Landscape Preference Evaluation for New Hospital Model in Turkey: Case Study of Isparta City Hospital’s Garden

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate landscape preferences in a newly built hospital’s garden (Isparta City Hospital) and comprehensive observations and suggestions of that subject.

Study Design: Relevant literature information’s and documentation were utilized for the evaluation of this hospital design approaches and applicable recommendations given in view of landscape architecture discipline.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted November 2017 through May 2018 in Isparta city, Turkey.

Methodology: The detailed information’s were undertaken from site visits. However, besides site observations, aerial photographs, face to face interviews with project staff were conducted and evaluations were made under the landscape architecture design criterias. Moreover, relevant literature information’s for the hospital design to meet the need for preliminary functions and applicable design recommendations utilized. An evaluation sheet prepared and conducted for assessment of the hospital garden and open spaces.

Results: The Isparta City Hospital is contained many complex buildings that have a significant impact on the patients, staff and environment of the surrounding community. It has realised that familiar and culturally relevant materials have been preferred wherever consistent and other functional needs. However, the hospital complex has a design to promote staff efficiency by minimising the distance of necessary travel between frequently used spaces with the aim of lowering the costs of delivering healthcare and improving staff satisfaction. It is clear that newly planted, trees, shrubs will be grown and more colourful and greenery garden environment visible in near future for Isparta City Hospital’s gardens.

Conclusion: The hospital was built almost the centre of the Isparta city and designed to accommodate all the hospitals in this area. Due to the newly built complexes, there have not multicoloured texture observed in the outer part of the complex. It is important that the garden has been easily accessible to patients and the paving surface has wide enough to accommodate wheel- chairs and gurneys. In terms of plant materials, it has been seen that the green areas were adequate for the functional and aesthetic way. Since the hospital's land has covered with pine trees earlier, the existing structure continues to be maintained in the sense of design. As the stone pine (Pinus pinea) and black pine (Pinus nigra) species are concentrated in the vicinity of the hospital while there has not many places for broad-leaved trees and thirst-resistant ground coverers that should be preferred.