Broadway Malyan, an international firm with offices in the UK, Europe, Middle East and Asia, recently presented their design for the National Heart Center in Singapore. This hospital is a part of a larger master plan that will redevelop the country’s General Hospital Outram Campus in a more technologically advanced and environmentally friendly way.
Project description and more images after break.
Broadway Malyan’s ten story hospital is formatted to minimize travel distances for patients. The first six floors house the active zone of the hospital, with labs, facilities for surgery, radiology, and similar programs. The upper part of the building, floors 7-10, focus on portions that are patient-free, such as facilities for staff training.
“Fundamental to this is our ethos for the building-Placing People First– a philosophy which will ensure the needs of the individual are met at the Center in their everyday working, living, playing and healing lives, be they the patient, doctors or visitor,” commented Jason Pomeroy, director for Broadway Malyan’s Singapore office.
A key feature of the Heart Center lies in its abundance of open spaces that encourage interaction among patients, staff and workers. These spaces, namely courtyards and gardens, are fused with natural light and are naturally ventilated to complement the healing process. These spaces aim to socially connect all who use the building. The Center’s dynamic façade emphasizes these public areas as large portions of the skin seem to be peeled back to reveal the inner programs of the gardens. Users enter the hospital through a spacious and naturally lit reception area. The idea of openness is also carried through the main building as the halls are enlarged to create more circulation space. These enlarged passages serve a dual purpose as they maximize retail opportunities for users and create more space for operational efficiency for staff.
Broadway Malyan’s building is constructed using a modular method which will help expedite the construction phase of the project. Work will begin in September 2009 and is hoped to be completed as early as the Spring of 2012.
As seen on Designboom.
