The students of WCU are proposing makeover plans for an inpatient room and an emergency room at the 18-bed Cherokee Indian Hospital. The students aim to make the highly regulated and equipment-heavy spaces more comfortable and welcoming. In order to achieve this objective, the students carefully selected colors, patterns, artwork and furniture that will appease tribal members served by the hospital.
The design proposals include the use of green colors and warm earth tones; furniture integrated with storage space, seating and sleeping for overnight guests; recessed lighting; heated massage recliners for relaxation; and furniture upholstered with nature-themed fabric. The design incorporates modern pieces by Cherokee artists and deer antlers. Ceiling designs featuring a painted canopy of leaves or mural of the sky are incorporated in the emergency room. A water feature has also been suggested, associating it with Cherokee’s beliefs that water facilitates healing process.
Jody Adams, a hospital public relations officer, contacted WCU in search of aspiring interior designers to develop different design proposals. Students visited the hospital, interviewed the clients, and took a note of the existing conditions. They observed how Cherokee themes had already been incorporated in the hospital’s design. The students conducted a research of tribe’s history, culture and traditions. They found that Cherokee people are deeply in touch with the earth and their spirituality.
