Within hospitals, the healing environment is often sterile and uninviting. The theory of biophilia and research of nature’s impact on human health suggests that this type of environment is adversarial to those who are sick. Additionally, patients traveling for medical care often cannot afford to stay for weeks in hospitals, and many research institutes have no space for housing. In Buffalo, NY, the Kevin Guest House helps patients by providing low cost lodging, but they are in desperate need of expansion.
In response, this housing project provides temporary patient and family-of-patient housing for patients receiving treatment at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. It is integrated within a block-wide public greenhouse/park and allotment garden. This provides an economical and self-sustainable model for low cost housing and a year-round urban oasis for the public at the medical campus.