European Healthcare Design Podcast: Designing for autonomy, resilience and connection

In this third episode of the EHD Podcast, recorded live at the European Healthcare Design 2025 Congress, we explore how healthcare environments can go beyond treating illness – to actively promote autonomy, resilience, and human connection.

You’ll hear from:

• Femke Feenstra, Partner, Gortemaker Algra Feenstra – introducing the concept of the Reactivating Hospital, and how spatial design can encourage movement, independence and recovery.
• Dr Tom Best, Clinical Director, King’s College Hospital – reflecting on designing under pressure, from critical care to emergency settings, and why clinicians should play an active role in shaping design.
• Ibrahim Ibrahim, Managing Director, Portland Design – sharing what healthcare can learn from retail, and how thoughtful design can help people connect emotionally with places of care.
• Plus, voices from across the Congress floor – including Tara Veldman (Billiard Leece Partnership), Hala El Khorazaty (Perkins&Will), Stephanie Costelloe (BVN) and Neil Logan (BVN) – responding to what inspired, surprised or challenged them at EHD.

Whether you’re an architect, clinician, or changemaker, this episode offers fresh perspectives on how design can reimagine healthcare as a place of empowerment, not just treatment.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on all major platforms by searching European Healthcare Design, or click the links below.

Spotify  Apple podcasts

Learn more about the podcast here.