African project
Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital architecture – South Africa
connecting to nature would go on to shape the design of the project and be
a starting point to creating a welcoming, safe environment for both children
and parents.
The design
The competition-winning design broke away from housing all departments
in a single ‘box’ building, which often leads to deep floorplates where
the patients and staff have little contact with the outside world. After
extensive consultation, it was clear that long, institutional and windowless
corridors should be avoided in favour of a plan that connected to its natural
surroundings.
The design concept
revolved around
creating six wings,
each with its own
specialism. These
were connected by
a ‘street’ that ran
through the centre
of the project. This
‘street’ was vital for
connectivity, with
three main junctions
that enable efficient
flow of people. The
separation of floors of
floors avoided cross-
overs and assisted
wayfinding.
By breaking down the
mass of the building
into six elements,
the design has a
domestic, human
scale that reassuring
and familiar to
children. Further
moving away from a
feeling of institutional
design, each wing
has subtle twists of
the common design
language to give it a
distinct identity; for
example, the colour
of the solar shading
walls – formed from
Click here to read more
africandesignmagazine.com 17