Prof. ir. Bas Molenaar

Prof ir Bas Molenaar, EGM architects, is a architect specialized in hospital design. He has been teaching Healthcare Architecture at Technical University Eindhoven for six years. He designed the OLVG in Amsterdam, the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital in Utrecht and the internationally awarded Tony Moleapaza Children’s Hospital in Arequipa, Peru. His most recent design is the new Erasmus MC in Rotterdam, which is still under construction and will be ready in 2017. Furthermore, Molenaar is a member of the editorial board of the American journal HERD (Healing Environment Research and Development.

Sound control improving sleep patterns uitklapper, klik om te openen

Hospitals are extremely noisy, and noise levels in most hospitals far exceed recommendedguidelines. The high ambient noise levels, as well as peak noise levels in hospitals, have serious impacts on patient and staff outcomes ranging from sleep loss and elevated blood pressure among patients to emotional exhaustion and burnout among staff.

Noise levels can be effectively reduced by providing single-patient bedrooms, installing high-performance sound-absorbing acoustical ceiling tiles, and removing or reducing loud noise sources on hospital units.

In the new Erasmus MC in Rotterdam all patient rooms are accommodated for single use. The design of the IC unit illustrates the controversial demands where acoustics meet infection control, complicated by the psychological state of the patients and the need for a friendly and comfortable environment. Architectonic solutions, innovative design of medical equipment as well as the behavior and training of medical staff  are needed to improve the sleep quality of the patients.