Designed 4 Recovery

‘lowo Adeyemi
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A groundbreaking show that explores the intersection of healthcare and design, focusing on creating environments that foster healing, support staff well-being, and optimize outcomes for patients and providers alike. Through evidence-based design solutions, the show enlightens designers, healthcare professionals, and facility owners on how thoughtful design can enhance patient satisfaction, improve operational efficiency, and maximize returns on investment. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of healthcare design in shaping environments of care.

  1. 01/12/2025

    D4R Episode 30: Designing for Climate Responsive Recovery

    In this episode of Designed 4 Recovery, ’Lowo Adeyemi explores one of the most urgent conversations in healthcare architecture today: how climate-responsive design can safeguard patient care in an era of rising floods, heatwaves, and climate disasters. From passive cooling strategies and green roofs to decentralized microgrids and flood-resilient foundations, this episode breaks down the architectural tools shaping the future of resilient healthcare systems—especially in vulnerable and underserved regions. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why climate change is fundamentally a health crisis, not just an environmental one Design strategies for flood-prone regions, including elevated plinths, floodable landscapes, and amphibious structures How passive cooling, natural ventilation, green roofs, and reflective materials reduce heat stress in care environments The role of decentralized energy and water systems in ensuring uninterrupted care during disasters How resilient design improves not only safety but also patient comfort, staff well-being, and psychological recovery Case studies from Rwanda, Bangladesh, Sweden, and beyond that demonstrate resilience in action Why the future of healthcare architecture is moving toward regenerative design—buildings that heal their environment, not just coexist with it Who this episode is for: Architects, healthcare planners, policymakers, clinicians, sustainability advocates, and anyone passionate about creating care environments that can endure—and heal—through crisis. Key Terms: Climate-responsive design, flood resilience, passive cooling, green roofs, natural ventilation, decentralized systems, microgrids, regenerative design.

    13 min

  2. 17/11/2025

    D4R Episode 29: Behavioral Health Crisis Units: Designing for Stabilization

    In this episode, we dive into the critical yet often overlooked world of Behavioral Health Crisis Units — the spaces where people arrive at their most vulnerable and where design can either escalate distress or initiate healing. Architectural design for crisis care requires a delicate balance: secure enough to ensure safety, yet humane enough to preserve dignity. This episode breaks down exactly how to achieve that balance through evidence-informed design strategies. What We Cover Why crisis unit design profoundly shapes patient, family, and staff experience Humanized entry, triage, and waiting area design Ligature-resistant but non-institutional clinical environments The power of lighting, acoustics, and sensory modulation Family and peer-support–friendly program adjacencies Technology for safety without surveillance trauma Nature, biophilia, and access to calming views Equity, cultural competence, and universal accessibility Integrating design with operations, staffing, and training How to measure success using real behavioral health metrics Key Takeaways The first 10 minutes of arrival set the tone for stabilization. Safety doesn’t have to look punitive — trauma-informed aesthetics matter Sensory modulation spaces significantly reduce agitation and restraint use. Staff wellness is a design priority, not an afterthought. Design must support, not replace, humane policies and trained staff Why It Matters Crisis units are often the front line for people experiencing psychiatric emergencies. The built environment can be a therapeutic tool, restoring calm, grounding the senses, and supporting rapid stabilization — or it can amplify fear, confusion, and trauma. Designing for both security and humanity isn’t optional. It’s lifesaving.

    14 min

  3. 05/11/2025

    D4R Episode 28: Designing Spaces for Caregiver: The Forgotten Stakeholders

    What does it mean to design for those who give care — not just those who receive it? In this deeply reflective episode of Designed 4 Recovery, host ‘Lowo Adeyemi explores how architecture can support the emotional and physical well-being of both family and professional caregivers — the often invisible backbone of the healthcare system. Drawing on evidence-based design principles, this episode examines how thoughtful spatial strategies — from restorative staff zones and biophilic quiet rooms to family recharge areas and intuitive wayfinding — can reduce burnout, enhance compassion, and sustain the very people who sustain others. You’ll learn: How caregiver well-being directly impacts patient outcomes. Design interventions that nurture empathy, reduce stress, and improve staff retention. Case studies from healthcare facilities that have redefined what it means to design for care. Five core design principles for creating caregiver-supportive environments. Because healing doesn’t happen in isolation — it happens within ecosystems of care. 🎙️ “When we design for caregivers, we design for connection — because healing is a shared act.”

    14 min

  4. 28/10/2025

    D4R Episode27: Decolonizing Healthcare Architecture: Whose Space is It Anyway?

    In this episode, ‘Lowo Adeyemi explores one of the most urgent frontiers in healthcare design — decolonization. Modern healthcare spaces were born from systems of authority, often imposed without the voices or values of the communities they serve. But what would healing look like if the spaces of care were shaped by the people themselves? Through historical reflection, global case studies, and design ethics, this episode reframes healthcare architecture as a site of power, culture, and possibility. It challenges designers, planners, and policymakers to move from a model of service to one of solidarity — creating spaces that not only heal but also liberate. Key Themes The colonial roots of institutional healthcare architecture How design perpetuates — or dismantles — inequity The role of cultural aesthetics in defining what “healing” looks like Community-led and participatory models of design The ethics of collaboration: designing with, not for Spatial justice and the democratization of healthcare space Case Studies Highlighted Butaro District Hospital, Rwanda – MASS Design Group’s community-built model of dignity and local agency Barefoot College Health Clinics, India – Women-led, self-sustaining rural health design Indigenous Health Centers (Canada, Australia) – Integrating traditional cosmologies and circular space planning for cultural resonance Key Takeaways Healing is cultural, not just clinical. Architecture should reflect the rhythms, rituals, and relationships of the communities it serves. Design is political. Every plan, corridor, and waiting room encodes assumptions about who belongs — and who doesn’t. Community authorship is the new expertise. Co-designing with patients, caregivers, and local builders is essential to true inclusion. Decolonizing design means restoring dignity. The goal is not to reject modern healthcare models, but to infuse them with local identity, wisdom, and equity. Memorable Quote from the Episode “To decolonize healthcare architecture is to reclaim the right to design our own recovery — to ensure that every wall and corridor tells a story of inclusion.” — ‘Lowo Adeyemi Who Should Listen Healthcare architects & planners Public health policymakers Hospital administrators & NGOs Academics in architecture, anthropology, and global health Anyone interested in design justice and community empowerment

    11 min

  5. 15/10/2025

    D4R Episode 26: Pediatric Palliative Care: Designing for Compassion

    Pediatric palliative care is one of the most delicate areas of healthcare—focused not on cure, but on comfort, presence, and dignity for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families. In this tender and profound episode of Designed 4 Recovery, host ’Lowo Adeyemi explores how architecture can embody compassion, creating environments where joy, love, and connection remain possible even in the hardest of circumstances. From family-centered suites to gardens, memory spaces, and playrooms, this episode dives into design strategies that honor the child, support families, and sustain caregivers. It’s a call to approach healthcare architecture with humility, sensitivity, and the courage to design for compassion. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The unique role of environment in pediatric palliative care. How child-centered and family-centered spaces preserve dignity and comfort. The power of nature, light, and sensory design in creating peace. Practical strategies: flexible family rooms, memory spaces, play and art therapy areas, and staff respite zones. Global examples of pediatric palliative care facilities that embody compassionate design. Why design in palliative care is ultimately about presence, not just place. Who This Episode Is For: Healthcare architects and designers Pediatric palliative care providers Hospital leaders and planners Families and caregivers seeking insight into supportive environments Policy leaders shaping compassionate care spaces Key Quote “Architecture, at its best, honors life—even in the face of death. In pediatric palliative care, design can be an act of compassion—and compassion is everything.” — ’Lowo Adeyemi

    17 min

  6. 29/09/2025

    D4R Episode 25: Architecture Against Loneliness

    Loneliness has been called the silent epidemic—a hidden force that slows recovery, increases stress, and erodes well-being. But what if architecture could act as an antidote? In this episode of Designed 4 Recovery, host ’Lowo Adeyemi explores how intentional design of shared spaces can combat isolation and foster healing. From communal dining halls in rehabilitation centers to therapy gardens, family zones, and staff respite areas, ’Lowo unpacks the evidence, psychology, and strategies behind social design in healthcare. This episode challenges us to see corridors, waiting rooms, and lounges not as leftover spaces, but as active agents in recovery—places where connection thrives and loneliness loses its grip. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why loneliness is a hidden barrier to recovery in healthcare environments. How shared spaces—from courtyards to kitchens—create conditions for connection. Evidence-based insights linking social support with faster healing. Practical design strategies to reduce isolation through layout, furniture, activity-based zones, and technology. How staff and caregivers benefit from spaces that nurture community, not just efficiency. Why architecture must treat both the body and the social fabric of healing. Who This Episode Is For: Healthcare architects and designers Hospital administrators and planners Clinicians and caregivers Policy leaders shaping recovery environments Anyone passionate about how design can fight loneliness and promote belonging Key Quote “If loneliness is the silent epidemic, then architecture and social design can be its remedy. Healing is not just about medicine—it’s about belonging.” — ’Lowo Adeyemi Resources & References Mentioned: U.S. Surgeon General’s report on loneliness as a public health crisis Research on social support and patient recovery outcomes Case studies of communal spaces in rehabilitation and long-term care

    14 min

  7. 22/09/2025

    D4R Episode 24: Designing For Maternal Health Equity

    Episode Title: Designing for Maternal Health Equity: Addressing Racial and Geographic Disparities Through Intentional Spaces Podcast: Designed 4 Recovery Host: ‘Lowo Adeyemi Maternal health should never be a matter of race or geography—yet for too many women, it is. Black mothers in the U.S. are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white mothers. Rural “maternity care deserts” leave countless women traveling hours for safe delivery. And globally, women in low-income regions face maternal mortality rates over 100 times higher than those in high-income countries. In this solo deep dive, host ‘Lowo Adeyemi explores how healthcare design can become a lever for equity in maternal health. From culturally affirming birthing environments to community-based care models and postpartum support spaces, this episode unpacks intentional strategies that address systemic disparities. 🔑 What you’ll learn in this episode: Why design is central to tackling racial and geographic maternal health inequities How culturally sensitive, trauma-informed environments foster trust and agency The role of community birthing centers, mobile care units, and telehealth-enabled spaces in bridging access gaps How design can extend beyond birth to postpartum recovery, mental health, and family integration Five guiding principles for equitable maternal health design: Access, Agency, Affirmation, Continuity, Connection This is not just a conversation about spaces—it’s a call to action. Because every mother, regardless of race or location, deserves to give birth in safety, dignity, and care.

    12 min

  8. 25/08/2025

    D4R Episode 23: Trauma-Informed Design in Healthcare Settings

    Podcast Title: Designed 4 Recovery Episode Title: Trauma-Informed Design in Healthcare Settings: Creating Safe, Non-Triggering Spaces Host: ‘Lowo Adeyemi Episode Summary How do healthcare environments impact individuals with a history of trauma? In this episode of Designed 4 Recovery, host ‘Lowo Adeyemi explores the transformative role of Trauma-Informed Design (TID) in shaping safe, supportive, and non-triggering spaces for patients and staff alike. Drawing from SAMHSA’s six guiding principles of trauma-informed care, we break down how these concepts translate into physical space—shifting healthcare design from sterile institutions to environments that actively promote healing, dignity, and trust. Listeners will gain insights into: The fundamentals of trauma in the context of care and why design matters. Common environmental triggers to avoid in healthcare facilities. Practical design strategies for sensory soothing, patient empowerment, spatial clarity, and cultural sensitivity. Real-world case studies—from pediatric clinics to trauma recovery centers—demonstrating the power of trauma-informed spaces. Why staff wellness is just as critical in trauma-informed design. Key Takeaway: Design is not just about aesthetics—it communicates safety, trust, and care at a nervous-system level. Trauma-informed design is not a trend, but a moral imperative in healthcare. Perfect For: Healthcare leaders, architects, interior designers, mental health professionals, and anyone passionate about creating environments that honor dignity and support recovery. Resources & Mentions: SAMHSA’s Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care Case Studies: The Center for Youth Wellness (San Francisco), Trauma Recovery Center (Ohio) Connect with the Host: Follow ‘Lowo Adeyemi for more conversations at the intersection of healthcare and design.

    13 min
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A groundbreaking show that explores the intersection of healthcare and design, focusing on creating environments that foster healing, support staff well-being, and optimize outcomes for patients and providers alike. Through evidence-based design solutions, the show enlightens designers, healthcare professionals, and facility owners on how thoughtful design can enhance patient satisfaction, improve operational efficiency, and maximize returns on investment. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of healthcare design in shaping environments of care.

Information

  • Creator
    ‘lowo Adeyemi
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ‘lowo Adeyemi
  • Show Website
    Designed 4 Recovery