Jiaping Liang, Keep [In] Touch [×]

The sudden outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 has left people all over the world in a state of panic and anxiety. As COVID-19 patients were quarantined, how will the state of isolation affect their physical and mental health? Isolation resists the virus, at the same time, it deprives close contact with families and the outside world. It makes people deeply aware of the pain, helplessness, fear and loneliness of being hospitalized. For sick children, these negative emotions and insecurities were risen and couldn’t be overlooked.
Keep [In] Touch is an idea and research-led interior design project, contextualised living and health-care for sick children. The project aims to provide a positive and comfortable living and healing experiences for children who were hospitalised. It helps to reduce the feeling of fear and re-instate their joyfulness and freedom. This project specifically focuses on the aspect of spatial and temporal design of the hospital lobby, lounge areas and movable wards.
The project started with research into the concept and qualities of the womb. The womb is the first place everyone lives in; we are enveloped, but we can hear, touch, feel and move. Based on the qualities of the womb, a series of explorations were carried out.
Scenography is used as a design tool and technique, to create a womb-like atmosphere that people could actively interact with. The research question arises: How can the technique of scenography be applied in the context of healthcare to provide positive living and therapeutic experiences for sick children? This research explores the integration of living, play, daylight and indigenous greenery through investigating specific apertures, site lines and new connections of space. Moreover, the sensation of sight, touch, sound and smell of natural elements were also investigated to contribute for sick children’s recovery, through interactive interior design elements.