Healthcare with a Chinese Accent

Traditionally, Chinese hospitals consisted of narrow buildings with low floor-to-floor heights that relied on natural ventilation. The advantages were cultural: there were plenty of courtyards and a predominance of south-facing patient rooms.

However, this approach resulted in facilities that were cold and damp in winter – and hot and humid in summer. These conditions are not ideal for healing Western style. Contemporary Western designs, with large floorplates and high floor-to-floor heights, offer patients and staff highly regulated air temperature and humidity control, though they limit the culturally appropriate elements valued in China. In addition, controlling infection has been a major problem in Chinese hospitals. Poor ventilation and obsolete mechanical systems are typical and clinical areas are often open to natural ventilation.

Specialty Hospital Combines Eastern and Western Elements

Located in the wealthy province of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong, Shenzhen’s Third Infections Disease Hospital is a specialty hospital that will include 500 inpatient beds, outpatient clinics serving 2,000 patients a day, research laboratories, and staff housing. When it is completed, anticipated to be in December 2009, the 83,000 sq. meters project will be the only infectious disease hospital able to handle major outbreaks in the area of Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macau, according to the architect on the project, TRO Jung|Brannen.

Combining Chinese forms with Western technology, the campus has a linear spine and a series of north-south fingers, narrow buildings that curve to both capture the sunlight and channel the wind between them. Although the buildings will have internal mechanical systems consistent with those found in U.S. hospitals in order to effectively halt the spread of infection, the campus organization also incorporates Chinese approaches of locating infectious patients downwind and offering them the natural healing power of sunlight and serene garden views. The site has prevailing southeasterly winds; therefore, the non-infectious zone is at the south end of the campus with the semi-infectious zone in the center and the infectious zone at the north.

The buildings are clean and modern, constructed with high-tech materials, selected to give the hospital an international appearance as well as durability and low cost. Glass is the predominant exterior material, exposing views, maximizing natural light and views, especially for patients whose diseases require them to be separated from others. The site encompasses extensive landscaping, including roof gardens and campus green space. It is a major improvement over the environment over the site’s previous project, an industrial plant.

Patient Care Relies on Zoning

Inpatient buildings are separated from others; they are connected to others by open air walkways to minimize the opportunity for disease to spread among patients and staff. Individual floors are divided into zones to prevent cross contamination, with separate corridor access to each zone. Pedestrian traffic is also organized to keep public and staff separated while also allowing for efficiency and ease of movement

Patient and administrative services comprise three zones: infectious, semi-infectious, and non-infectious.  The infectious zone has four buildings for infectious diseases, including liver and hepatitis, viruses, tuberculosis, and severe respiratory diseases.  The semi-infectious zone contains diagnostic treatment and outpatient clinic space, and a research building, while the non-infectious zone includes administrative offices and staff housing.  No internal pathways connect these three zones.