Re-naming the ‘Birth Environment’ an Architect’s View

Abstract

I am an architect and researcher with a long interest in birth environment design. Researching and writing my recent PhD highlighted differences in the language used by architects and midwives. The words we use unconsciously shape our understanding of the physical surroundings for childbirth. In this article, I explore assumptions that lie behind terms used in this field: birth environment, birth venue, birth space, birth territory and birth architecture. I suggest the new term birth spaces architecture for describing the physical surroundings for birth in a holistic and women-centred way.