Design research, consultation, evaluations and education to improve the design of homes, schools, healthcare, and workplaces.
(Designing) Healthscapes;
Healthscapes are the places where health is created; the everyday environments where we live, work, learn and play, that influence human health and wellbeing.
As HealthScapes we focus on the relation between the design (research) of HealthScapes and health-related outcomes for people and the planet. We do design research, consultation, evaluation and education to improve the design of homes, schools, healthcare, and workplaces for a range of stakeholders. We thereby aim to prevent disease, increase quality of life and equity, and reduce the burden on healthcare systems.
Providing advice regarding (re)design of buildings and healthcare systems with regard of health-related outcomes, such as healthy environments such as offices, hospitals and homes.
Please let us know if you are uncertain, we can easily discuss what we can and cannot help you with a (video) call.
dr. Elke Miedema (she/her) is a Dutch building engineer, architect, teacher and researcher with experience in both the Netherlands and Sweden, including roles at Chalmers University of Technology and the Faculty of Architecture at TU Delft. Her work centres on how built environments — and the design processes behind them — can support human and planetary health, brought together under the concept of health‑promoting design.
She is known internationally for her research on healthcare architecture and for her role as initiator and co‑lead of the Taskforce on Health‑Promoting Built Environments, part of the global network of Health Promoting Hospitals and Health Services (HPH) and collaborating with the World Health Organization. Although much of her work focuses on healthcare facilities, she also studies how workplaces, (care) homes and public green spaces contribute to health and wellbeing as part of a wider network of everyday places.
Alongside her work with HealthScapes, Elke is a lecturer and researcher at Inholland University of Applied Sciences. Here she works closely with students, fellow researchers and municipalities using applied, participatory research to co‑design healthier and more inclusive living environments.
Link to research profiles: ResearchGate, Google Scholar & ORCID.
[Journal paper] Sturge JL, Miedema E, Lindfors A, Nordin S. Socially sustainable environments for older adults ageing in place: a scoping review. Ageing and Society. 2025;45(12):2827-2855. doi:10.1017/S0144686X25000194. [published]
[Peer-Reviewed Conference Paper] Sturge, J., Nordin, S., Miedema, E., & Dewit, I. (2025). Designing for Relationality in Ageing in Place: A service design perspective on healthcare and housing systems. In Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design, RSD14, October 3–21, 2025, Toronto, Canada (Vol. 14, pp. 1-20). [in press]
[Journal paper] Elf, M., Lipson-Smith, R., Kylén, M., Saa, J. P., Sturge, J., Miedema, E., … & Anåker, A. (2024). A systematic review of research gaps in the built environment of inpatient healthcare settings. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 17(3), 372-394.
[Peer-Reviewed Conference Paper] Miedema, E., & Cambra-Rufino, L. (2024). Lessons Learnt from Testing Three Spatial Observation Tools in a Hospital Ward. In Effects of Design on Health and Wellbeing (pp. 15-32). IOS Press.
[Journal paper] Weber, C., Flores, V. M., Wheele, T. P., Miedema, E., & White, E. V. (2022). Patients ’ Health & Well-Being in Inpatient Mental Health-Care Facilities : A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 (January), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.758039
[Journal paper] Miedema, E., Lindahl, G., & Elf, M. (2021) The Swedish Health Promoting Healthcare Network and the Built Environment. Health Promotion International 0(0) https://academic.oup.com/heapro/advance-article/doi/10.1093/heapro/daab101/6318106
[Journal paper] Forooraghi, M., Miedema, E., Ryd, N., & Wallbaum, H. (2021). How Does Office Design Support Employees’ Health? Case Study on the Relationships among Employees’ Perceptions of the Office Environment, Their Sense of Coherence and Office Design. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(23), 12779. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312779
[Journal Paper] Forooraghi, M., Miedema, E., Ryd, N., & Wallbaum, H. (2020). Scoping review of health in office design approaches. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 22(2), 155–180. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-08-2019-0036
[PhD Thesis] Miedema, E. (2020). Health-promotive building design [Chalmers University of Technology]. In doctoral thesis. https://research.chalmers.se/publication/515674/file/515674_Fulltext.pdf
[Journal Paper] Miedema, E., Lindahl, G., & Elf, M. (2019). Conceptualizing Health Promotion in Relation to Outpatient Healthcare Building Design: A Scoping Review. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 12(1), 69–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586718796651
dr. Jodi Sturge (she/her) is a health geographer and design researcher living in the Netherlands. Jodi has a PhD in demography from the Faculty of Spatial Sciences, University of Groningen. Her mixed-method research focused on the mobility, social health and well-being of people living with memory problems and dementia in public spaces. This research has been published in academic journals and presented at international conferences.
On a part-time basis, Jodi is a research associate with Adema Architecten, where she translates scientific research and international best practices on the design of healthcare facilities and other social infrastructure. Previously, Jodi worked in the affordable housing sector for over ten years in British Columbia, Canada. She led teams and initiatives that supported vulnerable populations, including individuals struggling with poverty, homelessness, mental health or addiction. Further, she has participated in a variety of participatory research projects, program design and evaluations and projects with multi-stakeholder committees to improve public health and community outcomes.
Jodi is interested in conducting mixed-method research and evaluations, consulting with stakeholders and developing knowledge translation tools to build environments that are inclusive, accessible and support social sustainability and well-being.
Link to research profiles: ResearchGate, Google Scholar & ORCID.
Sturge, J., Nordin, S., Miedema, E., & Dewit, I. (2025). Designing for Relationality in Ageing in Place: A service design perspective on healthcare and housing systems. In Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design, RSD14, October 3–21, 2025, Toronto, Canada (Vol. 14, pp. 1-20). [in press]
Sturge, J., & Starrenburg, F. (2022). The Reorganization of a Psychiatric Unit During COVID-19: A Reflection for Psychiatric Hospital Design. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 19375867221098982.
Sturge, J. (2022) The social health and well-being of people with memory problems and dementia: exploring mobility in public space in the Netherlands. PhD Thesis. University of Groningen.
Sturge, J. (2022) Promoting social sustainability through dementia-informed public space. In A. Bailey and K. Otsuki (Eds.) Inclusive cities in times of global urban transformations: Intersectionalities, infrastructures and sustainable development. (in press)
Simonsen, T., Sturge J., Duff., C. (2022) The spatial orderings of healing architectures: a scoping review Health Environments Research and Design 19375867211072513.
Nordin, S., Sturge, J., Ayoub, M., Jones, A., McKee, K., Dahlberg, L., … & Elf, M. (2022). The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for Older Adults’ Decision-Making Related to Health, and Health and Social Care Services in Daily Life—A Scoping Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 151.
Sturge, J., Klaassens, M., Jones, A., Légaré, F., Elf, M., Weitkamp, G., & Meijering, L. (2021) An asset- approach to inform dementia inclusive communities: a qualitative exploratory study Wellbeing, Space and Society, 100063.
Sturge, J., Nordin, S., Patil, D.S., Jones, A., Légaré, F., Elf, M. and Meijering, L. (2021). Features of the social and built environment that contribute to the well-being of people with dementia who live at home: A scoping review. Health & Place, 67, p.102483.
Sturge, J., Meijering, L., Jones, C.A., Garvelink, M., Caron, D., Nordin, S., Elf, M. and Légaré, F.(2021). Technology to Improve Autonomy and Inform Housing Decisions for Older Adults With Memory Problems Who Live at Home in Canada, Sweden, and the Netherlands: Protocol for a Multipronged Mixed Methods Study. JMIR research protocols, 10(1), p.e19244.
Sturge, J., Klaassens, M., Lager, D., Weitkamp, G., Vegter, D., & Meijering, L. (2020). Using the concept of activity space to understand the social health of older adults living with memory problems and dementia at home. Social Science & Medicine, 113208.
Stockwell T, Buxton J, Duff C, Marsh D, Macdonald S, Saewyc E, Richard K, Hanson R, Cohen I, Corrado R, Chow C, Ivsins A, Michelow W, Nicholson D, Pakula B, Puri A, Rehm J, Sturge J, Tu A, Zhao J (2007) The BC Alcohol and Other Drug Monitoring System: Overview and Early Progress. Journal Contemporary Drug Problems. 36(3-4): 459-484.
Stockwell, T., Peden, M., and Sturge, J. (2007) Surveillance and monitoring alcohol-related injury in the ED, In: Alcohol and Injuries: Emergency Department Studies in an International Perspective, Cherpitel, C., Pozynyak, V., Borges, G., Giesbrecht, N., Hungerford, D., Peden, M., Room, R., and Stockwell, T. (Eds.)
Macdonald S, Csiernik P, Dooley S., Durand P., Rylett M., Sturge J., Wells S., Wild T.C., (2006) Changes in the prevalence and characteristics of Ontario workplace health programs: 1989 to 2003; Journal of Workplace Behavioural Health 22(1): 53-64.
Stockwell T., Sturge J., Jones W., Fischer, B., Carter C., “Cannabis Use in British Columbia: patterns of use, perceptions and public opinion as assessed in the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey”; Bulletin no.2 (2006).
Stockwell T, Sturge J, Macdonald S. “Patterns of Risky Alcohol Use in British Columbia – Results of the 2004 Canadian Addictions Survey” Bulletin no.1 (2005)
Stockwell, T., Leng, J and Sturge, J. (2005) Alcohol pricing and public health in Canada: issues and opportunities. CARBC Technical report, Vancouver, BC.
Toumbourou, J.W, Stockwell, T., Neighbours, C., Marlatt, G.A., Sturge, J., Rehm, J. (2006)
“Interventions to reduce harm associated with adolescent substance use: an international review”; Lancet 369 (9570):1391-401
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