house of the rosebank health village

frankie pappas

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RE-IMAGINING HEALTHCARE AS AN EXPRESSION OF OUR HUMANITY

the site sits in an existing building
on a prominent corner property in the heart of joburg
this design is the first of three phases in the construction of a community-oriented day hospital
which provides space which is sensorily thoughtful and kind

THE BRIEF

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

THE IDEA

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 its 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 MATERIALS

house of the rosebank health village 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 ply is used in the construction of all furniture
the material palette is deliberately straightforward,
so that the architecture moves to the background allowing for plants, and art, and people to move to the fore

THE PROGRAMME

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

CLOSING THOUGHT

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 sunlight and running water and petrichor

frankie pappas

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house of the rosebank health village

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