The concept of public space is fundamental in our commercial and cultural projects, as well as in the healthcare architecture projects developed by our office. After finishing in 2014 the Al-Ghanim Clinic and, in 2015, the Hisham A. Alsager Cardiac Hospital, for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, AGi architects is currently developing a new hospital project, a center dedicated to the treatment of kidney transplants, also located in Kuwait. The creation of pleasant and generous environments for patients and families has been central to design.

The proposal for the Kidney Transplant Center generates an indoor public space which is not available outside, as done in other healthcare architecture projects by AGi architects. To do this, a sequence of continuous and visually connected, warm spaces are proposed.

The organization of circulations is a main issue for this typology. We decided to take this condition as a starting point to organize the building horizontally and vertically. Staff and public areas are divided. Each of these users access by opposite facades, but both converge in a large atrium, and the spaces of both visually unite.

The central space is vaulted, generating a continuous interior space. Crossed views and transparency connect the different spaces and public programs, such as the cafeteria, the waiting rooms or admission areas. Family rooms allow to accommodate comfortably the patients’ visitors.

The lower floors are dedicated to patients and relatives, and staff occupies more space in the upper floors. This is reflected in the arrangement of the façade materials: the softness of the stone in the base, the setback of the technical plant that connects and resolves transitions in terms of structure and facilities, and the texturized ceramic solution of the upper floors.

We made the decision to move all inpatient units to the top floor to create a more relaxed and intimate atmosphere. The interior courtyards have the dual function of bringing natural light inside, as well as generating pleasant circulations, avoiding long and monotonous corridors.

Interior and exterior gardens, and the dissolution of the façade through movements and voids, are the strategies used to solve the relation of indoor and outdoor spaces. Interior privacy is always maintained through the use of a metal latticework. Adequate intimacy and programmatic organization of healthcare architecture are combined with the introduction of nature, light, and views.

More information about our healthcare architecture projects, Ali Mohammed T. Al-Ghanim Clinic, and Hisham A. Alsager Cardiac Hospital, at our website. Images by Poliedro Estudio.