User Preferences in Hospital Garden Design: A Visual-Based Quantitative Evaluation from a Case Study in Türkiye

Hospital gardens play a significant role in supporting the physical and psychological well-being of patients, healthcare staff, and visitors. However, limited empirical research has examined how user preferences vary across different spatial components of hospital gardens. This study investigates user-based design priorities for hospital garden environments through a visual and quantitative evaluation approach. A questionnaire survey was conducted with doctors, nurses, hospital staff, and patient relatives in a training and research hospital located in Bursa, Türkiye. Participants evaluated visual simulations of four proposed landscape design scenarios using a five-point Likert scale. The data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests. The results indicate that planting design is the most influential component in interior atriums and open green spaces, while planting and structural elements hold comparable importance along pedestrian paths. In contrast, no dominant design parameter was identified for children’s playgrounds, suggesting a balanced contribution of multiple design elements. These findings highlight the importance of considering diverse user profiles and spatial characteristics in hospital garden design and provide evidence-based guidance for developing user-oriented healing environments.