Dissertation by W.alradhi

DISSERTATION | FRANK GEHRY | MAGGIES'S DUNDEE

THE CONTRIBUTION OF ARCHITECTURE IN IMPROVING USER WELL-BEING

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a dn e v e al n u g h

lp ca e il ek

eiggaM ohs dluoc I ,s'

Willi's words.

can m lac leef

"It's a place where you

but, a t

luv ym w .."edis elbaren

had to be brave Rubina’s words. " At home, I

I" s't

, the friends I made at Maggie's were there for me at every step and still they are". Liza's words. "After I lost my sister

W ill

Name: Walla Alradhi ID no: @00539313 Fig 1. Sketch by author.

life".

i' s w o

r d s.

CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction.

CHAPTER 2 The hospice movement.

CHAPTER 3 About Maggie and Charles Jencks.

CHAPTER 4 4.1 About the architecture of Frank Gehry.

4.2 Maggie’s Aim.

CHAPTER 5 Contextual analysis: 5.1 The site.

5.2 The architect principles.

CHAPTER 6 Architectural Analysis: 6.1 The exterior. 6.2 Main entrance. 6.3 Kinichisim ideology 6.4 Interior spaces. 6.5 The balcony.

13 15 17 20 22

CHAPTER 7 Conclusion.

List of Sources

Image Source List

INTRODUCTION Architecture can humanise spaces through associating with human needs, such as scale and sense, thus the concept of improving user well-being through architecture is adopted in Maggie’s cancer caring Centers, which deliver practical, emotional, and social support to cancer patients and welcome anyone who has been affected by cancer. However, the core idea of Maggie’s Centres started at the very challenging moments of the artist and the landscape gardener Maggie Keswick Jencks (1941-1995), when she was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 1993 (Dominiczak, M. H. 2013; Baker, B. 2003; Jencks, C. 2017). Moreover, Mrs. Jencks experience with cancer in terms of preparing to die and fighting to live, suffering between experiencing fear and aiming for hope, made her passionate to think about other cancer patients who deal with the same issues. This was achieved by the help of her husband Charles Jenks (1939-2019), the American landscape architect, in addition to the help of her medical team, by focusing on well-designed space that could be uplifting and inviting, hence people can come in and feel expressive of comfort in an informal way that feels nothing like a hospital (Jencks, C. 2017; Van der Linden et al., 2016; Linklater, M. 2019). After opening the first Maggie Centre in 1996, the results were successful, leading to many different Maggie cancer caring Centers around the UK and internationally (Jencks, C. 2017). One of the many architects who designed Maggie Centres is Frank Gehry who was born in 1929. He designed the third center located in Dundee, sitting at the grounds of the Nine Well hospital across the Tray Estuary (Baker, B. 2003). Consequently, after opening the Centre in 2003, it positively lifted the media attention of all Maggie’s Centres and brought the organization worldwide awareness due to its architecture (Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015; Dominiczak, M. H. 2013). This dissertation will investigate Maggie’s Dundee Centre in the contribution of improving user well-being through architecture. Furthermore, an indepth architectural analysis will be provided to identify the spaces inside the building. In addition, user interviews will be used as supporting evidence for the success of the building’s architecture. These interviews will be used to derive the user's experience in how the building has assisted their comfort and well-being throughout their treatment journey in Maggie’s Dundee.

THE HOSPICE MOVEMENT

Fig 2. Cicely Saunders, the founding mother of the Hospice movement, Retrieved from (Our heroes. 2022).

The Hospice movement delivers care on the palliation of terminally ill patient's symptoms at the end of their life, this can be implemented in an environment like hospitals or at home in a specialized hospice facility. However, hospice care was not a new concept, it dates back to the mid 18th century when hospitals were a failure for the dying, which now led to the new way of treating the terminally ill patients by the term of palliative care (Worpole, K. 2019). According to Gawande, “patients who experience palliative care might well live longer compared to those who fight death with medication and technology” (Worpole, K. 2019; Sandsdalen, T. 2016). However, in 1967 the new modern hospice movement was born, which was introduced by Cicely Saunders the founder of St. Christopher’s hospice. Today there are more than 200 hospices in the UK and many more internationally (Worpole, K., & Clark, R. 2018). Moreover, Saunders dedicated her entire career to caring for those with life-threatening illnesses after experiencing working with patients for nearly two decades. She established the concept of “total pain”, which provides relief of psychosocial, physical, and spiritual care by ensuring a good quality of life to the patients and to their families. This approach tried to emphasize the importance of listening and understanding the patient’s experience of suffering in a multifaceted way. Moreover, this was achieved by implementing her knowledge as a trained nurse, medical doctor, and social worker to ensure that humans should die with dignity and peace (Coward, 2012, p.1; Sandsdalen, T. 2016).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

ABOUT MAGGIE KESWICK JENCKS & CHARLES JENCKS Fig 3. Portrait of Maggie Keswick Jencks & Charles Jencks, Retrieved from (Landscape First. 2018).

The modern hospice movement continues to develop and adapt by focusing on the idea of dying well and providing a good quality of care to the patients and their families. Hence, these methods were considered in the recent development of Maggie’s caring Centres that seek to focus on cancer patients and welcome anyone who has been touched by cancer (Jencks, C. 2017). Maggie’s Cancer caring Centres were laid by Mrs. Jencks who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988. After her breast cancer returned in 1993, she had been told that her cancer was terminal, and she had only three months to live, thus, her shock took a place in a hospital corridor which made her realize that cancer patients should have a better space than hospitals (Dominiczak, M. H. 2013). She was inspired by her vision of a warm welcoming place where patients can face their diagnoses and get practical, emotional, and social support in the most uplifting environment located next to the treatment hospitals (Linklater, M. 2019). Mrs. Jencks was Encouraged by Jencks and by the help of her medical team, including Laura Lee who became a clinical nurse in Maggie’s Centre in the early 1990s (Trueland, J. 2007). Furthermore, Mrs. Jencks understood the impact of the environment and how the design of each space can impact the people who use them, that’s why her blueprint idea considers the need for thoughtful lighting, a view out to nature, and the opportunity to relax and heal. The space must be a place that can deliver a comfortable environment like a home where patients can come in and feel expressive of comfort in an informal way that feels nothing like a hospital (Van der Linden et al, 2016; Our buildings, 2021).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

The first Maggie’s Cancer caring Centre, designed by Richard Murphy, is located in Edinburgh on the grounds of the Western General Hospital (fig4). The site meant a lot to Jencks as it was where Mrs. Jencks first was diagnosed and went for her last treatment before she died in London in 1995. Unfortunately, Mrs. Jencks died before the charity had been formally established, and before delivering the design she had worked on with Murphy. However, after Mrs. Jencks's death, her husband took the lead of the entire project and continued to achieve her ideas of delivering a welldesigned building on a local and global scale. After opening the first Maggie Centre in 1996, it led into a successful outcome leading to 26 other centers around the UK designed by many famous architects who knew Mrs. Jencks and Jencks personally (Jencks, C. 2017).

Fig 4. The first Maggie Centre designed by Richard Murphy, Retrieved from (Maggie's Centres. culture trip. 2022). .

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

ABOUT THE ARCHITEC TURE OF FRANK GEHRY Fig 5. Portrait of Frank Gehry, Retrieved from (Frank Gehry. Gagosian. 2022).

When the next request came from Nine Well hospital in Dundee, Gehry was chosen to contribute in the third Maggie’s Centre due to his friendship over many years with Jencks and Mrs. Jencks (Baker, B. 2003). He was passionate to design the entire Centre in memory of Mrs. Jencks, continuing her message of creating a design that could offer a healing potential to cancer patients and whoever visits it (Van der Linden et al., 2016). Gehry was born in Toronto, and in 1962 he set up his first practice in Los Angeles, USA. His early designs were unusual, where he usually transforms the basic traditional buildings design into an unusual combination of forms by using modern materials. Later during the 1990s-2000s, his designs developed more due to the advanced computer technology which made his creative ideas more possible to create, such as free-form buildings designs with changeable levels and planes, including geometric and curvy shapes. One of these buildings was the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, completed in 1989, which was the turning point for his success, in which he received many architectural awards, including the prestigious Pritzker architecture prize (Dominiczak, M. H. 2013; Ragheb, Cohen, J.-L., & Friedman, M. 2001).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

MAGGIE'S AIM Mrs. Jencks moving story became the main reference when Gehry started to take his initial viewpoint of finding his perspective on the role of design and how uplifting its architecture could be, in terms of delivering the spiritual and emotional side of the building (Jencks, C. 2017). Furthermore, as a reflection of his experience with his daughter who had cancer, he said “in that condition, you need love and support which hospitals won’t deliver that environment” ("BBC Two - Building Hope: The Maggie's Centres", 2016/ add the number ), which he mentioned that hospitals aren’t inviting; they’re big and overpowering and you feel very vulnerable in them ("BBC Two - Building Hope: The Maggie's Centres", 2016). Therefore, architecture can connect with human needs such as senses and scale, to humanize spaces. The main aspect of Mrs. Jencks's aim is to make sure that each building design should act on two important points, which are the interior spaces of the building and the building typology. When it comes to designing the interior spaces, it should deliver an environment that relieves stress and make people feel better by just being inside of the Centre, and the building typology must be considered to support this operation. Mrs. Jencks blueprint is being carried on and reviewed by Maggie’s chief executive and oncologist Laura Lee, since Maggie’s trust was founded in 1995 (Baker, B. 2003; Van der Linden et al., 2016).

Maggie’s brief covers the functional needs of the building such as a quiet and safe atmosphere, a central kitchen hub for social interaction and meetings, a library room, and private spaces for social programs like yoga and other courses. Moreover, Maggie also allows and encourages each architect to express their own interpretation of what a calming and welcoming space means to them. As Jencks said, “a hybrid building, combining aspects of a house, church, hospital, and art gallery, which all can provide an informal connection” (Jencks, C. 2017).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

HOUSE

HOSPITAL

A PLACE TO MEET WITH PROFESSIONALS AND FEEL BETTER.

TO REFLECT ON THE PURPOSE OF LIFE.

MAGGIE'S CENTRES

CHURCH

BRIGHT, WARM, WELCOMING, INVITING.

MUSEUM

INSPIRING AND UPLIFTING.

Fig 6. Diagram illustrating Maggie's Aim, (Designed by author).

As a result of that it helps visitors to be expressive and caregivers to be attentive, like the building can make the organization useful and effective in terms of providing its service (Van der Linden et al., 2016).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

Fig 7. Maggie's centres Dundee, Retrieved from (Arabella Lennox-Boyd. 2019) ).

The site of the hospital is striking, sitting on high ground with a spectacular view across the Tay Estuary. When Gehry visited the site surroundings a few times he quickly identified the site plot he wanted, having it at a walking distance from the main hospital. The Centre is placed within a short walk of the oncology department, past a path of orchard trees that frame the road approaching the hospital. The only complication with the site planning was that the hospital’s helipad for emergency air ambulance helicopters had to be relocated, which thankfully did not cause any major problems for the local NHS trust (fig8), (Kenneth Powell. 2003). The massive site included a big green garden, designed by the landscape designer Arabella Lenox-Boyd, which contains a labyrinth design that is an allegory for life: the idea of the garden isn’t a maze, because there are no dead ends, but there is a continuity route when you walk through it. Lenox-Boyd's intention from this design is to create a garden that gives peace and pleasure to everyone who uses it. She was inspired by Mrs. Jencks who was a great landscape designer in terms of creating a relaxing environment that focuses on stress reduction and delivering a healing feeling (fig7) (Architecture and design – Dundee, 2021; Arabella Lennox-Boyd / Maggies Centre Dundee, 2019).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 8. Sketched site context of Maggie's Dundee Retrieved from (Arabella Lennox-Boyd. 2019).

Maggie’s Dundee was Scotland’s first purpose-built Centre, it was also Gehry’s first remarkable work in the UK. Upon opening the Centre in 2003, it positively lifted the media attention of all Maggie’s Centres (Dominiczak, M. H. (2013), which became a landmark for Maggie’s, as it was the first building that brought the organization worldwide attention for its architecture (Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015, p.122). The architectural principle behind the building is to welcome anyone who has been touched by cancer and

deliver

comfortable

environment. Therefore, once Gehry had

the

brief

his

designing

took

including

creating

process

several

stages,

around

different models until he reached the final design shape (fig9). During the

process

designing,

Gehry

thought a lot about how well the building

own

deliver

Fig 9. Gehry's process models and

Maggie’s sketches Retrieved from (Jencks, & initial ideas, and how he could add Heathcote, E. 2015, p.124-125). his

could

modest

architectural

signature in it (Dal Co, Gehry, F., & Forster, K. W. 1998; "BBC Two Building

Hope:

The

Maggie's

Centres", 2016; Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015, p.124-125).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 10. Maggie's Dundee roof (Arabella Lennox-Boyd. 2019).

Later, Gehry’s final design was a combination of a white cottage and

Scottish

distinctive

house

crinkled

with

silver

roof

Fig 11. “Vermeer Painting”, Retrieved from (Vermeer’s Window, 2015).

(fig10). The roof idea had been inspired by a detail from Maggie’s favorite

art

piece

the

“Vermeer

Painting” (fig11), from when they visited

the

British

museum

together. Later, Gehry’s recollection came back to him when he started to think about the design of the roof, and that is why the roof of Maggie’s collar

Dundee

with

corrugated

a and

starched

combination pleated

shapes,

interpreting it in his own style. Even the

form

the

tower

the

building was apparently inspired by an

iron-age

vernacular

Orkney

dwelling known as a ‘broch’, which was also interpreted in his own style (Van der Linden et al., 2016; Kenneth Powell. 2003).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS

Fig 12. Maggie's Dundee. Retrieved from (Arabella Lennox-Boyd. 2019).

Before crossing the upper hill, the white-painted walls of the exterior make the building feel warm, bright, and easy to spot. However, the roof’s complex volumes appear to be resembling a massive sculpture folding into a smaller volume. From a distance, its cladding looks to be wrapping around and emphasizing the building. In result, curiosity is evoked within the viewer, using unconventional

architectural

forms,

making

interesting ‘object’ to the viewer, consequently evoking questions of why is it placed there and what is it? Thus, curiosity was also a strategy for attracting visitors (Van

Fig 13. The curving route towards Maggie's Dundee. Retrieved from (Google Earth. 2020).

der Linden et al., 2016). However, despite the complex design, it blends within the landscape surrounding area very well, especially when seen from the main entrance. Therefore, Gehry opted for a comfortable curving route through the landscape, which is direct but not straight (fig13). Along this path, the massive green landscape evokes the visitors to pause, observe and proceed at their own pace (fig12). As you approach closer, the material appears more clearly as well as the details of the roof features, hence, from beneath the grey metal roof now peeks the timber, which envelopes the visitors even before entering the building. Similarly, the massive glazing exterior door offers glimpses inside the Centre as visitors approach (fig14), (Van der Linden et al., 2016; Jencks, & Heathcote,

Fig 14. The main entrance of Maggie's Dundee Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

E. 2015, p.123). The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

The main style of the building design uses ideal geometry shapes resulting in a different design form in each of the elevations. The tower emerges as a curved down truncated cone, a tower made intimate in scale through a full-height opening, that relates it to the human form and by what Gehry refers to as the ‘blinking eye’, a shutter which makes the room at the top of the tower an observation point. Furthermore, the use of geometric roof shapes is influenced by the materials that are used. This can be supported by Unwin when he states, “geometry appearance used on the design of the building depends on the materials used in the construction” (Unwin, 2009, p.154). This meant that Gehry used a silver aluminum cladding for the façade of the roof and a natural massive timber as the main element of construction to further enhance the geometry of the building and its interior, creating odd geometric and complex exposed timber structures with curves, folds, and flares in every direction. However, its scale is determinedly domestic. Warm, cozy, and rich, yet not insular, thus it is a building that manages to look both inside and out, and simultaneously feels homey despite its modernistic approach (fig15), (Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015, p.125).

Fig 15. the section illustrates the tower scale, the window shutter on the left image, and the timber structure inside of the building on the right image. Retrieved from (Kenneth Powell. 2003).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 16. The first view you see once you enter Maggie's Dundee. Retrieved from, (Google Earth, 2020).

Upon entering the Centre, you can see the power of Maggie’s idea, there is a flow between the interior and exterior spaces that inspire contemplation and uplifting (fig16). Furthermore, the moderately spacious entrance that leads straight into the center of the building is lightfilled, encompassing the colorful choices of furniture and art, and blending visionary architecture with warm and welcoming feelings, thus inviting visitors to come in and feel comfortable as they seek out for support. Differently from the usual hospital environment, the Centre is planned and furnished according to nonintentional aesthetics, in order to deliver measures of informality to the surroundings, to make the visitors as comfortable as

Fig 17. The open lounge space. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

possible (Dominiczak, M. H. 2013). Moreover, the Centre does not have any reception desk, instead, it includes an open lounge space that has comfortable furniture (fig17). Furthermore, nobody wears a uniform, thus, you can’t tell who a patient, who is the staff, and who a patient’s relative (fig 18). That way, the visitors can be anonymous, as they can come in and look at the building spaces and maybe reach out for the leaflets, without feeling that they must give their name to anyone ( Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015, p.14; Rowan Moore. 2010).

Fig 18. Users of Maggie's Dundee, edited by author. Retrieved from (Our buildings. Maggie's Centres. 2022). . The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

another unique characteristic of the Centre is the open floor plan layout, where it encourages the visitors to explore the spaces and puts them in ease to approach things. Moreover, it is also intended to reassure the sense of community and support. This makes the building layout immediately clear, where visitors can feel like they are in their own home, they can intuitively find their way, meaning that they don’t have to navigate their way around nor get lost (fig19). Thus, the architecture is focused to allow the flow of circulation by designing a sequence of spaces instead of corridors (Van der Linden et

Fig 19. Maggie's Dundee, ground-level floor plan. Retrieved from (Kenneth Powell. 2003).

al., 2016). To support Gehry’s design claims, the patient Ewan revealed his experience walking into Maggie’s Dundee. Ewan said, “I was looking for some partial help and advice, but on my first visit walking into Maggie’s, I realized that Maggie's could support me emotionally as well. I am so glad that I did eventually go in” (Ewan's story – living well, 2020). It's not just about how the building environment affected the patients positively, says Lesley Howells, the Centre head of Maggie’s Dundee, but the architecture also changes the way that the staff reacts. Talking about her experience in Dundee, "the building is astonishing because in a way it helps you to be empathic by making sure that the patients and the visitors are being comfortable and happy, for example, they have got the right chair and they are feeling comfortable at the right place which in a sense it feels like they’re guests at your own house" ("BBC Two - Building Hope: The Maggie's Centres", 2016). This was achieved through the architectural design that both Gehry and Mrs. Jencks were aiming for.

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Furthermore, the architect also wanted to achieve visual focus. It was an important key

when

Gehry

was

designing

the

building. For example, the timber ceiling structure is fully exposed and has an organic shape, so the attention of the eye will automatically follow the timber, as the structure constantly leads to new details throughout each space inside of the building. Another important element that

Gehry

contributes

considered to

the

light,

character

Fig 20. access to natural lighting from skylights before entering the kitchen. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

and

ambiance of a place. Therefore, Skylights were applied in the central of the building before entering the kitchen (fig20), this provides

light-wellness

and

loftiness,

hence, these small openings, frame the structure of the ceiling and allow the sun’s horizontal light to strike deep into the interior of the building, which helps to identify the area and deliver a unique atmosphere (Van der Linden et al., 2016; Unwin, 2009, p.154).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

The central informal kitchen and dining area was given a great importance in line with the brief to give a domesticity into the space, where people can come to make tea and communicate with others in an informal yet comfortable way. Thus, it resembles the functional ease, harmony, and warm ambiance that the visitors long for (fig21). As Jencks states “it adds an important self-reliance character to the patients by an existential choice” (Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015, p.16). However, this idea had been inspired from a preexisting philosophy marked as a ‘kitchenism’. When Mrs. Jencks started to think about how to make the center feel domestic and warm, she looked at the satiation of cancer patients in Britain, and that’s when she found out that there were around 500 informal self-grouped organizations who often met at someone’s home for coffee and tea. This led to the architectural meaning of the essential for self-help in a friendly atmosphere with drinks and food available as you come in the door, associating this habit with comfort and ease of mind (Jencks, & Heathcote, E. 2015, p.16).

Indirectly linking back to the ‘kitchenism’ ideology, is the story of Rubina’s experience in feeling a sense of home and comfort at Maggie’s Dundee. Rubina said “Maggie’s became my second home during the time where it was emotionally challenging for me to balance my feelings as being a mum to take care of my kid and be strong for him. However, Maggie’s was the place where I could go to show my vulnerable side”. With the help of the courses that Maggie’s Centre offer, and the sense of community that the building delivers, has helped her emotionally and practically. Moreover, she encouraged people to visit Maggie’s to find support and make their lives more comfortable during a cancer diagnosis (Rubina's story – finding my inner strength. Maggie's Centres. 2021). A major part of that comfort comes from the architectural design of the building, which includes the lightwellness, and the informality of the building layout that allows the user to feel comfortable as if it were their own home.

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 21. The kitchen and dining area. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

The existence of both private and group spaces in an open plan made Gehry think about the relations between the different areas and their corresponding privacy levels. As the Centre runs a host of some activities, such as yoga classes, nutrition courses, and workshops that help patients to manage the impact of such side-effects like hair loss and complexion changes (Trueland. 2007).

Fig 22. The consultation room. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

In addition, the building included several small private rooms for counseling and some other rooms to accommodate the activates that the building host. By delivering the sense of adjustable enclosable spaces instead of just enclosed spaces, the spaces can close themselves down into various areas, but without any walls or fixed partitions. Gehry opted for large doors to communicate with the private nature of the activity or conversation going on when closed, and to relate the space to the central area when opened (Van der Linden et al., 2016). However, in terms of the consultation rooms which needed more privacy, Gehry intended to place the window above the eye level, which gives a sense of comfort and safety to be inside of the room but still can view the outside (fig22). Furthermore, Gehry aimed to create a friendly environment with the appearance of the massive living room (fig23), and the open library area next to the staircase, by giving the interior space a harmony

within

the

choice

the

colorful

furnishing and the choice of the art pieces to create a contrast and to deliver a positive feeling like you are at home. Fortunately, this home experience became an advantage to the visitors because it allowed them to find their own corners and feel like they are comfortable at home (Kenneth Powell. 2003).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 23. The massive living area. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

Supporting Gehry’s ideas about how interior spaces give a pleasant environment to the patients, The nurse Andy Anderson states that his role in Maggie’s is very different from his previous clinical work at the hospital. As he said “I found when I started working at Maggie’s, that patients were telling me things they hadn’t told me when I was treating them in hospital. It was as if they needed to talk in a non-clinical environment about what they were really feeling about and what was happening in their lives”. (Trueland. 2007). Furthermore, from a patient’s perspective comes the story of cancer patient Fiona and her sister Liza who had also battled cancer, prior to her sister’s diagnosis. Fiona states “as my sister’s health deteriorated, Maggie’s was an encouraging place for my sister Liza and also a helpful place for me and, my mum to visit and get some of the questions answered”. After the passing of her sister, Fiona received treatment at multiple hospitals, and utilized Maggie’s for its helpful counseling sessions and lively environment, which encouraged her to push through her treatment process and helped her cope with the loss of her sister, as the environment surrounding her in Maggie’s was created to deal with and ease battles like these (Fiona's Story – telling my story. Maggie's Centres. 2020).

Fig 24. Living room furniture. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 27. plan showing the first level, the tower. Retrieved from (Kenneth Powell. 2003).

Fig 26. The tower view. Retrieved from (Google Earth. 2020).

Gehry intended to make the visitors curious and let them explore the building themselves by creating unusual architectural forms. This applied not to just the building exterior but also to the interior. For example, the balustrade stainless steel staircase that goes up (fig25) makes the visitors curious to explore and make an active role. Moreover, the upper comfortable seating/library area includes a single window that overlooks the spectacular views of river Tay which gives the space a sort of calm and relief (fig26), which fits the concept of supporting people to make an active role in their recovery process (Baker. 2003; Van der Linden et al., 2016). Apart from internal relations, Gehry also considered the relations with nature by designing an external balcony that offers a place to sit in the sun on a fine day (fig28). This space can be also used to sit and relax or space for remedial therapy by benefiting from the views of the surrounding nature and the river Tay. Moreover, the balcony was oriented towards nature, so that people would not feel exposed to the public nor the cars passing the street. Thus, the balcony experience is a combination

the

spatial

experience

and

the

experience of social atmosphere (Van der Linden et al., 2016).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

Fig 25. the balustrade stainless steel staircase. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

The story of Willi states that characteristics adopted to describe the architecture such as relaxed and calm places also apply to the support service. Willi was at a mentally low point due to the exhausting cancer treatments, but Maggie’s Center was the light he was hoping for, as he felt completely better upon joining the mindfulness courses offered, which has gotten him to creating friendships that aided his mental and physical recovery process. Even after his recovery, he continued to attend the recovery courses, and maintained his friendships with the other patients (Willie's story –mindfulness. Maggie's Centres. 2020). Willi’s experience in Maggie’s has been similar to many other patients, whom all have had only positive things to say about their experience of recovery in Maggie’s. Through this, we can conclude that Gehry’s design was successful in achieving the intended purpose.

Fig 28. The external balcony. Retrieved from (Google Earth, 2020).

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

CONCLUSION In conclusion, this dissertation has thoroughly discussed the story behind Maggie’s Centers and Mrs. Jencks's aim of delivering a well-designed space to the users, as well as an architectural analysis focusing on Maggie’s Dundee which managed to make a seamless connection between landscape, interiors, and exterior design. therefore, it creates a holistic approach that makes the entire building a stimulating look at the challenges of healthcare design. Moreover, in order to better understand the topic, it was crucial to look at users' experiences and highlight their opinion on the matter. For instance, when looking at the users, Lesley Howells, who is the head of Maggie’s Dundee Centre, it can be concluded that the architecture delivers a sense of home and comfort, as the building does not only have a great impact on the patients only but also on the workers and each user. Although the other users such as Ewan and Willi, who are cancer patients, may have varying other opinions on their treatment at Maggie’s, such as the courses that the building hosted, which had a positive impact on their experience, and the sense of community and support from the staff, and the other patients that helped each other through their hard times. Thus, it creates a statement that helps emphasize the idea that architecture contributes to improving user wellbeing and creating a building that gave Maggie’s the reputation it has earned. It is undoubtedly certain that the results are inspirational. Gehry’s building succeeded in providing the promises that Mrs. Jencks vision intended. In addition, this building showed a great shift in designing centers for healthcare, putting great respect on Gehry’s design creativity, and Mrs. Jencks's ambition towards cancer patients’ recovery journey. The skillful merging of both resulted in a health Center that helped positively change the lives of many users, whether patients or not.

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The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

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The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing

IMAGE SOURCE LIST: Fig.2- Our heroes. Hello, Hospice!. (2022). https://hospicehaz.blog.hu/2020/04/14/hoseink_184. Fig.3- Portrait of a Brave Woman Gardener - Landscape First. Landscape First. (2018). https://www.landscapefirst.it/rubriche/portrait-of-a-brave-woman-gardener/. Fig.4- Maggie's Centres. culture trip. (2022). https://theculturetrip.com/europe/unitedkingdom/scotland/articles/the-maggies-centres-the-power-of-good-design/. Fig.5- Frank Gehry. Gagosian. (2022). https://gagosian.com/artists/frank-gehry/. Fig.7- Arabella Lennox-Boyd | Maggies Centre Dundee.(2019). https://www.arabellalennoxboyd.com/projects-private-gardens/maggies-centre-dundee. Fig.8 Arabella Lennox-Boyd | Maggies Centre Dundee.(2019). https://www.arabellalennoxboyd.com/projects-private-gardens/maggies-centre-dundee. Fig.9- Jencks, & Heathcote, E. (2015). The architecture of hope : Maggie’s cancer caring centres . Frances Lincoln. Fig.10, 12- Arabella Lennox-Boyd | Maggies Centre Dundee.(2019). https://www.arabellalennoxboyd.com/projects-private-gardens/maggies-centre-dundee. Fig.11- Vermeer’s Window: An artist’s meditation on living in the present. America Magazine. (2015). https://www.americamagazine.org/issue/vermeers-window. Fig 13,14,16,17,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,28- Google Earth. Earth.google.com. (2020). https://earth.google.com/web/search/maggies+dundee/@56.4624148,-3.0428533,53.71300834 a,552.40605952d,35y,0h,45t,0r/data=CnkaTxJJCiUweDQ4ODY0MzEyMmI0MmVjNDc6MHhkN DIwZGU2NDAzZTQ5NzY2GdU2aiowO0xAIfkB_t_HVwjAKg5tYWdnaWVzIGR1bmRlZRgCIAEiJ gokCdAJ2m1Ev0pAEUbmDco0vUpAGSAygKrPCgLAIRntDazePwLAKAI. Fig 18- Our buildings. Maggie's Centres. (2022). https://www.maggies.org/about-us/howmaggies-works/our-buildings/. Fig 15,19,27- Kenneth Powell. (2003). Comfort zone: Gehry & Partners and local practice James F Stephen have come together on the latest Maggie’s Centre in Dundee, which opens today. While continuing Maggie’s homely, non-institutional cancer support tradition, it is unmistakably a Gehry building. Architects’ Journal (London), 218, 32–.

The contribution of architecture in improving user-wellbeing