Clinically designed

The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has high hopes of creating a more communal healthcare experience. James Boley investigates how American architects HDR are using design to improve overall well-being.

Think of a hospital, and phrases like 'institutional' and 'clinical' come to mind, evoking images of imposing concrete facades and rows of reflective glass windows. People are understandably wary of hospitals, since for many, their only encounters with them are during times of injury or ill health.

Alex Wu, HDR principal and design director for the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, has a very different view of what a hospital should be like. "An initial meeting with the Cleveland Clinic's CEO, Dr. Cosgrove, and his staff, changed my thinking."

"He described the importance of travel distances and challenges in the verticality of design. Somehow it made me realise how the new Cleveland Clinic Hospital in Abu Dhabi will be infinite; and how we are not," says Wu.

Village life

The daunting scale of institutional structures often contributes to the worrying experience of visiting them. To combat this, Wu redefined the sense of perspective for the clinic, designing a series of small to medium-size buildings, organised around a central space, creating a 'village' feel.

"A village... is a 'safe harbour' where welcoming, comfort and safety are central themes." says Wu. He wants Cleveland Clinic to be an approachable place for visitors. "Villages have a ‘sense of place' that reflects the essence of building a community."

Its ‘feel' is an essential part of how HDR intends to differentiate the Cleveland Clinic from other institutions.

"Historically, hospitals have followed a tradition of institutional design...focused on function and cost, rather than creating a sense of community and innovation," says Wu. "The village concept attempts to reinvent the notion of healthcare design by welcoming its visitors in a communal setting that promotes safety rather than fear."

The main hospital acts as a centrepiece for the village concept. "In successful villages, there is a visual edifice that earmarks a central location to meet and orients users," says Wu.

Less stress

Reducing stress can be an important factor in accelerating a patient's recovery. HDR uses the building itself as a medical tool by designing it to help alleviate the stress associated with a hospital visit.

"Architecture for the most part evokes different human emotions," says Wu. He explains how Elisabeth Kübler-Ross' five stages of grief-denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance-inform the design of the entire building.