It's being touted as the first full-scale concept room of its kind and one that its creators hope will offer those in the health-care field insight on how to inject a dose of green into a patient's space.

The Green Patient Room is the brainchild of U.S. architectural practice Anshen and Allen, who wanted to create a space that would minimize the impact on the natural environment while fulfilling the patient's need for a safe and comfortable sanctuary.

Incorporating eco-friendly materials into the design was key to greening the 37-square-metre patient room, which was on display at the recent IIDEX/NeoCon Canada expo and conference in Toronto.

Several products contain recycled content, including the porcelain flooring in the bathroom, the polyester chair and ottoman and paper items.

In addition, the room has energy-efficient LED lighting and touchless faucets geared toward promoting water conservation.

The room even incorporates a designated zone for families designed to encourage frequent and longer visits.

Lead designer Suzanne Drake of the San Francisco-based firm said they have been finding green materials are 2 to 3 per cent more expensive than their conventional counterparts, percentage figures that fall within the margin of error when doing construction estimation.