HOSPITAL DESIGN
Improving healthcare for indigenous peoples
Macy Koochek, Golnaz Rakhshan, and Barbara Budenz of Kasian Architecture Interior Design and Planning – which claims to be one of the world’s ‘top 100’ architecture, interior design, and planning firms – discuss how two recently completed healthcare facilities in Canada have been designed to meet the needs of populations primarily identifying as indigenous.
Stanton Territorial Hospital's architecture was in part driven by the site's natural topography and contours. It purposely blends indoor and outdoor space to reflect many indigenous communities’ close connection with nature, and its key role in the healing process.
Stanton Territorial Hospital is the main healthcare facility for residents of the Northwest Territories (N.W.T.) and western Nunavut in Canada. It was in need of expansion and renewal to serve a resident population growth expected to reach up to 60,000 in Yellowknife and the surrounding areas by 2050. Built in 1988, with traditional brick- and-mortar methods, the facility’s design limited its physical and social transparency, integration with the environment, and incorporation of indigenous people’s cultural traditions, as well as health and healing practices. The hospital’s wayfinding was also confusing and overwhelming, adding to the stress and anxiety of patients and visitors. To fulfill the needs of the area’s culturally and linguistically diverse population, the project’s architecture and
This article, entitled ‘Cultural healing’, was originally published in the Spring 2020 issue of Canadian Healthcare Facilities, the official journal of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society (CHES). HEJ wishes to thank the authors and CHES for allowing its reproduction here.
interior design team conducted a two-day consultative workshop that involved representatives from more than 14 First Nation bands from across the N.W.T. and Nunavut. The workshop explored past case studies, and included interactive activities to explore their cultural values and visions behind wellbeing and patient- centered care. Band representatives were asked to bring objects that embodied their cultural values, including crafts, beading, and calendar wheels.
Double the size of its predecessor The architecture of the new purpose-built facility (which is double the size of the previous hospital) was in part driven by the natural topography and contours of the site. It purposely blends indoor and outdoor space to reflect many indigenous communities’ close connection with nature, and its key role in the healing process. The strategic selection of colours, patterns, materials, artwork, and lighting, provide for the seamless movement between the hospital interior and surrounding landscape. Emerging from the consultative process was the need to integrate a natural wonder that unifies the people of the N.W.T. Taking inspiration from the
aurora borealis, which figures prominently in the mythology and legends of most indigenous people living in Canada, LED lights were added to the east facade tower to mimic the movement and changing colours of the night sky. This feature serves to visually transition
The ceiling to the non-denominational sacred space at Stanton Territorial Hospital.
May 2020 Health Estate Journal 35
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