CADENCE IN CULTURE

Background

Students were tasked with designing an urgent care center for a vacant plot in the city of Huntsville, TX which would respect the needs of patients, the surrounding environment, and, to a degree, necessary building systems. Intially, research was conducted to determine important factors to consider in the design process. The result was an evidence-based research paper which recognised wayfinding, natural light, and biophilia as the foremost design elements this project would consider.

Design

The care center’s non-orthogonal V-shaped floorplan makes for a distinctive silhouette, inspired by the irregular borders of its site. The main entrance is set back inside this shape to give incoming patients a sense of safety, with the building “embracing” them while they wait in the lobby(pictured right). Each of the eight general exam rooms have wall-to-wall windows which frame the surrounding trees and environment— a feature that addresses the psychological benefits of nature explored during research. Additionally, the windows are angled to recieve minimal direct sunlight, which both aids in HVAC efficiency and patient comfort. Circulation is kept simple, with all rooms branching off a shared spine which spans the length of the building. This decreases the chances of patients getting lost— a scenario which can cause stress in a setting that may already be mentally taxing. General patient-related rooms are kept close together on the east side for convenience, while more urgent areas such as the minor operation room and ambulance entrance are isolated on the west to reduce foot traffic and maintain privacy. Exterior materials consist of tan brick with stone cladding for accent— a combination chosen to highlight the intimate relationship between the building and its natural environment. On the inside, laminate wood flooring is used in spaces frequented by patients to further tie back to nature.

Background

Students were tasked with designing an urgent care center for a vacant plot in the city of Huntsville, TX which would respect the needs of patients, the surrounding environment, and, to a degree, necessary building systems. Intially, research was conducted to determine important factors to consider in the design process. The result was an evidence-based research paper which recognised wayfinding, natural light, and biophilia as the foremost design elements this project would consider.

Design

The care center’s non-orthogonal V-shaped floorplan makes for a distinctive silhouette, inspired by the irregular borders of its site. The main entrance is set back inside this shape to give incoming patients a sense of safety, with the building “embracing” them while they wait in the lobby(pictured right). Each of the eight general exam rooms have wall-to-wall windows which frame the surrounding trees and environment— a feature that addresses the psychological benefits of nature explored during research. Additionally, the windows are angled to recieve minimal direct sunlight, which both aids in HVAC efficiency and patient comfort. Circulation is kept simple, with all rooms branching off a shared spine which spans the length of the building. This decreases the chances of patients getting lost— a scenario which can cause stress in a setting that may already be mentally taxing. General patient-related rooms are kept close together on the east side for convenience, while more urgent areas such as the minor operation room and ambulance entrance are isolated on the west to reduce foot traffic and maintain privacy. Exterior materials consist of tan brick with stone cladding for accent— a combination chosen to highlight the intimate relationship between the building and its natural environment. On the inside, laminate wood flooring is used in spaces frequented by patients to further tie back to nature.