Redesigning with Children in Focus: Techno-anthropological Design Implications for a Paediatric Multifunctional Training Room at a Danish Hospital
Translated title
Redesigning with Children in Focus
Authors
Forchhammer, Naja Sofie Wiingaard ; Thøgersen, Josephine
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2023
Pages
70
Abstract
This case study explores how a multifunctional training room for children and adolescents at Hvidovre Hospital can be redesigned using a techno-anthropological approach. Recognizing that pediatric needs differ from those of adults and that play can be central to rehabilitation, the room was examined within its broader hospital context, where it supports outpatient occupational and physiotherapy, meetings, and varied ages and functional levels. Fieldwork spanned two months in spring 2023 and included observations, interviews, questionnaires, and workshops. The study combines techno-anthropology (anthropology-driven design, interactional expertise, and social responsibility) with actor-network theory, drawing on Latour’s notion of “matters of concern” and exploring ways to visualize these within the design process. It identifies a gap in the scientific literature on pediatric hospital built environments and distills five techno-anthropological design implications from the case: design focus, long-term design plan, zones, ambiance, and controversy risk. The work offers practice-oriented guidance for child-centered hospital environments while underscoring the need for further research to test and validate these implications beyond the case.
Dette casestudie undersøger, hvordan et multifunktionelt træningsrum til børn og unge på Hvidovre Hospital kan redesignes gennem en teknoantropologisk tilgang. Med afsæt i, at pædiatriske behov adskiller sig fra voksnes, og at leg kan være central i rehabilitering, blev rummet studeret som en del af den byggede hospitalskontekst, hvor det bruges til ambulant ergoterapi og fysioterapi, møder og forskellige alders- og funktionsniveauer. Feltarbejdet varede to måneder i foråret 2023 og omfattede observationer, interviews, spørgeskemaer og workshops. Tilgangen kombinerede teknoantropologi (antropologi-drevet design, bindeleds-ekspertise og social ansvarlighed) med aktør-netværk-teori, herunder Latours begreb om “matters of concern” og en udforskning af, hvordan sådanne forhold kan visualiseres i en designproces. Studiet identificerer et hul i den videnskabelige litteratur om pædiatrisk hospitalsdesign og udleder fem teknoantropologiske designimplikationer fra casen: designfokus, langsigtet designplan, zoner, atmosfære og kontroverserisiko. Arbejdet bidrager med praksisnære anbefalinger til pædiatriske fysiske omgivelser, men peger samtidig på behovet for yderligere forskning, herunder afprøvning og validering af implikationerne uden for casens kontekst.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]