What Can be Sustained from the Past: A Geometric Analysis of the Roman Hospitals

Suining Ding (Purdue University, Fort Wayne)

The Romans took a remarkably consistent approach to all range of design and construction, which is a reflection of their comprehensive and unified worldview. The Romans’ consistent approach to design and construction is evidenced in several characteristics of Roman architecture. The first one is the use of the Golden Ratio principle. The second one is the use of squares and rectangles extensively. The third characteristic in Roman architecture geometric construction is symmetry. How were Roman hospitals built in relation to the Golden Ratio? How were the patient rooms in the relationship with the other rooms in general? These questions have been investigated through a geometric analysis of the ancient Roman hospitals.

The connections between architecture and mathematics have been studied and promoted in previous research. It seems wise to use the lens of mathematics to analyze ancient Roman architecture. This research used document reviews with a geometric analysis of floor plans of the Roman hospitals, particularly with the examination of the Roman military hospital in Vidoniss. Geometries, such as squares, rectangles, and circles were laid out on the floor plans. The Golden Ratio B: A = A: (A+B) was also used to examine the proportion of the room and the building.

Findings of this research show that the builders had a working knowledge of the circle, square, the equilateral triangle, and various rectangular systems, especially those generated from the squares by using the golden ratio. Findings also show that a rectangular courtyard built proportionally with the golden ratio provided the sunlight to all the patient rooms. Multiple vestibules, back rooms, and nurse rooms were spread out adjacent to the patient rooms. As the conclusion of this study, the notion of connecting nature for the patient rooms and providing decentralized supply rooms can be sustained in modern hospital designs.