Islamic perspective to healthcare architecture

• Main Author: Mohd Nawawi, Norwina
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English; English; English; English
• Published: 2002
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General); NA4100 Special classes of buildings; RA Public aspects of medicine
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/37832/1/Islamic_Perspective_to_Health_Care_Facility_Design-R.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/37832/2/Islamic_Perspective_To_Healthcare_Architecture-presentation.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/37832/3/berlin_uia-programme.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/37832/4/Programme_Book-UIA_World_Congress_2002Berlin.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/37832/

Introduction The very word “Islam” meaning “Peace” in its righteous usage has to most populace a different connotation altogether. Islam, a religion of peace and Muslims as those who profess the Islamic religion as the way of life, is being looked upon differently by the non-Muslim depending on situation, how the religion is being presented, where, by whom and its application in the ICT age. Like all other great religion, Islam condones good universal values that transcend time, place, race, colour, creed, social status, gender and its application to Muslims and the Non-Muslims as creatures of God. In healthcare, Islam and Muslims had played major roles in the history of medicine. However, little has been said or written about the healthcare facilities it harbours. Thus, the objective of this paper is to provide a general overview of what Islam is and how its values were being assimilated in the context of designing and planning healthcare facilities. The paper will browse briefly on its historical onset and bring about to the present time. Although Islam was initiated in the Middle East, it is a world religion. Malaysia as a Muslim country in the Far East, from 1400 onwards had already policies on the assimilation of Islamic values in its governance. This was again enforced when Malaysia had her independence. National development plans with development policies that include the instruction to assimilate and integrate the Islamic values in the governance were introduced officially in the late 70s. Since then more than 100 big and small healthcare facilities among other public facilities, had been planned, designed, built and occupied with these values incorporated at the various level and in stages. The paper hopes to bring about awareness that what thought to be alien values into healthcare planning and design is in fact intrinsic in the present system as well as where we are heading to, in the international scene i.e. to provide a sincere wellness environment for all in all its diversity. Research Methodology The research methods use for this study is both qualitative and quantitative where appropriate. Data will be from literature review for historical and comparative analysis of western and Islamic perspectives; post occupancy evaluation visits and interview of planners, designers and users for the effectiveness of the intended design; and design review on current and past healthcare projects for comparative purposes of western design against Islamic design in Malaysia and selected countries visited. Conclusion The outcome of the paper is to demonstrate that Islamic values is a natural value of which it has been practice by all, intentionally or unintentionally, as a universal value. Thus the planning and design of healthcare facilities as expressed by most healthcare professionals towards patient focus, human friendly, caring, healing, ethical, environmental friendly and so forth are indeed following the basic tenets of Islam – adaptable in all conditions including time. As Islam emphasis on the comprehensiveness of health to include the health of the mind, body and spirit, so does the provision of space and place to achieve that healthy state, in all it stands so as to be able for one to submit to the one and only almighty, Allah.