Technology architecture: the discipline for the future definition of a manifesto

The author proposes a reflection on the evolution and possible future developments of Architectural Technology as an academic discipline, in light of its historical roots, through a path that sees it divided into different areas of specialized knowledge, all heavily characterized by attention to the methodological aspects in the project. Faced with potential developments, the author identifies two alternatives: one aimed at consolidating specialized aspects according to a plural vision of technologies, the other aimed at reconstructing a uni- que integrated discipline. The author takes the second direction, proposing to guide Archi- tectural Technology, in research and training, towards the construction of generalized skills, albeit with controlled specificities, that support the project’s capacity to direct

Health facilities humanisation: Design guidelines supported by statistical evidence

Background. Healthcare building humanisation is currently a widely debated issue and the development of patient centered and evidence based design is growing worldwide. Many international health organizations and researchers understand the importance of Patient Centred Design and leading architects incorporate it into the design process. In Italy this design approach is still at an early stage. The article refers to research com- missioned by the Italian Health Ministry and carried out by R. Del Nord (Università degli Studi di Firenze) and G. Peretti (Politecnico di Torino) with their collaborators. The scope of the research was the definition of design guidelines for healthcare facilities humanisation. Method. The methodology framework adopted is the well established need and perfor- mance approach in architectural design. The article deals with the results of statistical investigations for the definition and ranking of users’ needs and the consistent expres- sion of their requirements. The investigations were carried out with the cooperation of psychologists of the Università degli Studi di Torino and researchers of the Università degli Studi di Cagliari. The proposed evaluation system allows ranking of health facilities according to the level of humanisation achieved. Results. The statistical investigation evidence collected allowed the definition of human- isation design guidelines for health-care facilities and for the assessment of their specific level of humanisation

Smart environment for the self-sufficient elder users

In an increasingly demographic and technological transition that is set to radically transform lifestyles and the way living environments are structured, it is necessary that all actors work together and interact with each other, migrating from the concept of a single person to the concept of community. Our research, intended to make people’s elderly lives easier, aims to bridge the gap between self-sufficient older adults, that do not need constant medical help and those that need continuous support. Through appropriate technology use, the project aims to integrate and manage the information related to the user, his environment and his health devices. A kind of invisible “care network”, supported by ICT, unites the places of their everyday lives enabling independent elders to simplify their way of life and avoid being a burden to their relatives. The technological care network must cover three different environments used by the elderly: home, community and the city. The main goal of the research proposed is to redefine the home environment by designing it on the basis of lifestyles habits, the degree of autonomy of the individual and personal needs. The home is connected both to the neighbourhood and to the city providing a link with a community of other users with similar problems and needs, with health and social care infrastructures, local medical clinical centres, recreational activities and various other services

Health facilities humanisation: design guidelines supported by statistical evidence

Background. Healthcare building humanisation is currently a widely debated issue and the development of patient centered and evidence based design is growing worldwide. Many international health organizations and researchers understand the importance of Patient Centred Design and leading architects incorporate it into the design process. In Italy this design approach is still at an early stage. The article refers to research commissioned by the Italian Health Ministry and carried out by R. Del Nord (Università degli Studi di Firenze) and G. Peretti (Politecnico di Torino) with their collaborators. The scope of the research was the definition of design guidelines for healthcare facilities humanisation. Method. The methodology framework adopted is the well established need and performance approach in architectural design. The article deals with the results of statistical Health facilities humanisation: design guidelines supported by statistical evidence Health facilities investigations for the definition and ranking of users’ needs and the consistent expression of their requirements. The investigations were carried out with the cooperation of psychologists of the Università degli Studi di Torino and researchers of the Università degli Studi di Cagliari. The proposed evaluation system allows ranking of health facilities according to the level of umanisation achieved. Results. The statistical investigation evidence collected allowed the definition of humanization design guidelines for health-care facilities and for the assessment of their specific level of humanisation.

Humanization of care spaces: a research developed for the Italian Ministry of Health

The article reports methodology, contents and results of the care space research carried out for the Italian Ministry of Health by the Interuniversity Research Centre TESIS University of Florence and the Department DINSE Turin Polytechnic under the responsibility of Professors R. Del Nord and G. Peretti. The aim of the research was to define methodological and operational tools designing social health structures according to quality standards that define user needs in terms of psycho-social and physical well-being as a priority of the design process. The potential users of this research results are the operators involved in the implementation process of social health construction: from local and central decision makers to designers

Un componente di facciata attivo integrato nell’edificio: dallo studio al prototipo innovativo Active façade component integrated into the building: from the study to the innovative prototype

L’articolo riporta i risultati di una ricerca condotta nell’ambito del progetto “Energyskin: facciate edilizie attive”, finanziato dalla Regione Piemonte e dal FSE (Fondo Sociale Europeo), tra partner industriali e accademici con l’obiettivo di sviluppare, monitorare e ottimizzare la progettazione di un componente di involucro dinamico adattivo innovativo che, integrando la tecnologia della pompa di calore e del solare termico, utilizza l’involucro come fonte/pozzo di recupero di calore. La ricerca prende avvio dall’ipotesi di mettere a sistema le competenze accademiche con quelle delle realtà industriali per innescare quel processo che porta all’innovazione, superando le barriere degli specialismi che, nella prassi corrente, caratterizzano sia gli specifici modelli funzionali delle aziende sia gli ambiti disciplinari accademici

Wandering spleen with a ten-time twisted vascular pedicle

Torsion of a wandering spleen is a rare cause of acute abdomen in children, usually diagnosed with color-Doppler ultrasonography and enhanced computed tomography. We report a pediatric case of torsion of wandering spleen

Wandering spleen with a ten-time twisted vascular pedicle

Torsion of a wandering spleen is a rare cause of acute abdomen in children, usually diagnosed with color-Doppler ultrasonography and enhanced computed tomography. We report a pediatric case of torsion of wandering spleen

Facilities for Territorial Medicine: the experiences of Piedmont and Lombardy Regions

In recent years, the demographic transition and epidemiological has made the health system hospital-centric obsolete and has highlighted the need for a new organization focused on territorial health community, taking charge of the patient, on team work and can ensure, through dedicated facilities, continuity of care and integration of social welfare.The main changes in the regulatory field have thus oriented investments both structural and economic towards poles to network with hospitals that represent new points of reference for the health of citizens, where primary care services are integrated with the territory and the specialized services of the Public Health departments.These facilities provide the organizational paradigm to which the regional realities must strive.The article reports recent experiments conducted within the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy in this sector and the ongoing research in the field of CNETO on behalf of the Lombardy Region