Lack of windows.

[greenishfing]

I love being out in the fresh air, regardless of the weather. I find that it helps me relax and appreciate life. Conversely I hate being shut in closed rooms, particularly if the rooms have no windows.
Yesterday I had to take a relative to hospital for a scan. Despite it being a modern building, most of the waiting rooms etc were windowless and box like (with the usual pile of ancient magazines). Who designs public buildings? I did spot one small square space, like a courtyard but without public access or seating. Most of the daylight (what little there was) came from skylights. Maybe I am not normal but my stress levels rise in such surroundings. How on earth do the staff work whole shifts in these places? Surely they could be designed in a better way. My other pet hate in such places are vertical blinds, which always seem to be kept shut. Why? Yes, for privacy, shut them on occasion, but why keep the world shut out constantly?

[Containergardener]

Oh im with you.
Ive epent the last yr being admitted in and out of wards with follow ups with consultant in windowless rooms and corridors. Not good for the mind at all.

[veggiechicken]

If every room in a hospital had a window, can you imagine how it would be designed? Like a long string and then the corridors would be endless and there'd be miles to walk to each room.
Nice as it would be, its not feasible to have windows in every room in a large building.

[Scarlet]

And rooms with windows aren't very economical on the heating...but I get you. Everyone knows I'm not in if the kitchen door is shut!

[Jungle Jane]

There’s something about the freedom of outside when you’re in a building like that. We were at the dentist yesterday the blind was barely open because of the suns glare but instead of looking at all the dentistry equipment I prefer to look out the tiny gaps of the blinds & see people walking past & the sky.

[JanieB]

I've spent an extraordinary amount of time in our local hospital in the last few months, not just me but I volunteer to take others. It has these open spaces within the building. They are designed with gardens to wander round, benches to sit on, near the paediatric unit, a playground. I have never ever seen anyone in these gardens and when I tried to open a door it was locked. Some charity has paid for these respite places but they aren't being used.

[greenishfing]

I've spent an extraordinary amount of time in our local hospital in the last few months, not just me but I volunteer to take others. It has these open spaces within the building. They are designed with gardens to wander round, benches to sit on, near the paediatric unit, a playground. I have never ever seen anyone in these gardens and when I tried to open a door it was locked. Some charity has paid for these respite places but they aren't being used.

This makes me sad. Particularly for children. They should never be locked. My stepdaughter was in a hospital a few years ago which was supposed to have a roof garden. The lift didn't even go to the roof.

[Stan79]

I think the one JanieB is referring to is near me and it has a children’s courtyard off the paediatric unit with bikes and scooters, etc. To be fair I (thankfully) haven’t been there for a couple of years but it used to get used a great deal.

[Chestnut]

I work in such a building. I am sure it’s no coincidence that since I started, my hobbies have progressively switched from indoor ones to outdoor ones. Except when it’s raining and I cannot find anything to do in the greenhouse ;-)