Between Life and Place A Hospice for the Thy Region
Authors
El Sayah, Rayan ; Shahin, Hevin
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2026
Submitted on
2026-05-28
Abstract
This thesis explores how architecture can relieve total pain and promote dignity, comfort, and well-being in a hospice context, focusing on the Thy region, which currently lacks such a facility. Grounded in Cicely Saunders’ concept of total pain as a physical, psychological, social, and spiritual experience, the project combines case studies of Hospice Vangen and Hospice Djursland with a thorough site analysis of Simons Bakke in Thisted (terrain, vegetation, microclimate, and accessibility). The theoretical framework spans healing architecture, biophilic design, Pallasmaa’s sensory theories, and Life Cycle Assessment, framing architecture as an active instrument of care. Methodologically, an Integrated Design Process links problem definition, analysis, sketching, synthesis, and presentation through literature and case studies, site visits, mapping, and 3D modeling (Revit, Rhino), alongside technical simulations of daylight, indoor climate, ventilation, acoustics, and materials’ CO2 impacts (including BSim, LCAByg, Be18). The outcome is a design proposal oriented toward the coastal landscape, integrating nature as a therapeutic element and balancing the needs of patients, relatives, and staff while meeting current Danish sustainability requirements. The thesis concludes that the quality of the built environment is inseparable from the quality of care, and that a place-sensitive hospice can offer not just a place to die, but a place to live fully until the end.
Specialet undersøger, hvordan arkitektur kan lindre total pain og fremme værdighed, komfort og trivsel i et hospice, med særligt fokus på Thy-regionen, som i dag mangler et hospice. Med afsæt i Cicely Saunders’ filosofi om total pain som en fysisk, psykologisk, social og spirituel erfaring kombinerer projektet casestudier af Hospice Vangen og Hospice Djursland med en grundig stedsanalyse af Simons Bakke i Thisted (terræn, vegetation, mikroklima og tilgængelighed). Det teoretiske fundament omfatter healing architecture, biophilic design, Pallasmaas sanseteorier og Life Cycle Assessment, og argumenterer for, at arkitektur fungerer som et aktivt omsorgsredskab. Metodisk anvendes en integreret designproces, der forbinder problemformulering, analyse, skitsering, syntese og præsentation gennem litteratur- og casestudier, site visits, kortlægning og 3D-modellering (Revit, Rhino) samt tekniske simuleringer af dagslys, indeklima, ventilation, akustik og materialers CO2-aftryk (bl.a. BSim, LCAByg, Be18). Resultatet er et designforslag, der orienterer sig mod kystlandskabet, integrerer natur som terapeutisk element og balancerer behovene hos patienter, pårørende og personale, samtidig med at det lever op til gældende danske bæredygtighedskrav. Specialet konkluderer, at kvaliteten af det byggede miljø er uløseligt forbundet med kvaliteten af plejen, og at et stedssensitivt hospice kan tilbyde ikke kun et sted at dø, men et sted at leve fuldt til det sidste.
[This abstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]