Demonstrates the enormous contribution a brilliant architect can bring to hospital design
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners for Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Contract value: £120m
GIA: 27,000m²
This first NHS project by the practice creates a very humane and welcoming, state-of-the art hospital. A close relationship between client, architect and contractor has resulted in a sensitive design for patients. A new system of ‘vertical villages’, where functions are clustered around double or triple-height atria and colour-coded for navigation, removes the need for disorienting, labyrinthine corridors. Large windows onto private balconies provide natural light and views.
Huge attention has been paid to the experience of the patient such that large scanning machines are on higher floors to avoid the feeling of descending into a deep basement. The jury believes this project demonstrates the enormous contribution a brilliant architect can bring to hospital design, and hopes it encourages the NHS to seek similar collaborations again.