A conceptual model for the design process of interventions in healthcare buildings: a method to improve design

The fast advance of medical technology and changes in the user's profiles require new configurations of delivering care and new spaces to support and contribute to the implementation of new activities. To encourage and facilitate the continuous upgrade of existing healthcare buildings through interventions, it is important to establish methods to improve the design process, due to the great complexity involved in the healthcare architecture. This paper reports a conceptual model of the design process for interventions in healthcare buildings, to help the education of architects and also to assist inexperienced designers in managing the process and improving it. Data were collected through a literature review and a case study in a design office skilled in healthcare architecture. The model consists of five macrophases, divided into phases and subphases, and includes the various relationships between them, characterizing the process as generally cyclical, but with chances of break and retreat. It serves as a basis for the development of projects in this sector and can be suitable for the peculiarities of each case.