Design for Wellness. Interni rigenerativi per un’Assistenza Sanitaria Inclusiva

In recent years, research in the field of healthcare design has consolidated the evidence that the quality of the physical environment has a decisive impact on care processes, psychological well-being, and the perceived sense of safety among patients and healthcare professionals. At the same time, the evolution of design paradigms has shifted attention from purely functional efficiency towards regenerative, relational, and participatory models, in which space becomes an active component of the therapeutic process. From this perspective, design for health emerges as a discipline capable of integrating diverse forms of knowledge – architecture, environmental psychology, ergonomics, and communication – to generate spatial experiences oriented towards well-being and inclusion. This paper presents the redesign project of the Obstetrics Department at Santa Croce Hospital in Cuneo, a leading facility for high-risk pregnancies and preterm births. The intervention is grounded in a domestic and regenerative approach aimed at improving environmental factors and promoting the humanisation of hospital spaces (Montaccini & Tedesco, 2015) for patients, families, and healthcare staff. Despite advances in clinical practices, the spatial and perceptual quality of healthcare facilities often fails to evolve at the same pace, even though extensive evidence demonstrates that physical environments influence mental and emotional health (Galise, 2021). The project seeks to promote well-being, sensory nourishment, and psychological regeneration using natural materials, landscape-inspired colours, and organic forms consistent with the principles of biophilic design. The initial phases of the intervention included the creation of relaxation and decompression areas, as well as a careful reconfiguration of furniture and circulation paths to balance perceptual sensitivity with operational functionality. The design process, guided by Evidence- Based Design methodologies and participatory co-design practices, actively involved healthcare professionals and patients in the qualitative and quantitative assessment of outcomes. Data collected through questionnaires made it possible to monitor improvements in spatial quality and user perception, confirming the value of a participatory approach. Finally, the paper discusses the opportunities and limitations of light and adaptive interventions within existing facilities, proposing a replicable model of plural and sustainable innovation for contemporary healthcare design.