Palliative care is more than just medical attention for those with serious or terminal illnesses. It is about offering comfort, respect, and a space that fosters emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being in the final stages of life. The best place for one to die is probably at a safe space at home and in nature with your loved ones around. If the person you love does not feel safe in this configuration, as what happened in my family, the best is when you can find an institution that offers the next best thing.
A recent design unveiled by BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group) for a palliative care center and hospice in Denmark highlights how sustainable architecture can harmonize with nature and spirituality to offer an enriched and dignified end-of-life experience.
Bjarke Ingels Group has won the competition to design the new Sankt Lukas Hospice and Lukashuset, a 8,500 m² palliative care center envisioned as a village nestled within nature. Building on the legacy of the Sankt Lukas Foundation, established in the 1930s, this project will significantly expand Denmark’s palliative care capacity, tripling its current facilities to serve approximately 2,100 patients each year.
The architecture and design of palliative care spaces are crucial to creating an environment that promotes peace, dignity, and connection.
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Sustainability in Palliative Care: A Healing Environment
The importance of sustainability in palliative care is not merely about protecting the environment; it’s about creating spaces that promote long-term healing, peace, and connection to the earth. The palliative care center designed by BIG uses natural, reclaimed materials like wood and brick, which not only reduce the environmental footprint of the building but also bring an inherent sense of history and permanence to the space.
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Sustainable architecture, in its essence, recognizes that our well-being is intertwined with the health of the planet. For patients nearing the end of their journey, a space built with care for the earth can provide a profound sense of harmony. The use of natural materials, such as reclaimed bricks and sustainably sourced wood, evokes a sense of warmth and familiarity—creating a comforting, homely atmosphere rather than the cold, sterile feel of a traditional hospital.
This simple yet profound connection to nature and sustainability encourages a sense of groundedness for patients as they reflect on their lives and their place in the larger cycle of existence.
Nature as a Source of Healing and Spiritual Connection
There is an undeniable connection between nature and the human spirit. Throughout history, nature has been seen as a source of comfort and renewal, a place where individuals can find peace and clarity.
In palliative care, a place where people essentially go to die, connecting to the natural world can provide immense emotional and spiritual benefits for patients and their families. Nature acts as a mirror, reflecting the ongoing cycle of life and offering solace in times of uncertainty.
The Danish palliative care center is designed to embrace this connection. The space integrates abundant natural light, views of lush green landscapes, and access to gardens that invite patients and their families to spend time outdoors.
For those facing terminal illness, these natural elements offer moments of reflection, serenity, and spiritual renewal. Whether it’s watching the seasons change through a window, sitting in a garden surrounded by the hum of life, or simply breathing in the fresh air, the experience of nature in a palliative care setting can soothe the soul. This is important for the soul of the sick but also the loved ones that need to traverse the world in a new reality without the one that they know the way they once were.
