Text description provided by the Architects. The client aspired to develop a 250 bedded world-class hospital project with all the latest amenities. They approached the group for their Design Consultancy immediately after they had purchased a raw 24-story building. The site is located in Westland, which is an affluent, mixed-use commercial and residential neighborhood in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya.
Challenges
The architects started their design process, they faced a number of challenges because originally the building was not designed as a hospital but as a commercial building. Therefore, they did not have any patient lifts, adequate fire escape width, and many such architectural elements which are inherent to any hospital building. Therefore, they had to propose major structural and architectural changes in the building which included the proposal of a new circulation core and Helipad over the roof of this building.
Planning
At the conceptual design stage, they started with the vertical zoning of the project. The ground floor consisted of the Reception and Emergency, along with other support areas. The Radiology department was planned in the Basement. As one goes up, they have 5 floors of car parking which consists of approx. 120 car parking spaces. Above car parking, they have the main canteen and other service areas. The upper floors are as follows…
1st. Floor – Out-Patients Department OPD
2nd. Floor – Dialysis, Endoscopy & Chemotherapy Department
3rd. Floor – Laboratory Services
4th. Floor – Urology, Endoscopy, Gastrology, bone marrow & liver transplant
5th. Floor – Gynecology Pediatric and I.V.F. floor
6th. Floor – ICU, MICU, PICU & NICU
7th. Floor – OT Floor
8th. Floor – Cath lab, Blood Bank Floor
9th. Floor – General Rooms, IPD rooms
10th, 11th, & 12th. Floor – Private Rooms, IPD rooms
13th. Floor – Private Doctors Suits
14th. Floor – Corporate Office
15th Floor – Corporate Office
Roof – Helipad
Interior Design Concept
The designer wanted to create an extremely soothing and relaxing indoor ambiance. Therefore, they opted for pastel shades for interior colors with a few accent-colored walls. Other elements such as water features and vegetation create an ambiance of natural tranquility that will further calm patients and improve their mood. The client also wanted to give a feeling of openness wherever possible, so we have proposed glass partitions wherever privacy is not a concern. They have tried to design an environment that fosters a healthy and suitable atmosphere where patients can heal and staff can perform.
Façade Design
The client was extremely particular about the façade design and wanted to create a very unique outlook of the building. The group tried to create a distinctive façade concept which had 3 predominant elements.
1st is the newly added circulation core Рwhich contributed to the verticality of the building. 2nd is the parking floors which are proposed to have a perforated metal skin (so that natural ventilation is permitted) along with vertical garden. And 3rd is the main floors of the building which are given a soft and fluidic fa̤ade treatment which adds to the modern outlook of the building along with a soothing character. They have also added vertical gardens and fountain to bring more liveliness in the entrance foyer.