2020; An Architecture of Resource Economies

On the previous pages are examples of the traditional hospital typology located within Albuquerque city limits. They fall in line with the normative ideology that is established by efficent healthcare processes. They are essentially closed boxes that limit access and control the presence of those who don’t belong. These hospitals have a large presence as a physical object but no acknowledgement of the urban condition in which they reside. While Albuquerque on the whole does not exhibit a prototypical pedestrian based urbanity, this does not excuse the tendency of hospital architecture to close in on itself and disregard an existance beyond its boundary. Instead, healthcare typologies must become innovative and respond to the conditions in which they exist to acheive a more successful public architecture.