In health care architecture, the smallest design choice can change how patients feel about walking through hospital doors. From the warmth of wood tones to expansive mural-style imagery, interior designers are reimagining sterile environments into spaces that soothe.
For Lillian Hakkila, an interior design associate at E4H Environments for Health Architecture, by MOREgroup, this balance of function and compassion drives her career.
Nature as a Healing Element
Biophilia has always influenced architecture, but Hakkila has noticed a recent surge in demand for deeper connections to nature. She points to healthcare clients who now want large-scale printed wall imagery that not only brightens the space but, depending on the finish, can enhance durability in high-traffic areas. By blending functionality with art, these designs improve patient wellness and create a sense of comfort.
“With so much going on, facilities’ needs hospitals to be as cleanable as possible, but more and more, they want them to feel almost residential,” Hakkila explains. “It’s about making patients feel comfortable, like they’re at home and, if they can’t feel at home, providing moments of distraction rather than making a potentially stressful situation more dreadful.”
A Career Sparked by Curiosity
Hakkila’s path to interior design began in an unexpected place: a childhood spent immersed in the game The Sims. Hours of designing homes and venues lit a spark that never faded. By high school, she was determined to find a creative career.
By chance, she found an article explaining the difference between a decorator and a designer, sealing Hakkila’s decision to pursue interior design at Endicott College, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2021 and studied abroad in Florence in 2019. She describes her choice as an impulsive leap of faith that revealed her passion.
Growth Through Mentorship
Throughout her career, Hakkila has valued the mentors who pushed her to refine her skills. Early guidance from senior designers taught her how to meet the diverse needs of clients and end users while ensuring strict health care requirements are met.
These skills proved essential in projects like a radiation oncology center for Beth Israel Lahey Health, where Hakkila worked with large, complex treatment equipment. The positive feedback from staff and patients affirmed her approach to creating environments that are both technical and welcoming.
Lessons in Chance and Connection
While her career is rooted in design, Hakkila emphasizes that her journey reflects larger lessons about life. “Our time is limited, and sometimes it’s about taking a chance,” she says.
Hakkila believes that bold decisions, whether committing to a degree after reading one article or embracing a new project, can lead to unexpected passions. Beyond technical growth, she credits clients with teaching her care and compassion.
A Personal Dedication
Behind Hakkila’s professional success is a deeply personal source of inspiration. Her father, Robert Hakkila Jr., passed away in 2017 before she began college. She often reflects on his influence, both in life lessons and in the construction field where he worked.
“My father is a huge inspiration to me, and it makes me emotional to think that, if he were alive today, there could have been a chance for us to work together,” Hakkila shares. Her career, in part, serves as a tribute to him. When she first dove into interior design, she didn’t think healthcare design was the path for her. But as her passions in design grew, she reflected on her personal experience in the hospital during her father’s final moments.
“I may have lost my dad that day, but what also stands out to me is how amazing the staff were. They were so kind and compassionate, spending their valuable time checking on me and making sure I didn’t need anything. In health care design, it’s important to provide those moments of relief for patients, but the staff are equally deserving of our attention. Losing my dad was one of the worst days of my life, and I continue to honor his memory, but the doctors and nurses, they could deal with several deaths a day, and they get up the next day to do it all over again. Being able to design environments that functionally have everything they need, but also providing moments of design that offer emotional relief is the way I can make other’s lives better.”
Looking Ahead: Growth and Leadership
As she continues to advance at E4H, Hakkila is preparing for NCIDQ certification to step into leadership roles. She hopes to mentor younger designers, just as others once guided her.
With health care environments evolving and patient-centered care shaping the future, Hakkila remains committed to designs that make hospitals less intimidating and more humane.
