EKH Children Hospital EKH Children Hospital EKH Children Hospital EKH Children Hospital EKH Children Hospital EKH Children Hospital
Children's dimesion
"A hospital is the kind of place most people would rather avoid as much as possible. We have witnessed more medical institutions attempt to create a more pleasant and friendly environment, some with architecture and interior decoration that are almost equivalent to a shopping mall or high-end hotels. If such built environments can make the feeling of going to a hospital more tolerable for adults, what about the experience for little ones?
For kids, luxury isn’t something that can comfort them from the pain, fear of needles, or even the bitterness of medicine. We, therefore, looked for things that would bring them happiness throughout their experience at the hospital. With a child’s mindset, we discovered that ‘fun’ is what every child instinctively seeks. Despite their different backgrounds, all kids want to live their lives searching for something fun to do. Using this element of ‘fun’ as the key became a great challenge, considering how we had to approach the design from the perspective of a child (which we, unfortunately, don’t have much left of) while constantly reminding ourselves that we would actually have to make a hospital a ‘fun’ place.
This thought process led to the design of a hospital with a giant slide situated right at the front of the entrance hall (imagine being a kid dreading going into the hospital; the slide would definitely make you stop crying). The waiting area of each clinic is designed as a playground, which might even become a burden for the parents who have to convince their kids to leave the hospital. The program also includes an indoor swimming pool with artificial clouds floating above.
The children's dimension is created using various physical shapes, colors, and symbols materialized from the design language made up of delicately curved lines, deliberately avoiding perfect geometric forms. The design evokes the aesthetics of someone continuing to draw a curved line without focusing on whether it forms a perfect circle, bringing a sense of freedom to the young users’ experience of the space. These lines are formed into arches constructed above the doorways and seating areas, with sizes calculated to correspond with children’s body proportions, creating a built environment that truly accommodates children’s behaviors and preferences. The pastel color tones encourage children’s imagination (as kids, we all create our own imaginary world when experiencing a space for the first time).
We believe that children will be able to enjoy the spaces inside the hospital according to their own personal imagination and individually develop an experience through their interactions with the curated spatial program.
A scenario is designed and constructed near the pharmacy counter as part of the layout of the ‘waiting area’, which embraces the ‘play space’. The program enables interactions between parents and children while allowing the adults to watch over their little ones during the wait. The use of indirect light in all the hallways of the hospital ensures that the young patients won’t be disturbed by the discomfort of excessive brightness.
The hospital offers four room types, categorized not as standard, special, or suite rooms, but by the friendlier names of Whale, Turtle, Lion, and Rabbit Constellation. Each room is decorated in a different color, and installed above the bed is a glow-in-the-dark constellation with a customized lamp to provide both standard lighting and a level of illumination suitable for a good night’s sleep.
As adults, we find ourselves amazed, if not a bit jealous, by the mesmerizing variety and development of children’s toys or even snacks these days. EKH Children’s Hospital will change everyone’s perception of what the space of a children’s hospital can be."
Location
Samut Sakhon, Thailand
ClientsEKACHAI HOSPITAL
Gross Floor Area6,000 Sq.m.
Design Date2017
Completion Date2019
ArchitectS:CSB ARCHITECTS
Interior DesignerIF (Integrated Field)
Landscape ArchitectS:CSB ARCHITECTS
Lighting DesignerAccent Studio
Environmental graphicIF (Integrated Field)
PhotographerKetsiree Wongwan
Awards
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Asia Pacific Property Awards - Best (2021)Public Service Interior Thailand
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ACD Awards - Winner (2020)Healthcare / Wellness
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WIN Awards - Silver Awards (2020)
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Dezeen Awards - Shortlist (2020)Leisure & Wellness Interior
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INDE.Awards - Shortlist (2020)Wellness
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A+ Awards - Jury Winner (2020)Hospitality - Healthcare & Wellness
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FRAME Awards - Nominee (2019)Healthcare Centre of the Year
