthy to
sleep with head to the north individuals
sleeping with their head pointing north had
significantly lower scores on the Mental Health
Inventory compared to patients who slept in other
directions Morning sunshine is most
beneficial Patients whose rooms were on the east
side of the corridor were released from treatment
on average four days earlier than the patients in
rooms that received only western light.
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The Raj Fairfield, Iowa
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CONCLUSION

• Therapeutic buildings
• using eternal architectural principles
• rajohnstone108_at_gmail.com
• 44 790 509 4654

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John Renwick
Partnership for Natural Building Design
Advice on Maharishi Sthapatya Veda
john.renwick_at_msvhomes.org.uk 07944 562 480 01394
421143