Ethics and Professional Practice: Post-Occupancy Accountability in Healthcare Architecture

Abstract

This research examines the ethical obligations of architects after project handover, using the
Post-Occupancy Evaluation (POE) model in healthcare architecture in Bahrain. Although
sustainable and user-centred design is being prioritized globally, Bahraini projects do not have
formal POE mechanisms. The study examines 2 healthcare cases (the Salmaniya Medical
Complex (SMC), Bahrain, and Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres, UK), using a qualitative
comparative approach. The results are complemented by interviews with 6 local professionals
in the field. The study indicates a notable discrepancy between the local practice and the
international standards, such as AIA and RIBA. The research emphasizes the mandatory status
of POE and how it should be taken as an architectural policy in Bahrain to promote
accountability in the lifecycle of the building, increase the performance of the buildings, and
maintain professional ethics in the profession.