Located in the Gahanga District,
Kigali, Rwanda, on a 4 Hectare
site, the Eugene Gasana Jr.
Foundation Paediatric Cancer
Centre will provide a hospital and
lodging facility for outpatients
who need to reside close to the
hospital, as well as residential
housing for physicians and
nurses. The centre is designed
by Adjaye Associates.
T
he design of the 100-
bed hospital draws
on the traditional
architectural
vernacular of the
region, expressed
with a contemporary
language. Utilising
sustainable resources
(to reduce operating
costs for electricity over time),
architecture
and providing a soothing, open and restful environment for treatment, the building
importantly, the brief called for a space that adds dignity and hope to the lives of th
light have been key.
Inspired by the practice of Imigongo – a popular art form in Rwanda that is produc
painted on walls, pottery and canvas – the design concept uses a geometric languag
the mass is punctuated with three generous, lushly planted external courtyards, wh
surrounds the three courtyard spaces, so that rooms have direct views to the exterio
volumes knitted together. These increase in density or become more porous depend
is protected from solar gain. The metallic screens sparkle in the sunlight and in tim
around them, giving the sense of a living, organic building. AD
60
africandesignmagazine.com