Atenga is a Swedish firm promoting Evidence-based Design. I asked Agneta Morelli to tell me a little bit about her company.
"Atenga Health by Design" at first glance looks like an Interior Design firm, but in fact it is much more, yes?
We are not an interior design firm. Our main activity is evidence-based research. We do design assessments, post-occupancy evaluations, observational studies, etc. We focus on the crossing point between design/architecture and human behavior/health in various health care environments.
Our aim is to raise the importance of the physical environment as a crucial part of the healing process by conducting good quality research and research based consultations.
In addition, it's important to move this relatively young research field forward and we like to contribute to this momentum. In order to achieve this, we cooperate with architects and interior designers as well as all health care professionals.
On your website you refer to "People oriented Design" and "the integration of human health factors into place making." Tell us more about that.
People oriented design generally involves the study of how spaces best can serve human needs and desires (psychological, social and behavioral). This includes all users of the space, be it patients, staff or family members, etc.
The approach is often referred to as social design pioneered by Robert Sommer. It emphasizes working with people rather then for them, to involve them in the process of planning and managing spaces. To inform them about the effect of humans on spaces and on how the built environment affects human health and well being.
Integrating human health factors into place making refers to creating settings that match the needs and activities of the users; to change health behavior i.e. enhancing social interaction among institutionalized elderly, increase users sense of personal control, facilitate wayfinding thus lowering stress levels and so on.
You have had several publications in the last few years. Are you actively involved with research at "Atenga Health by Design"?
Yes, this is the core activity of our operation. At the moment I'm involved with a very interesting research study on multi sensory environments in dementia care. We are investigating the use of a Snoezelen type room as an alternative to anti-anxiety or sedative medication for aging residents with agitated or aggressive behaviors.
I'm also planning a research study in the near future, an assessment of the integration of multi sensory environments throughout dementia facilities and how this parallels organizational development.
Who are your clients?
Our clients are private practitioners such as dental practices who are interested in an environment that will reduce anxiety for patients suffering from anxiety and fear of the dental office. Other private practitioners include counselors, psychologists and psychotherapists who want to create a safe and trusting setting for their specific clients.
Facilities for the aging are the biggest category of clients that contact us. In Sweden most facilities are municipal and the government has invested a considerable amount of funding for new facilities that are being planned and built at the moment.
The last category of clients is architecture and design firms that may need a specific research study such as a post occupancy evaluation to improve the quality of their services.
Is Art Selection part of the service that you provide?
Yes it is, usually as part of our general consultation services. We do not actually buy or frame the art work but often give suggestions of placement, material choice, specific artist, image and color choice, etc. As an artist and art-therapist I feel confident of my abilities to provide sound consultations in this area. And I firmly believe that visual art and other art forms such as music significantly contributes to supporting the health processes of the patient or viewer. There is so much interesting research on cultural activity and human health. This is an area I really want to explore further.
Is the idea of Evidence-based Design widely accepted in Sweden today?
It's a difficult question to answer. In one way I would say yes because serious research and evidence based research is a long standing tradition particularly in medicine in this country. At the same time, the interdisciplinary field of healthcare design/architecture to support health and human behavior is not as developed compared to the US.
In my experience it is elderly care that is pioneering the field in Sweden. There is a lot of interest among the general public. However, the field is not fully recognized by the establishment yet. Over here these things take time. Having lived in Canada for fourteen years, the experience can be rather frustrating at times!
Agneta Morelli lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.
To visit the website for Atenga Health by Design click here.
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