RIAI | Irish Architecture Awards

Citation

This is a calm, light-filled building, on a very human scale. The roofscape is very carefully considered and unified as part of the overall landscaping of the site. While the impact of the building is subtle, the detailing and use of materials create a sense of excitement. The building is a strong addition to the hospital complex.

Architect’s Comments:

The design is informed by the principle that both the provision of good natural light and quality landscaping are deemed therapeutic and an aid to the healing process. The resulting day hospital is a single storey building whose building forms express primary spaces and way-finding by utilising a series of landscaped courtyards, glass corridors and directional elements such as ‘zigzag’ windows. These expressed forms - hospital departments - are connected by lower elongated buildings whose roofs share the same planting, ‘sedum’, as in the courtyard areas. This effectively merges the ‘linking buildings’ with the ground when seen from the upper bedrooms of the existing hospital and accentuates the sculptural roof forms of the Radiology, Day unit, Endoscopy and Theatre departments. The landscaping strategy is themed on movement and enclosure. Wild grasses displaying the power of the wind are strategically planted and tall beech hedging provides ‘outdoor rooms’ to the operating theatres and create private gardens.

The Chapel:

In contrast to the functionality of the hospitals rectilinear forms, the chapel finds its own expression metaphorically derived from ripples created from stones cast into a body of water. The ripples randomly intersect each other, linking together to form a fluid curve that encloses a space of still water. Water a symbol of the healing process. Inspired by the ecclesiastical tradition of stained glass windows the curved glass wall provided the opportunity to explore colour and form. Stained glass was considered but the segmented method of this art form would work against the curvature of the wall. Instead the artist Hughie O’Donoghue responded by depicting the liturgical cycle on the 4.8 metre tall by 11 metre long curved glass wall. The chapel is orientated on an east-west axis. To the east the curved glass wall containing Hughie’s depiction of the liturgical cycle is illuminated by daylight. As the day progresses the sun’s rays hit the wall at different angles illuminating the individual elements of the story until dusk. To the west a curved concrete wall imprinted with timber grain in a board on board manner encloses the building.

Client's Comments:

Bon Secours Hospital Galway is a 90 bed acute care facility, providing a wide range of surgical and medical services. The hospital was founded in 1954 and became part of the Bon Secours Group in 1999. The hospital admits 12,000 patients per annum, comprising 4,000 in-patients and 8,000 day cases necessitating a new day hospital facility. This project comprised a Development Control Plan; the expansion and enhancement of the entrance facilities; a new-build day hospital and endoscopy facility including four new operating theatres and CSSD supported by a full radiological diagnostic suite. Additional developments included a new hospital chapel lying along the main hospital circulation axis. The new hospital extension addresses the growing requirements of a modern hospital providing bright airy spaces set around a series of landscaped courtyard spaces. The architect’s addressed movement: how one, on arriving on the Bon Secours grounds enters the building and circulates between its various departments. The clever layout of departments around courtyards also ensures that patients entering theatre or endoscopy never cross paths with patients returning from procedures. We consider the new extension and chapel, well considered buildings which address not only the functional needs of a busy hospital but one that provides a pleasant environment for both patients and staff.