Excerpt: Neo Allergy and Asthma Centre, an interior design project by UA Lab (Urban Architectural Collaborative), creates a warm, playful, and inviting environment for children. The layout is thoughtfully organised to maximise daylight and create a comforting atmosphere by emphasising warm colours and soft forms. Playful design elements and child-friendly details foster a sense of joy, safety, and engagement throughout the hospital.
Project Description
[Text as submitted by architect] The project requirement was to appropriate an office module space in a commercial building into a 6-bed hospital. The hospital requirement is combined with the ancillary facilities of waiting area, reception and consultation room. The project had a major requirement of three therapeutic rooms.
The conceptualization of the design was to develop a playful curation of spaces. The aura of Natural light and warmth associated with it is always therapeutic for any healing. The attempt was to create a caring and a warm environment through the use of natural light and warm colors. As Doctor’s clinics are generally intimidating for the children. We wanted to make the space playful, easy and fun to be. We wanted the space to be warm and inviting to make the kids feel comfortable, secure and happy.
The spatial layout was challenging to organize each space to take in maximum advantage of the daylight. The hospital is divided into three main spaces. One is Doctors consultation and Therapeutic rooms, waiting and reception area and lastly the patient rooms. The volume of the Waiting and Reception area divides the hospital into two main parts. With consultation and therapeutic rooms on one side and patients’ rooms on the other side. This volume opens up directly to the terrace area bringing in ample of the neutral natural light throughout the whole day.
The terrace area faces the north side. Warm color tones are used on the walls. The natural light accentuates these colors enhancing the experience of space in the waiting area. The Doctor client also required a workshop cum seminar space. A space where they can conduct parents counselling workshops. This space is scooped out from the main waiting area by using a curved glass partition.
The Entrance wall and passage to the consulting room is decorated with porcelain sculptures made by artist Khanjan Dalal. Abstract Animal motifs are used on the wooden partitions and reception tables. All the motifs are crafted and designed at the height of 750 – 600 mm from the finished floor level. The height is relatable to the kids, helping them enjoy and involve themselves better in the space.
There’s a board game designed on the wall of the waiting area. There’s a circular concave mirror for the kids to enjoy their funny faces during their waiting time in the reception area. All these minimal elements help to create a playful environment in the hospital space for the kids. All the tables and seats are designed with rounded corners. These details help to create safer space for kids to freely move around, without worrying of getting hurt or banging against the corners.
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