david adjaye breaks ground on first of 101 district hospitals across ghana

david adjaye celebrates the groundbreaking of the first district hospital out of the larger ‘agenda 111,’ a major initiative to realize 111 hospitals across ghana. the initiative will see the realization of 101 district hospitals, 2 psychiatric hospitals, 7 regional hospitals, and the redevelopment of the accra psychiatric hospital. this project in ghana’s ashanti region presents an opportunity to transform ghana’s medical system by establishing unparalleled access to healthcare facilities throughout the country. guided by the ambition to define a next-generation hospital experience, the design concept merges 21st century technology with a contextual and holistic approach crucial to the delivery of state-of-the art healthcare. adjaye associates’ design of the district hospital will adapt to the 101 locations, both urban and rural, across ghana.

images courtesy of adjaye associates

adjaye associates organizes its district hospital facility in ghana as a single-story campus, with a focus on ‘wayfinding.’ the form of the building itself becomes a tool for wayfinding with a defined canopied entrance that guides visitors into the heart of the building. taking shape as a cluster of horizontal and vertical bars, the building branches out from a central spine that is activated by a central garden and a series of nature-filled public spaces. with a lush, landscaped centralized courtyard, the introduction of public gardens departs from the status quo of hospital design where all spaces are entirely enclosed and sterile. the central garden and the ancillary green spaces punctuate the plan and give patients an overall atmosphere of healing.

view of the landscaped central garden

the patient ward is situated at the outermost perimeter along the rear of david adjaye’s ghana hospital. this ensures natural light and open-air flow, crucial for health and healing. designed for their specific functionality, the building’s are differentiated through their roof structures: gable or butterfly. for programs such as the patient wards, david adjaye uses the butterfly roof to maximize the amount of natural light and cross ventilation resulting in less energy consumption for artificial lighting and excessive mechanical cooling.

view of the canopy entrance

in contrast to the patient wards where maximized light and airflow are welcomed, other spaces such as surgery require a more controlled environment. in these instances, the gable roof typology is deployed. this ensures minimum exposure to the natural elements using the roof’s long overhangs to protect against the sun’s rays and provide shade on the building envelope. despite the differences in the roof structures, both types effectively harvest rain water and provide an insulated shell to minimize heat gain on the building interiors.

view across the public garden and outdoor circulation