William Wang

I am interested in the relationship between people and built environments, in the  context of healthcare, and understand how patient care can be improved through innovation. Such improvements include changing the perception of space, inducing behaviour change, and enhancing clinical outcomes.  

I am particularly interested in working with mental health patient groups and exploring potential improvements in their care plans. There are areas where traditional architectural practice could be improved upon; including stronger engagement with stakeholders and a greater focus on evidence based design.

My research at the Royal College of Art focused on mental health patients' pathway in the emergency department (including the pathway for S136 patients). It resulted in the implementation of an assessment room in Charing Cross Hospital, completed in 2019.

The mixed-method methodology research included interviews and focus groups with patients and relevant stakeholders. Crucially, the evaluation of the architectural intervention doesn't end at the completion of the project, as it continues to gather data on user feedback. The research challenged conventional facilities and existing architectural guidelines for mental health patients in the emergency department. It pointed to new and multidisciplinary ways of addressing existing issues – architecturally and beyond.