Clinic

Project idea

PROJECT BREIF

It was requested to design a Clinic in Alexandria, Egypt consisting essentially of three zones:-
-Outpatient Zone
-Emergency Zone
-Laboratory and X-ray Zone

The design had to take into consideration:-
-The user’s behaviour
-Circulation pattern
-Accessibility
-The needs of different types of users
-Project element relationship with site constraints

PROJECT AIM

Going to a health centre is generally an unpleasant experience that usually induces psychological stress for patients especially during waiting times. My Aim for this clinic was to try and minimize that stress providing patients with a relaxing environment through natural daylight and ventilation, along with natural scenery which can act as a decent distraction during waiting times. Moreover, natural light, ventilation and scenery has also been attributed to enhancement of patients’ healing and recovery which I also intended to achieve in my design.

Project description

FORM DEVELOPMENT

First off, I had to ensure that the clinic’s layout is functionally relevant to the project brief before trying to achieve my aim. Designing the clinic on one storey was the ideal choice for quick and easy movement of patients.
In order to meet the requirements of the project, the general composition of the clinic had to be compact to ensure optimal accessibility, each zone had to be distinct and separate from the others to avoid collision of circulation from different zones.
The Clinic almost takes a simple square shaped outline consisting of the laboratory and X-ray zone being enclosed by two L shapes being the emergency and the outpatient zone, this composition achieves high accessibility and clear circulation.

In consideration of disabled patients:-
-There are ramps next to all the stairs
-All toilets are disabled-friendly
-Handicapped permits are enabled at several parking lots close to the entrance

FORM MODIFICATION

Natural scenery and ventilation is provided by the separation of the three zones creating voids. These voids are then filled with greenery and trees.
In Alexandria, the sun generally rises from the west and sets at the east, according to this sun path, I slightly elevated the ceiling height of zones to ensure maximum daylight.
Since prevailing winds come from the north-west, I extruded small wind fins next to the openings of the toilets next to the outpatient waiting area to prevent wind from flowing in through the toilets to the outpatients.

SOFTSCAPE

Trees in the site plan have different indications as not all trees are of the same type, circular trees at the green area behind the clinic are live oak trees whose leaves fall off during summer to allow wind flow and regrow in winter to reduce winter wind.
Polygonal trees in site plan indicate long columnar trees that cover the openings giving privacy to patients in consulting rooms and in examination boards in the emergency zone.
The rest of the trees and bushes are primarily for decorative purposes.

FAÇADE DESIGN

I had a fairly minimalistic approach in façade design since visual dynamism would be irrelevant and potentially inconvenient for the patients coming in . Simple line articulation was neat and simple along with horizontal plane enclosing each zone individually.
A monochromatic colour scheme of blue is used since blue calls to mind feeling of calmness and is often attributed to stability.

Technical information

ENHANCED WIND FLOW AND VIEW

Tilt and turn window type is used next to all waiting areas which is ideal for maximum ventilation and wide view to the greenery between buildings.
Windows just below the ceiling used for sunlight intake are fixed windows which will not interrupt the airflow going through the clinic to patients.

Documentation

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