the site sits in an existing building;
on a prominent corner property
this design is the first of three phases in the construction of a day hospital

democratic access to natural light and ventilation;
a re-considered waiting room;
efficiency in service of the patient

the originating idea was to break down the notion of a traditional doctor’s room;
this meant ignoring the conventions of consulting spaces, of waiting rooms, and of corridors
how could we re-conceive of healthcare architecture and furniture to echo the passion of this medical team?
if the client was to practise value-based healthcare, should the architecture not speak to the same values?

the building utilises the simplest set of materials
the majority of the internal walls are built from rough stock brick which is bagged and painted white
any walls which are temporary
– and planned for removal in the next phase of the project –
are constructed out of gypsum board
local pine plywood is used in the construction of all furniture
the material palette is deliberately bare, so that the architecture moves to the background
allowing for plants, and art, and people to move to the fore

the floor plan is designed to accommodate consulting rooms, waiting spaces, a reception, bathrooms, and service spaces
as an added level of complexity,
the current plan is configured in such a manner
as to allow for the conversion into two theatre spaces in phase 03 of the project

the biggest problem with healthcare is that it should be the highest expression of our humanity,
but instead it is cold light, incessant bleeps, and the bitter smell of antiseptics,
when it should be the sun and running water and petrichor