Angdong Hospital Project

Rural healthcare in China currently faces a multitude of challenges. Rural institutions
are generally unfavourable compared to those in urban locales. Government
subsidies and the raising of doctor and hospital incomes also lead to overcharging and
needless treatments and exams. Commissioned by a Hong Kong charity, Institute for
Integrated Rural Development, this project involves designing China’s first charitable
hospital whilst helping foster a new attitude toward rural healthcare.
Working closely with the charity and government in Angdong Village of Hunan Province,
our task was to develop a model rural health care building capable of supporting the
many progressive reforms on rural hospital management and care giving. This includes
providing basic necessities absent in current establishments, some as simple as waiting
rooms. Additionally, seeing that most institutions in China, such as schools and hospitals,
are walled off and managed as contained programs, we were interested in re-introducing
the hospital as a publicly-friendly facility.
The program of a hospital is re-configured from its conventional form. The design begins
with a simple strategy to provide a continuous ramp access to all floors. A wide ramp
allows for seating and improves circulation. This also creates a large central courtyard
space open for public use. At the ground level, the courtyard provides additional steps
for seating and serves as an outdoor waiting area. Materials consist of both recycled
traditional bricks, which form the exterior façade, and custom designed concrete screen
blocks, which flank the interior spiral passageway. Though from a distance they appear
like the common type, these custom blocks are cast in a flexible latex mold. The resulting
courtyard exhibits a soft and smoothly changing quality, casting variable shadows
throughout the day.