tamassociati: pediatric center nyala, south darfur, sudan

‘pediatric center nyala’ by tamassociati, south darfur, sudan image © raul pantaleoall images courtesy of studio tamassociati

understanding medicine as a human right, venice-based architects at tamassociati have partnered with another italian organization emergency tocreate a holistic plan to provide free, high quality medical and surgical care to victims of war, landmines and poverty. the ngo counters the most base, systematic destruction of human solidarity with access to treatment; in this case, architecture helps build a more just and citizen-minded global society. the capital city of the southern state of darfur is populated by a million and a half inhabitant, most of which are refugees, fleeing a ceaselessly violent and country-consuming war. although the area is divided into 7 camps, the 24-hour ‘pediatric center in nyala’ seeks to rethink the region as a place of peaceful cohabitation.  

the clinic provides care to the 7 refugee camps in the outskirts of the city image © raul pantaleo

a baobab trees is but one of the shading devices in the network of courtyards image © raul pantaleo

a traditional ‘windcatcher’ typology, used in many gulf regions with a similar climate, is employed to naturally ventilate the clinic image © raul pantaleo

thick earth-brick walls work in conjunction with the structure to regulate the interior temperature image © raul pantaleo

the ngo, emergency, has staffed the hospital with 86 qualified professionals image © raul pantaleo

the building is a hybrid of contemporary approaches and traditional techniques image © raul pantaleo

patients can access high-quality medical care for free image © raul pantaleo

the center treats children up to 14 years of age and does cardiological exams image © raul pantaleo

view into the 18 bed ward image © raul pantaleo

some patients enjoy the building a bit more than others image © massimo grimaldi

the in patient ward before the beds were placed image © raul pantaleo

rattan coverings are used within the built space image © raul pantaleo

the clinic provides basic healthcare for children up to age 14, while also hosting educational seminars in sanitation to avoid the spread of preventable infection. the firm is focused on synthesizing politics, design and technology as well as redefining the limits of sustainability as a combination of effective policy, performarive design, and time-tested tectonic solutions. the hospital is an example of the built form both responding and incorporating local culture. the one-storey structure includes inpatient, outpatient, diagnostic and pharmaceutical areas woven through a network of courtyards around a shade-providing baobab tree. a passive ventilation system appropriates the traditional building typology of a ‘badgir’ or windcatcher, a building with usually one, four or eight openings that allow adequate cross ventilation indiurnal, arid climates. the structure directs airflow either through wind entry, or a wind or solar-assisted temperature gradient. when this architectonic mechanism is coupled with thick earthern-type walls to cool the overall building. thus far, the 18 bed facility has treated over 1400admitted patients, done 29000+ outpatient consultations and performes 368 cardiological exams.

the clinic is part of a greater ‘taking care’ series of medical structures, covered here; one of which was shortlisted for the aga khan award for architecture.

in process view of a woven wall image © raul pantaleo

the construction effort spanned the whole community image © raul pantaleo

sun-dried brick made up the walls image © raul pantaleo

a mason at work image © raul pantaleo

the center before the cool white cladding image © raul pantaleo

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project info:

place: nyala, south darfur, sudanclient: emergency ngoactivity: preliminary, detailed, final design, site supervisionamount of works: 1.000.000 eurteam: studio tamassociati, emergency logistic office, INGECO srl (structural engineering)