Women and Childrens’ Cancer Care & Radiotherapy Centre: Beni Messous, Algeria

Sandra Woodall

This project forms the first facility in the newly established, nationwide cancer care programme delivering health care reform. It provides the Government’s first medical cyclotron facility for a new nuclear medicine network, and the first stem cell transplant unit in the country. Our new facility is designed to promote the healing environment. Nature is integrated within the building and forms an essential extension to the patient and staff spaces. The hospital is located on the outskirts of the forest of Zeralda at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, which inspired and gave guidance for landscaping and natural materials usage throughout. A winter garden is introduced to offer calming, de-stressing, and uplifting health benefits to all, bringing in views and access to the familiar and comfort found in the adjacent forest and mountain spaces.
Paediatric isolation pods are innovatively embedded into this landscape, giving panoramic views, in a patient-centric approach, to allow those unable to leave their rooms to be surrounded by nature. Promoting recovery for immunosuppressed children who often face lengthy and isolated in-patient stays. Integrating the natural world into the recovery spaces to enhance and promote healing, internal environmental comfort, and wellbeing through design.
Forming an essential extension to the patient and staff spaces promoting a therapeutic healing environment. ensure that natural light, calming interior design, improved internal air quality and comfort levels that include noise reduction are all combined with the psychology of colour, textures and the inclusion of the building at one with nature. Making hospitals healthier places to stay, visit and work in. Research shows that well designed healthcare environments can reduce patients stress and anxiety, accelerate recovery, reduce lengths of inpatient stays and medication use, along with promoting an improved sense of well-being, and an improved patient outcome.

Project Gallery

sandra woodall-0003.jpg

isolation pods.png

sandra woodall-0005.jpg

sandra woodall-0006.jpg

sandra woodall-0007.jpg

sandra woodall-0008.jpg

Sandra Woodall AE

http://www.tangramarchitects.studio
4004, Addax Toer, Al Reem St | 0000 Abu Dhabi