Kinder caring

February 24, 2010 at 8:40 am
Filed under Healthcare, Signage, Wayfinding

Amsterdam’s Emma Children’s Hospital is undergoing a major renovation to improve services and facilities for its young patients, from infants to adolescents. OPERA Amsterdam is tasked with interiors for the spaces, and the first newly renovated unit, Infants Care and Staff, opened last month.

Working with design architects OD205, OPERA conceived three layers of space representing different levels of intimacy: the most private area, around the patients; the immediate surroundings; and the space representing the patients’ relation to the outside world. The “parade,” or main corridor through the unit, is key to the design, acting like a high street in a small town. A bright but sophisticated color scheme leads patients and visitors to their destinations, with clear wayfinding signage on wall-mounted signs and on the floors. Commissioned work by international artists adds texture and whimsy and helps avoid an institutional feeling. –P.M.K.

Photos: Mike Bink

Don’t believe your eyes

February 15, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Filed under Architecture, Healthcare, Interior Design

“Japanese designers Nendo have completed the interior of a mental health clinic in Akasaka, Tokyo, where none of the doors open and patients and staff instead move around the building by opening sections of the walls. Called MD.net Clinic Akasaka, the project includes sliding bookcases behind which the consultation rooms can be found and a single opening door at the end of the corridor that reveals a window to the outside.

By providing alternate perspectives for viewing the world, and avoiding being trapped by pre-existing perceptions, the interior allows visitors–and staff members–to experience opening new doors in their hearts, one after the other.” — A.M.

Hope and the "Power of Yes"

September 15, 2009 at 11:47 am
Filed under Healthcare

MERJE recently won a GD USA award for their work at the Helen Hayes Hospital. The hospital is located on the Hudson River, and is one of the nation’s leading physical rehabilitation hospitals, offering innovative care and treatment to people with physical disabilities and chronic disabling diseases. The interpretive exhibits designed by MERJE were a small portion of a larger project. The exhibits focused on the hospital’s history, hospital’s namesake, and a wall of “hope” featuring 10 individual’s road to recovery. The “Power of Yes,” the overarching theme of the hospital and its mission, emphasizes individual achievements and is depicted in the exhibits. The design approach for these landmark elements was to reinforce this bold theme. — S.N.

Project credits include: Firm – MERJE, Lead Designer/Project Manager – Amy Rees, Client - Helen Hayes Hospital / New York State Office of General Services

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Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo – Chicago

August 26, 2009 at 11:03 am
Filed under Healthcare

Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo – September 30-October 2, 2009 – Navy Pier, Chicago, IL
The Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo, now in its 22nd year, is the original event that brings together the entire team who designs, plans, constructs and manages healthcare facilities. HFSE focuses on how the physical space directly impacts the staff, patients & their families and the delivery of healthcare. Ideas, practices, products and solutions will be exchanged, explored and discovered at HFSE that improve current healthcare facilities and plan the facilities of tomorrow.

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Visit www.hcarefacilties.com Spider-Man hd for complete details and to register.

SEGD members save 20% on a full conference pass or get your free expo pass!  Use Source Code HFEG9T when registering at www.hcarefacilities.com/register.asp