Throughout history, hospitals had been treated as sterile places used exclusively for providing medical treatment to patients. Little attention was however paid to the different ways those spaces can affect people occupying them, more specifically, through the senses. The things patients see, smell, touch, or feel all affect their well-being, leading to either an accelerated recovery, or prolonged hospital stays. Furthermore, besides a plethora of research showcasing the potential of incorporating sensory elements into healthcare architecture, the results have not been integrated into concrete examples to their full potential. The purpose of this review is to identify the effects of certain sensory elements, investigate the ways in which they had been incorporated into healthcare architecture, and recognize gaps in existing literature. Additionally, this review aims to propose ideas for further research in order to enrich the existing research connecting the senses with architecture.

Hospitals are environments in which patients experience heightened physical and psychological vulnerability. Despite this, architectural design has prioritized clinical efficiency over human-centered spatial experience. Increasing evidence suggests that the built environment influences stress levels, comfort, and overall well-being. This study examines how the overall sensory environment of hospital shapes users’ experiences, focusing on general sensory perception rather than isolated sensory elements. A survey was conducted among hospital users, including patients, visitors, and staff (n=223). The quantitative survey addressed demographic characteristics, sensory perceptions, and general impressions of the hospital environment. This paper analyses responses related to the total sensory experience of hospital spaces using descriptive statistical methods. The results indicate that most respondents perceived the hospital environment as having moderate to high impact on their overall experience. Additionally, the majority expressed a clear preference for hospitals designed with a focus on sensory comfort. These findings highlight the importance of integrating sensory-aware design strategies in healthcare architecture to support well-being and improve the overall hospital experience.

The development of tourism in Neum , Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only coastal town, represents a complex process that began during Yugoslavia’s socialist era, marked by various social, architectural, and ecological challenges. During the 1960’s, alongside accelerated urbanization, transportati on infrastructure, and secondary housing, Neum experienced a transformation from a local community to a remarkable tourist destination. Architecture of that period, marked by modernist principles, was not just functional, but reflected a wide socialist ide ology - promoting collective welfare, harmony with natural surroundings, and inclusivity. However, the expansion of tourism in Neum also brought problems, such as illegal construction, the destruction of landscape, and spatial segregation . The aim of this research is to analyze how the elements of socialist modernist architecture can be used as a base for the further development of hotel complexes in Neum. Modernist architecture from the socialist period provides various important lessons for today’s u rban p lanning. It’s basic principles - simplicity, functionality, and the adaptation to the natural terrain, offer a relevant frame for the contemporary development of tourism. In this context, this research focuses on the integration of those principles into con temporary architecture, with the aim of creating sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing hotels that satisfy the needs of t ourists, while keeping the local identity. With the use of primary and secondary sources, the analysis includes the study of current hotels in Neum, their architectural characteristics, and urban organization. Special attention is paid to challenges, such as unplanned const ruction, degradation of the coast, and the unequal development of different parts of the municipality. Through this analysis, concrete models for the further development of hotels are suggested, which include the incorporation of modernist principles, but with a comb ination of new approaches.