visiondivision: 'umbrella' children's hospital project, rwanda
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visiondivision: 'umbrella' children's hospital project, rwanda
hospital in rwanda - phase 1 by visiondivision
all images courtesy visiondivision
visiondivision architects have sent us in images of their latest project which was
part of the 'design for children' competition to design a hospital in rwanda.
insufficient water is one of the most severe problems in rural africa, bearing this
in mind the architects thought of using a from similar to an upside down umbrella
for dew/rainwater collecting, where they went to the the sahara desert to experiment
with the concept.
the new hospital prototype is simple consisting of an upscaled upside down umbrella
which serves as a roof to an already built rural hospital. the umbrella roof is gathering
rainwater or dew depending on the location to supply the hospital with clean water.
the big umbrella also serves as a light roof giving shadow to the hospital.
phase I - the structure is made out of light felt and steel. in the middle of the umbrella
shaped tent there is a water container gathering the clean water from the roof.
phase II
at first the hospital is built as a small village with local materials under the umbrella,
the water container becomes the midpoint of the hospital. the hospital gets energy
supply from solar panels.
phase III
when the hospital grows the umbrella can easily grow by adding an outer layer of felt
and moving the pillars outwards from the centre point. the different houses expands
by mirroring themselves outwards. as the structure grows the water supply surface gets
bigger at the same time.
phase IV
as time goes by, modern materials can be added to improve the village without
interfering with the design. our hope is that the structure becomes a roof for constant
developing.
phase V
as a final stage a facade with sun protection can be added, making the building into
a modern hospital. It is our hope and belief that the regions in need for this hospital
will develop into strong economies one day. this building is prepared to stand in better
times as well.
plans of hospital
experimentation in the sahara desert
smart and cool project. i like the fact that the design is modern and optimistic "even" if it is a third world project (that generally tends to look rather bland when the architect is asked to do something like this)
cheers
cheers
steven 05.21.09
Great work! Built it!
Erik 05.21.09
glad to see a form that actually follows function nowadays. nice idea!
masterk 05.22.09
More of this (example everything but the rain/dew collector) could be made with local resources.
It is also important that a project like this has in house maitenance, that is to say that someone on the ground can repair, upgrade and innovate upon the original concept.
Simply, mine is an arguement for education to accompany this currently idealistic project.
It is also important that a project like this has in house maitenance, that is to say that someone on the ground can repair, upgrade and innovate upon the original concept.
Simply, mine is an arguement for education to accompany this currently idealistic project.
Teh 05.22.09
This is a rather weak version of an idea by mut-architecture who made a similar but much better proposal for what I'm guessing was the same competition using bamboo and local labor to provide villages with about 100 times as much drinking water http://www.mut-architecture.com
Much more extensive
Much more extensive
JoeJoe 05.22.09
lovely project!
Miranda 05.22.09
Well, the mut-people didn't went to Africa to test their idea. :)
imakale 05.22.09
Hey Teh, a complex shape is perhaps not always better then a simple one, saw this link of yours and I totally disagree with you. The simplicity of this project and the way it changes thru time is a genius adaption to the context. love it!
Dan 05.22.09
Re: [http://www.mut-architecture.com=http://www.designboom.com] designboom [/http://www.mut-architecture.com]
Sorry too get argumentative with you, but you need to look at the NEEDS of the people and understand that the MUT project is about 20 times larger, hence, the more complicated YET BUILDABLE design - they use woven bamboo, and because they have all those cisterns they needed to make the 'complicated' (looking) form - anyone in the world can weave bamboo with little training.. And everything in Mut's project is locally sourced, including the mud to make the buildings.. the image of the one above is simply more blob architecture without thinking about the people in need.
Sorry too get argumentative with you, but you need to look at the NEEDS of the people and understand that the MUT project is about 20 times larger, hence, the more complicated YET BUILDABLE design - they use woven bamboo, and because they have all those cisterns they needed to make the 'complicated' (looking) form - anyone in the world can weave bamboo with little training.. And everything in Mut's project is locally sourced, including the mud to make the buildings.. the image of the one above is simply more blob architecture without thinking about the people in need.
JoeJoe 05.26.09
This project is pure intelligence!!!
Mia 05.26.09
>JoeJoe
Blob-architecture?
The canopy is all function if you ask me, and it is a quite strange argument that their project is bigger, so what, it is all proportional?
I also find it strange that you say the bamboo is a "local" product, the competition was a prototype hospital, it should be erected on different places around east Africa, with different natural resources.
I have lived in Kenya for 15 years and I have never seen bamboo there, and I have traveled vastly.
The whole thing about teaching them to build in mud and so forth, is to patronize the african people, they have built houses for thousands of years for crying out loud! Before Europe had settlements.
In this proposal I see great things with small means, a canopy and a masterplan, and everything else is made locally, thus more flexible on the site; (wood, clay, concrete, bricks depending).
I think african architecture needs more projects like this.
Blob-architecture?
The canopy is all function if you ask me, and it is a quite strange argument that their project is bigger, so what, it is all proportional?
I also find it strange that you say the bamboo is a "local" product, the competition was a prototype hospital, it should be erected on different places around east Africa, with different natural resources.
I have lived in Kenya for 15 years and I have never seen bamboo there, and I have traveled vastly.
The whole thing about teaching them to build in mud and so forth, is to patronize the african people, they have built houses for thousands of years for crying out loud! Before Europe had settlements.
In this proposal I see great things with small means, a canopy and a masterplan, and everything else is made locally, thus more flexible on the site; (wood, clay, concrete, bricks depending).
I think african architecture needs more projects like this.
Rietvald 05.26.09
Sorry, Mia??? What's that you say about bamboo?: http://eabpnews.wordpress.com/
And regarding mud architecture - I guess your experience is as lacking: http://www.eartharchitecture.org/
I'm guessing you really haven't lived in Kenya, or you'd know how difficult it is in the locations these guys are designing for to produce what you say are (wood, clay, concrete???!! and brick) And no-one said anything about "teaching" the african people how to build with mud.. I just said that the materials can be locally sourced.. Bamboo is the most versatile building product on the planet and actually regenerates lost molecules from the ozone layer.
The project above looks like something my 10 year old girl could design in sketchup. I see no solutions in this project.. other than that they tried.. and I commend them for that, but there's really not much there other than that they related their project to an image of an upturned umbrella.
Do you work at this studio or something?
And regarding mud architecture - I guess your experience is as lacking: http://www.eartharchitecture.org/
I'm guessing you really haven't lived in Kenya, or you'd know how difficult it is in the locations these guys are designing for to produce what you say are (wood, clay, concrete???!! and brick) And no-one said anything about "teaching" the african people how to build with mud.. I just said that the materials can be locally sourced.. Bamboo is the most versatile building product on the planet and actually regenerates lost molecules from the ozone layer.
The project above looks like something my 10 year old girl could design in sketchup. I see no solutions in this project.. other than that they tried.. and I commend them for that, but there's really not much there other than that they related their project to an image of an upturned umbrella.
Do you work at this studio or something?
joejoe 05.26.09
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