Dr Andrea Placidi
Senior Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for Interior Architecture
School of Architecture
Research
Publications
Journal articles
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Greenway K, Frisone C, Placidi A, Kumar S, Guest W, Winter S, Shah K, Henshall C, 'Using Immersive Technology and Architectural Design to assist Head and Neck Cancer Patients’ Recovery from Treatment: a focus group and technology acceptance study'
European Journal of Oncology Nursing 62 (2022)
ISSN: 1462-3889 eISSN: 1532-2122AbstractPublished here Open Access on RADARPurpose.
Head and neck cancer patients can face debilitating treatment related side-effects, resulting in requirement for support and negatively impacting on care outcomes. This study aimed to develop a digital recovery support package and assess its acceptability with head and neck cancer patients to support their information needs and assist with their self-management. It provided additional support through development of a WebXR platform ‘recovery’ package, which allowed patients to live a ‘virtual reality’ experience, entering and moving inside a ‘virtual room’, accessing targeted resources and specific learning materials related to their cancer.Method.
A qualitative intervention development study consisting of three phases. This study followed the COREQ checklist for qualitative research. Phase 1- Focus groups with seven head and neck cancer patients and six healthcare professionals. Phase 2- Development of ‘recovery’ package based on the focus group data which informed the content and design of the WebXR recovery platform. Phase 3- Technology acceptance study. Once developed, the platform's acceptability of the experience lived inside the virtual room was assessed via qualitative interviews with six different patient participants.Results.
Most participants felt comfortable using the virtual reality platform, finding it a realistic and useful support for identifying resources and signposting to relevant materials. Participants agreed the WebXR platform was a feasible tool for the head and neck cancer setting and helped reduce anxiety.Conclusions.
Head and neck cancer patients welcome specific targeted, information and advice to support their ability to self-manage their rehabilitation and thus focus their nursing care. The platform was implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, demonstrating its versatility and accessibility in providing complementary support to head and neck cancer patients, to empower them to adjust to their ‘new’ normal as part of their ongoing cancer journeys.
Books
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, Understanding the Maggie's centres : an architecture of care, Bloombsury Visual Arts (2025)
ISBN: 9781350234918AbstractPublished hereThis book provides designers and students with the first in-depth analysis of the architecture of the world-renowned Maggie's Cancer Care Centres, conceived by Maggie Keswick Jencks, a terminally ill cancer patient, and her husband Charles Jencks, landscape designer and architectural critic. The book explores the interactions between architecture and social activity in the centres and examines how and why they are so successful -- addressing themes from the brief (Maggie Jencks' 'Blueprint'), to the manipulation of sensory and atmospheric qualities, to how the surrounding environment provides occupants with a sense of refuge and comfort. The book also includes a comparative review of all 28 Maggie's Centres, designed by a select list of celebrated architects (including Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers, and Snohetta) and features over 60 pages of building information - an invaluable reference source for designers alongside the main thematic discussion.
The success of the Maggie's Centres has important global implications for the improvement of the design of care structures and therapeutic environments. The centres have established a flexible design methodology capable of uplifting the quality of life of the people involved. By helping to understand and identify these parameters, this book will provide important insights for all students, scholars, and professionals involved in healthcare architecture, architecture for social care, as well as all those interested in the broad impact of architectural environments on people. -- Provided by publisher.
Conference papers
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Placidi A, Sarfatti O, 'Interior Architecture: The Evolution of a Discipline'
(2017)
AbstractThis paper chronicles the evolution of Interior Architecture through the lens of the Interior Architecture programme at Oxford Brookes University. Interior Architecture as a proper academic field originated from architecture but with a specific scope – to investigate and design the experiential/spatial conditions of buildings. This led it to be influenced significantly by other disciplines in regard to methodology, pedagogy, and even the subject matter of the programme. Whereas naturally it shares most of its critical framework with architecture and interior design, and draws upon similar theoretical contributions and practices, Interior Architecture incorporates findings and methodologies from other disciplines such as behavioural psychology, social studies, and research on perception. It has now consolidated into an independent academic field, able to offer significant insights on design strategies for people in the built environment, which can be applied meaningfully back into architecture studies. Specifically, Interior Architecture at Oxford Brookes has placed the experience of space as the subject matter in the built environment through innovative design briefs, and academic publication. The design work and research produced by its students and staff is turning into a compressive methodology of design. This incorporates the idea that programmes of occupation are a-priori design strategies, conducted with an appreciation of variable spatial conditions and perceptive atmospheric qualities.Published here Open Access on RADAR
Other publications
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Sarfatti, O; Placidi, A, 'Live Project: Louie Memorial Community Pavilion in Botely, Oxford',
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Sarfatti, O; Placidi, A; Hart, C, 'Live project; Redesigning Botley Primary School canteen',