Schematic Design

[Central Regional Hospital | Gestural Rendering]

In brain storming for the redesign of the Children’s Regional Hospital I immediately thought of my prior studio project, the Rehabilitation Cell. In my personal opinion this facility is a child friendly prison and from the words of an interviewed fifteen year old, “Sheesh…This place is unnatural.”

It is heart wrenching to look at the goal of a facility like this and see how set goal is lost in bad design. With the optimistic support of their families, children ranging from ages 5 – 17 inhabit this space in hopes of behavioral progress. Does a space with such harsh surfaces, forms, and materials promote mental advancement?

I recall freely roaming around as a five year old; I explored life and was excited for tomorrow. Are these children excited for their tomorrow? If so, is it because they’re accustom to limitations, forgetting what’s beyond the walls of this facility.

For this project I have adopted “Exploration: the investigation of unknown regions” as my concept, a basic transitional function that most humans take for granted. I want this facility to reflect what the children and adolescents are missing. How many people live in a home consisting of CMU walls and concrete bed frames? Have bedrooms that contain minuscule windows for light? Or Great Rooms with immobile furniture? The fact that these children have conditions they cannot help doesn’t mean they should lose some of life’s most basic luxuries.

From a designer’s stand point I plan to incorporate:

- Softer materials in return making the space warmer and more inviting.

- Curvilinear forms that contour with the body.

- Larger windows that take advantage of the natural light.

Suggested alterations from an interviewed age appropriate client:

- Higher levels of comfort

- A space that promote a ‘family-like’ atmosphere between the employees and clients.

- Moments within each room that provides an opportunity for personalization.