renzo piano-designed hospital in uganda to be presented at salone del mobile

founded in 1994, EMERGENCY is an independent and neutral italian organization that provides free and high-quality medical and surgical care to victims of wars, anti-personnel mines, and poverty. during milan design week 2019, the organization will present its children’s surgery center, currently under construction in uganda. the hospital has been designed by renzo piano, and is the first project in africa by the italian architect.

image courtesy of EMERGENCY (also main image)

EMERGENCY will present the hospital at salone del mobile, where renzo piano’s design will be displayed to the public at the reception of pavilion 9-11. the building itself will follow the curves that slope down to the nearby lake. by following the terrain, the hospital walls and the boundaries of its outdoor pathways will form terraces on which the hospital will stand. made from rammed earth, the stacked walls will break the distinction between the various zones, creating a unity between the lake, the park, and the internal hospital environment.

image by courtnay robbins

the building will be topped with a roof that will be made from a suspended trellis structure supporting 9,800 square meters of photovoltaic panels (equal to the surface of a football pitch). this system will ensure that the hospital has an autonomous electricity supply during the day. it will also be connected to the main line, to provide energy to the surrounding area at times when consumption is low. the photovoltaic roof will also guarantee shade for the hospital and all the uncovered walkways.

image courtesy of EMERGENCY

image courtesy of EMERGENCY

image courtesy of EMERGENCY

image courtesy of EMERGENCY

image courtesy of EMERGENCY

image courtesy of EMERGENCY

image by courtnay robbins

project info:

name: EMERGENCY children’s surgery center
location: entebbe, uganda
dates: 2013 – in progress
status: ongoing
client: EMERGENCY
design: renzo piano building workshop in collaboration with studio tamassociati (venice)
design team: g.grandi (partner in charge)