Home > Library >

Architects for Health 2003 AGM:
Celebrating Excellence in Healthcare Architecture

< < < Previous - HOME - Next > > >

Mater Hospital Belfast, Todd Architects: Introduction

The original Victorian Hospital was unsuitable for adaption to accommodate modern healthcare practices.

Spatial opportunities for expansion and redevelopment were few, on this densely built Belfast urban site.

The old building and the 1980's tower block are sited very close to the busy Crumlin Road also effectively restricting visiting traffic movement, presenting a negative sense of place and making pedestrian movement uncomfortable and in cases perilous.

To solve these problems a location for the new £14.0m development was sought to the rear of the old Hospital.

After presentation of compelling social and medical arguments, permission for the demolition of a listed redundant convent was given thereby making space for the new facility.

This enabled, all traffic, pedestrian and vehicular to retreat from the road frontage, and the creation of safe drop off and maneuvering area.

Tightly enclosed by boundary walls, the proximity of a redundant Victorian prison and the rear of the old Hospital buildings, a need to form a space which would create a sense of place and arrival became an obvious design requirement.

This combined with the functional need to provide a confluential circulation space led to the creation of a new generous atrium and courtyard garden.

These core elements not only created the much desired sense of place, but a place of calm respite away from the urban bustle and an atmosphere which is conducive to the promotion of healing.

As well as providing a new entrance to all buildings, old and new, the new facilities accommodate, wards, a day surgery unit other ancillary medical accommodation and a modern coffee dock.

As a consequence of the good environment provided, an increase in applications of nursing jobs has increased considerably, and there is a notable reduction in abuse or vandalism of the fabric of the common areas.