Friendship Hospital, in the southwestern town of Satkhira in Bangladesh has been adjudged the most transformative building of the world for the year 2021 by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). The 80 bed community hospital designed by the Bangladeshi architect Kasef Chowdhury is designed to ‘work with and withstand the climate change effects of rising sea water in the adjoining area’, said the RIBA in an announcement.
The Friendship Hospital, Satkhira was chosen from a shortlist of three exceptional new buildings by the Grand Jury, chaired by world-renowned multi-disciplinary French architect Odile Decq.
The low cost building is designed to collect the rainwater as it is a valuable commodity in this area where water has become saline due to the impact of cyclone Sidr of 2007 and rising sea level.
The hospital building uses canal landscaping between its multiple blocks to separate the inpatients department (IPD) and OPD. At either end of this pool of water are two large tanks used to collect rainwater, which is stored and harvested for use at the hospital while preventing water logging on the site.
The building has shadow corridors around all the blocks and courtyards providing natural ventilation and regulating temperature efficiently.
The bricks for the building were manufactured on the site with ordinary material by local craftspeople helping in cutting down cost and integrating the structure with the local surroundings.
The simplicity of the design is combined with its innovativeness to make it a unique example of nature compliant architecture.
The jury citation said that it was refreshing to see a hospital with such a human and natural touch. The Friendship Hospital has a particular relevance at this period of time as it addresses the issue of unequal access to healthcare throughout the world, said the jury.
RIBA International Prize is awarded biennially to a project that demonstrates design excellence and social impact.
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