The final journey

Death. The inevitable.

The hospice environment supports individuals navigating the final stages of life. However, many end-of-life facilities often mirror clinical hospital settings—functional but impersonal, lacking the warmth and familiarity of home. This detachment can heighten feelings of isolation during one of life’s most vulnerable moments. This thesis explores the research question: How can architecture for end-of-life care evoke meaningful moments while creating a sense of homeliness and comfort for those facing loss?

Palliative care encompasses more than medical treatment; it emphasises holistic physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Hospice architecture must align with this philosophy to adopt a more emotionally supportive approach. Through a qualitative lens, this research acknowledges the experiences of patients and families, exploring design through an emotive and physical lens and focusing on curating meaningful final moments. This thesis challenges the conventional focus on functionality, advocating for a new hospice typology prioritising warmth and humanity over sterility. These spaces should offer opportunities for reflection and connection, creating an environment where individuals can create cherished memories with their loved ones in their final days. A hospice is not only the last space a dying patient will experience but also the place where families will form their final, lasting memories of their loved one. By designing for the most sensitive user group, the dying, we can create better design outcomes for the living.