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| Wednesday, 8 December 2004 |
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Healing Architecture Archt. Dudley Waas, Dudley Waas Associates Pvt (Ltd)
The health status of a country is generally recognised as an outcome of development. As of recently the health care sector and the construction industry have both been undergoing a phase of accelerated change and modernisation and a new vision for health care environments is emerging. In 1998 the total Government expenditure on the health sector increased to Rs. 14.4 billion, an increase of over 18% over the previous year, while the capital expenditure on the health sector for the same year was Rs. 4.2 billion, an increase of 70% further. It was noted that a major portion of the total Government expenditure on health has been towards recurrent expenditure to maintain and operate the present health related infrastructure in the country, with only a relatively small investment being made in new facilities. Despite the increased incidence of disease and illness among the population, the bed strength ratio still remains constant at a ratio slightly below three beds per 1000. The Government realised this and in the last few years has taken steps to make private sector healthcare more acceptable to the community and more attractive to investors. Health services are exempted from tax, medical equipment may be imported duty free and import duties on drugs have been reduced with a view to lowering the cost of medical bills as well as the cost of investment. Further, the Government identified certain projects for implementation and this covered the construction of new hospitals, extensions to existing hospitals in addition to the rehabilitation of existing hospitals. Dudley Waas Associates (Pvt) Ltd. has been involved in two of these three spheres. The rehabilitation of six hospitals in the Nuwara Eliya District, during 1993-1998, which comprised of at least 20 buildings per hospital was one such project. The new extension to the De Soyza Maternity Hospital for Women, Colombo, completed in 2000 is another. The De Soyza Maternity Hospital for women
The extension to De Soyza Maternity Hospital was a project initiated by the Ministry of Health and came under the 'Building Maintenance and Construction Programme for a period beginning 1993', of the Ministry of Health of Sri Lanka. The purpose was to make available to the hospital much needed modern facilities and to accommodate the increasing number of patients. It involved the expansion of the Maternity Hospital by providing two Operating Theatres, Neo-natal and Adult Intensive Care Units, a 48 bed Ward and Quarters for doctors. The square area of the extension was appx.250m2, which sat on a 40 perch site within a labyrinth of existing buildings. The hospital is visible from Francis Road, off Kynsey Road and accessible from both. In close vicinity are also the Medical College and the police mortuary, and the General Hospital Cardiology Unit.
The design of hospitals is a complex and involved task. It not only requires that the building conforms to the brief as set out, but more importantly requires that the requirements of the users of the building be given priority. The primary users of the building be given priority. The primary users of the hospital being the patients, who must often remain in bed, the environment around them can have the capacity to enhance healing by reducing stress while it also raises staff morale. The design for the extension to the De Soyza Maternity Hospital was conceptualised keeping this in mind and the building departs from the general ideology of a hospital, certainly within the existing complex of buildings. Maternity being no illness but a natural progression of human evolvement the building too attempts to portray a more cheerful approach; with plenty of natural light and through ventilation in patients' rooms. The choice of colour has been used to enhance the quality of common areas and circulation spaces. The concept of a health building as a hierarchy of spaces from public to social to private emphasising differences in character as well as function was taken into consideration. Owing to the limited space available, a rectangular, deep plan form was adopted occupying almost the entire site and this progression was maintained while also achieving the level of functionality, hygiene and privacy to patients. In locating the building the orientation was done so as to fit into the existing built fabric. The building was conveniently sited between Francis Road and the existing corridor, which linked the other buildings. The main entrance lobby of the new building is off this re-adjusted main link corridor, which forms the vertical circulation core. In the design of the layout and the spatial progression of the hospital, most often the technical and functional aspects dictated the aesthetic, which resulted in an efficient building comprising three floors. The ground floor of the extension to the De Soyza Maternity Hospital comprises primarily of the two Operating Theatres and Intensive Care Units. From the main entrance lobby the Neo-natal and Adult Intensive Care Units are accessed to the right and the Operating Theatres to the left. Other ancillary spaces were all accommodated within the ground floor, with peripheral access to service areas, talking care to maintain the standards of hygiene required, by avoiding cross contamination through spaces. Doctors sitting / dining area on the second floor. The double door leads to the study bed rooms. Much attention has been given to the functional progression. The Preparation rooms to the Operating Theatre to the Recovery rooms have all been given both the technical and aesthetic attention. Each Operating Theatre is connected to the equipment room and a scrub up on one side and the sterile store, sterilizing room and a soled utility on the opposite side. Disposal of waste and dirty linen was along an exit corridor away from the main access and other sterile areas. The OT is accessed through a sluice, which is two fold in its function in that it prevents cross contamination and provides privacy. Adding colour to the sterile spaces are the colour coded double swing doors noticeable only to the more observant user, a feature that has been carried-through throughout the hospital. A trafalgar blue column and a sunflower yellow column punctures the two corridor lobbies leading off the main OT corridor to the Operating Theatres thereby giving the symmetrically laid out OT core a sense of place. Accessible from each OT corridor lobby is also a preparation room. The Neo-natal and Adult Intensive Care Units were located on the South end of the building, which is the quieter side of the site, and were designed such that natural light is allowed into the space keeping in mind the mental health of the convalescing mother, while also maintaining the privacy required. Each unit also has access to the pantry, clean utility and soiled utility rooms. The wards on the first floor were designed in groups of 6 bed bays in each section. The two Nurses' stations and kitchens were located in such a way so as to maintain the functional relationship required. The external window wall in the ward section is free of beds placed against it resulting in an independent and controllable fenestration design. Optimum window sizes are used giving even natural lighting and cross ventilation, which is important for patient comfort. There is a narrow access way around the perimeter for opening, closing and cleaning of windows without disturbing the patients. This access way also acts as a weather shade to the floor below. Central facilities are shared and they are located in the core area of the building. Each bed is placed against a bed head wall nearly 1200mm high. Bedside fittings include nurse call and bed light. The Labour room is on the same floor. The Doctors' quarters consisting of 18 double-bed rooms with attached common toilets were located on the second floor, accessed via the main staircase and elevator. Some of the rooms overlook a landscaped central open roof terrace, which is also visible from the doctors' dining and sitting and visitors waiting area. The rooms on the outer wing, slightly smaller in size, have their own private balcony, while all the bedrooms have central corridor access. Here again the use of colour has been handled innovatively, where the walls on the either side of the otherwise drab corridors leading to the rooms were painted in two colours yellow and grey. The structure of the building is of reinforced concrete columns on column footings and beams at a 5m x 5m grid which best suited the plan form, and allowed for Operating Theatres and Intensive Care Units of sufficient size. This also suited the 2.5m bed centres along the perimeter wall on the first floor and gave way for an economical structure avoiding excessive structural spans or too many columns placed at short intervals. The carefully selected interlocking clay tile roof on a timber framework is supported on concrete portal frames and concrete purlins. Floor finishes were given spaces specific attention and most often two-toned terrazzo flooring has been used in a simple design. The matt enamel paint used internally on the walls in shades of blue on the ground floor, and green on the first floor, along with the recessed light fittings within the Aluminium strip ceiling in the common spaces and vinyl coated mineral fibre suspended ceiling in the wards help to create an ambiance not typical of a locally designed government hospital. This project also called for the coordination between specialists and specialist suppliers in many fields as specialised services were included. The Piped Medical Gases system and Air Conditioning and Ventilation system was designed and installed by specialists and incorporated within the overall design. The extension to the De Soyza Maternity Hospital for women is one of the many new hospitals that have been completed in the recent past. If the status of the health sector is an indicator of development, theoretical as it maybe, then it is hoped that will be a sign of times to come! by Archt. Anushka Waas Architect Shanta Gunaratna writing in architect vol. 104 : The architect makes the difference Steel revolutionized the living styles of people. It improved transport and communication facilities bridging across water bodies. The rhythmic, strong, structural members of varying sizes, the use of tension steel cables for suspended bridge structures, gracefully arched steel bridges have excited the aesthetic sensitivity of Engineers and Architects.
However in Sri Lanka until recently its use had been confined to bridges, and industrial buildings as can be seen in the typical colonial Tea Factories and railway stations. The establishment of Free Trade Zones at Katunayake in 1960's and Biyagama, in the 1970's, the 200 garment factory projects undertaken by the government in the late 1980's, and the establishment of several industrial parks in the South and other areas, saw an abundance of factories being erected, generating employment, and boosting the state coffers. To house the production centres steel factory buildings have been favoured for its easy, economical erection and speed of completion. The 'sweat shops' - the factories of a bygone era with cramped, badly ventilated, unhealthy working conditions have been replaced with comfortable, spacious working environment with 'people' as the most important component. So ensuring maximum production output and increased revenue. Steel construction technology made this possible. Several steel manufacturers and dealers have since established themselves in this country ensuring the availability of a steady supply of material and equipment and undertaking construction contracts as well. However our focus is on the Architectural aspects of the use of steel. Has the technology and materials been used creatively, architecturally to make a difference to the owner, the Global image of the company and the comfort of workers? Has the architect made a difference? In recent years Sri Lankan architects have used steel not only to construct factories but other buildings as well and favour steel as a cost effective material, enjoying the large spaces created by large spans. They have used steel with more verve and freedom using its structural elements, trusses, columns etc, to articulate design concepts. The buildings so designed exhibit an exuberance that elevates the hitherto dull industrial buildings to an exciting, aesthetically pleasing architectural expression. Two of the Sri Lankan architects featured in this issue have designed steel building in foreign countries as well. They have endeavoured to use the prefabricated material creatively, colourfully and effectively. Architect V.N.C. Gunasekera ex-President SLIA & OPA writes on : Late Dr. Justin Samarasekera's contribution to SLIA Dr. Justin Samarasekera was one of the prime movers out of the first eleven Architects who was responsible for the formation of "Ceylon Institute of Architects" in September 1957. They started this idea as far back as 1948 after the independence. After the establishment of the Ceylon Institute of Architects in 1957, the Institute felt the need to establish a School of Architecture in Ceylon as there was a growing need for large number of Architects for the development work of the country. Dr. Samarasekera played a major role in the establishment of the School of Architecture with the help of the RIBA. In establishing he spent lot of his time and personal resources as the Institute could not finance such activities. Dr. Samarasekera's diplomatic relationship with RIBA enabled Ceylon Institute of Architects to work very closely with the Commonwealth Association and the Colombo-Plan and obtain their assistance to get lecturers for the School of Architecture established at the IPT-Katubedda in 1961. He also served as the head of the School of Architecture for several years in the formative stage. By this time he retired from the post of Chief Architect of the Public Works Department and established his own practice. Dr. Samarasekera became the Fifth President of the Ceylon Institute of Architects in the year 1961. He made use of this position as the President to the maximum to improve the Architectural Education in Ceylon. He played a major role in drafting the first act of Parliament to incorporate the SLIA. The first draft of the act was prepared far back as 1964. He played a major role in getting it incorporated in 1976 as the "Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Law No. 1 of 1976. "His very close rapport with then Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and then Minister of Housing & Construction Pieter Keunamen presented SLIA act to the Parliament and got it passed. Dr. Samarasekera was appointed to prepare a master plan for the land vested with the Government on the race course area. He allocated 20 perch lots to the professional institutions. As a result SLIA was also allocated 20 perches of land. As they had no funds to develop, 20 perches given to SLIA was vested on SLAAS on the condition that the ground floor 20ftx20ft room be given to SLIA for unlimited period. Dr. Samarasekera was the Architect to the SLAAS building and in 1978 we established the First SLIA office at the SLAAS Building. Until we came to our present building with year 2000 that was our head office. As a requirement of the Sri Lanka Institute of Architects Law No. 1 of 1976, Board of Architectural Education was established in 1976 and its first chairman was Dr. Samarasekera. He served the BAE as Chairman and established major procedures for examinations specially SLIA Part III examination. By 1979 SLIA felt the need for an Architects registration board. A committee headed by Archt. L.A. Adithya worked on amendments to the SLIA Law No. 1 of 1976 and Dr. Samarasekera was consulted on all matters. After the SLIA (amendment) Act No. 14 of 1996 was passed, SLIA established a Board of Management (B.O.M) for the Colombo School of Architecture. Dr. Samarasekera was appointed as its first chairman unanimously by the council in 1996. He served as Chairman of BOM for four years. In 1996 a College of Past Presidents was established and he continued to be the Chairman of the College of Past Presidents until his demise in 2003. He made a special painting for the SLIA Building free of charge. It is located at the entrance lobby. |
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Steel as a building material is used extensively in other countries,
specially to enclose large spaces such as warehouses, hangars and stadia.
In recent times its creative use has extended to the construction of
commercial centers, shopping malls, churches and even houses.
