Dementia-friendly architecture encompasses a host of possibilities that are particularly
relevant in hospital design. Implemented in an aesthetically pleasing and non-stigmatising
manner such architecture can benefit anyone during a hospital stay: it produces an
environment that is easy to read generates a sense of security and promotes well-being and
recovery. This manual begins by summarising the current state of research on architecture for
individuals with dementia in acute care hospitals. Based on their years of experience in the
field authors Kathrin Büter and Gesine Marquardt then present approaches to creating tailored
solutions. They outline general design principles while considering practical examples and
cover key topics such as safety atmosphere and orientation systems in detail. Every hospital
building requires a concept that dovetails the spatial social personal cultural
organisational and financial frameworks. This guide is therefore a concise and straightforward
introduction for all stakeholders in modern hospitals: from managers and developers to
architects and designers. It provides inspiration for creative and interdisciplinary planning
processes in an increasingly crucial area of the health sector.
