Aesthetic Affordances for Wellbeing Enhancing Atmospheres in Healthcare Environments

Sammanfattning: This master thesis explores the relationships between the human being and the built environment in the context of healthcare and from the perspective of aesthetics. The aim is, by identifying the aesthetic experiences the built environment evokes, to enhance the understanding of how the design of the built environment can support and sustain wellbeing. The findings from previous studies show that the aspects of the attributes of the built environment can evoke sense-based aesthetic experiences and aesthetic experiences beyond senses. Furthermore, the empirical results of this thesis, gained by applying participatory research and research through design methodologies, indicate that wellbeing is related to rich experiences connected to nature, homeliness or the lack of homeliness as well as lack of maintenance.   The tentative Aesthetic Design Framework for Atmospheresdeveloped in this thesis, based on the Affordance Theory and theTheory of Aesthetic Atmospheres, proposes that the built environment can be transformed into therapeutic aesthetic atmospheres by utilizing aesthetic affordances and applying Aesthetic Design Strategy. In order to test the framework, design proposals were created. The evaluation of the design proposals shows that the designed atmosphere is perceivable when distinct. The results also indicate that familiar aesthetic affordances are easier to perceive and relate to. Consequently, it is proposed that the Aesthetic Design Framework for Atmospheres can aid the design of atmospheres. The results of this study can enhance design processes and the design of built environments in general by clarifying aesthetic aspects, grounded both in empirical data and theory.