A former concierge doctor providing on-call services to patients, Jonathan Leary is attuned to the impact of the built environment on minds and bodies. So it’s no surprise to him that many people are averse to typical spaces focused on our health. “Traditional healthcare facilities like a hospital or a clinic are usually white and very sterile and because of that, most of the time, patients have what is called ‘white coat syndrome,’” Leary says. “This is a negative physiological response where the body can tense up and heart rates can rise—basically meaning your body is in protection mode. If you are sick or not feeling well and then you walk into a place that is uncomfortable, it will actually make things worse.”
