Hospitals are the places we go to recover from our illnesses. If we see a hospital devoid of any visual stimulations, except for the wall-mounted televisions, we get depressed. Children who have to visit hospitals often are scared by the sterile environment. As humans, we are influenced by the beauty and warmth of our surroundings, and science has also found that it leads to better health. Take a look at some of the unique hospital designs which have placed equal importance in the patient’s surroundings, the environment as well as providing superlative medical care.
16 Unique hospital designs from around the world
1. Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
Image Source : worldsbesthospitals.net
This hospital has many prestigious honors including being one of the most beautiful hospitals, for its hospital design concept. It won the Best Sustainable Hospital Design Award in the year 2009, the Best Healing Environment in the year 2013 by the Hospital Buildings Environment. It is affiliated to the John Hopkins Medicine International, has a striking façade, excellent modern equipment and was the brainchild of architects Khatib &Alami.
2. Akershus University Hospital, Nordbyhagen, Norway
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The firm Arkitektfirmaet C. F. Møller, Scandinavian in origin created a welcoming, friendly surrounding for the patients and families. Every section of the hospital has been given a unique treatment and thus creating varied visual stimulus. It is an eco-friendly building too, utilizing geothermal heating for heating requirements.
Sustainability was one of the major features of the hospital during construction and all the materials were sourced locally. It also won the Best International Design from the Building Better Healthcare Awards, for the hospital architecture.
3. Kemang Children’s Hospital, Jakarta, Indonesia
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To make the hospital child friendly, the architects Aboday from Jakarta imparted vibrant colors to the building, with the help of many-hued tinted windows which throw colorful light indoors. Even though the architects had to deal with budgetary constraints, they created a beautiful hospital for children.
4. Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Children, Orlando, Florida
Image Source : winniepalmerhospital.com
This hospital is appreciated due to the unique hospital design concept. It seems like a hotel when you first look at it, due to the glass towers rising up from a triangular base. The architects Jonathan Bailey Associates have said that they designed the hospital in that particular shape to make it easier to access resources. It makes movement of staff and patients to be more efficient, simplifying the monitoring of the patients. The hospital is one of the most distinguished landmarks in Orlando.
5. Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, California
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The hospital’s original architect Edward Durell Stone added several environment friendly elements such as natural light and a close association with nature when he designed it. From the years 2006 to 2010, the firm HOK (LA branch), added to the hospital retaining the original sustainable design. The result was a stunning example of a hospital which stood out in the surrounding, yet blending in the natural environment around it.
6. Richard Desmond Children’s Eye Centre, London
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Designed by the firm Penroye and Prasad, the eye hospital for children has a multicolored façade made from many colorful aluminum panels. The panels offer shade during the daytime and reflections make a colorful, fun interior. The hospital has ensured to create an interior which is friendly and warm with colorful furniture, engaging colors which are focused towards children visiting the facility. There are play areas as well as relaxation areas, which makes it a beautiful hospital for children.
7. Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, Michigan
This hospital is renowned for being a standard setter. It offers exceptional treatment in environs where scenery and greenery are always in view of the patients. Albert Kahn Associates’ Detroit Branch designed the hospital, that is LEED certified as well. The hospital was constructed using materials close to the site, and energy efficient glass was installed to enhance the heating and cooling systems.
The two green roofs are noteworthy too, as they have 20,000 plants. The atria are mesmerizing, containing around 2,500 plants. The hospital architecture has been lauded worldwide, and is an example to constructing an aesthetically pleasing, green structure which benefits the patients.
8. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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This hospital is on the list for the reason ‘Beauty is as beauty does’. It is the mission of the hospital to treat all the children who come seeking treatment, regardless of race, religion or economic background. The hospital has been voted one of the best children’s hospital in the world. In 50 years, it has pushed up the survival rate of childhood cancer from 20% to over 80%. The exteriors and interiors are kid friendly as well, making it a sanctuary for children suffering from serious illnesses.
9. Oxygen Medical Centers, Budapest, Hungary
Image Source : oxygenmedical.eu
Both the Oxygen Medical Centers offer superb healthcare as well as relaxation. They have over 20 specialists providing beauty and dental treatments. With a massage area, swimming pool, fitness room, Jacuzzi and medical center, the center is striking in its spacious and bright environment. There is a unique Mano Klub for children where children are taught to use their time meaningfully, as well as the importance of family. Classes are held on developing talent, children dentistry and more. The medical restaurant plies patients with fresh, handpicked ingredients. The hospital has gained recognition globally, not only for the beautiful building.
10. Marian Regional Medical Center, Santa Maria, CA
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The hospital was designed by Moon Mayoras Architects, a firm which is dedicated to developing elegant architecture. The classic archways and stone statuary make it one of the most architecturally beautiful buildings. The dedication of the staff and the quality care provided makes it truly beautiful, beyond the beauty of brick and mortar.
11. Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
Image Source : rch.org.au
The brief for the Dallas based architects HKS Inc was to create a therapeutic and nurturing environment for children. The idea was to give children the opportunity to be children. The hospital has multiple playgrounds and two-story aquarium. The hospital offers safe spaces for children where their emotional needs are met.
The mobile sculptures, wide open spaces and the dazzling sun-shading petals have a brightness which is not cartoonish or garish but still is appealing to children. The hospital has a 5-star Green Star rating shows that the building goes out of the way to care for the environment as well as the patients.
12. Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, Washington
The hallways and main atrium of the hospital is filled with natural light, wood and warm colors. The ‘healing garden’ is a place for families to relax in, as well as offering green views for children who cannot go out of their rooms. All the rooms of the hospital are filled with art making the space interesting and vital.
13. Sky Ridge Medical Center, Colorado
Image Source : healthwellnesscolorado.com
Some hospitals around the world have made an effort to heal not only with the best medical help, but also with the help of a soothing as well as compassionate environment. The hospital was designed by Gresham Smith and Partners of Nashville, Tennessee. The hospital has an extensive art collection, that are works by local artists, to bring a sense of being at home and aesthetic beauty. There is a Pet Partner Volunteer Program, which is aimed at soothing and comforting patients by providing regular pets/animal companions to help in the therapy of in-patients.
14. Harlem Hospital, Manhattan, New York
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As part of the Federal Art Program, the Works Progress Administration had commissioned many murals for the Harlem Hospital Center to brighten up the look of the hospital, in 1936. Over time, the murals had faded and decayed. With the help of a 325-million-dollar modernization project in 2012, the murals were digitally restoring as well as preserved for the future generations.
The murals were digitally printed on backlit glass and completely transformed the hospital’s patient pavilion into a refreshing and vibrant piece of historic artwork which is five stories high, and is the width of the block of New York City.
15. Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Toronto
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All the rooms for patients in the healthcare center has wonderful panoramic views of the parks and trees outside. Patients can unwind and relax on the open terraces. The staircases were built to tempt people to use them to walk rather than using the elevator. To inspire patients to walk and get a little exercise, there is a courtyard with a labyrinth. Designed by the firms Stantec Architecture, KPMB Architects, Diamond Schmitt Architects and HDR Architecture.
16. North Shore LIJ Women’s Hospital and Zuckerberg Pavilion
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The hospital was designed by the architects Skidmore, Owings and Merill LLP, and is considered to be a classic example of modern architecture. The façade is curved glass which looks stunning. There is a state-of-the-art information system, private bath and shower are a feature of the patient rooms. The delivery and labor rooms have cutting edge technology, and the whole facility includes botanical garden, retail shops, restaurant and meditation center.
Hospital architecture design trends are veering towards the comfort of the patients, sustainability and creating an environment which hastens their recovery and increases their sense of well-being. Closely associated with that is initiating and implementing green, less energy consuming structures which is healthy for the ecology too.
