MAGGIE’S AT

Maggie’s essence is the antithesis of a hospital. Although they are always close to a major can cer hospital, they are designed as informal “domestic” buildings. This will especially need to be the case for Maggie’s at Newport, which will be off hospital grounds and instead located in the flourishing residential neighborhood of Newport Heights.

It is crucial Maggie’s is a “good fit” to the residential community in order to successfully emulate a vernacular sense of domesticity, all while demonstrating its devotion to serving the community. Maggie Centers give people with cancer, their families, and friends somewhere to hold them together through difficult times. If anyone is ever feeling broken or alone, they’ll know they can count on Maggie’s at Newport Heights to foster a connection to something greater than them-selves.

As part of our empathetic study, we heavily researched cancer. Specifically, its growth, manifestation, and/or remission. We selected two verbs that described the process, drew an abstract sequence, and then went on to build a synthesis model of both verbs in action. The abstract result helped inform our architectural language and decisions throughout the design process. The two verbs represented in the synthesis model are “Lurking” and “Materializing”.

Maggie’s at Newport Heights fosters connections between one another through open, visible, and alternating community spaces. It also encourages a connection to divine power through intentional light play and nature through framed views and greenery. This is done so users are reminded they are not alone through their expereince.

In an attempt to counteract the loss of power that occurs when someone is experienceing cancer, varrying degrees of privacy and sunlight are offered thriough out the building. Users have the choice of picking their safe space depending on how they are feeling that day. There is a place for everyone.