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HomeInteriorsHeatherwick Studios complete first healthcare project in the UK
July 4, 2020

Heatherwick Studios complete first healthcare project in the UK

Maggie’s Leeds uses several ‘healthy’ materials and energy-saving techniques including a prefabricated and sustainably-sourced spruce timber system

Image credit: Hufton+Crow

Heatherwick Studio’s center for Maggie’s, the charity that provides free practical and emotional support for people with cancer, was unveiled earlier last month. The 462 square meter center, located within the campus of St. James’s University Hospital in Leeds, is the charity’s 26th center in the UK and the first completed healthcare project designed by the studio.

According to the designers, Maggie’s Leeds is designed as a group of three large-scale planters, built on a sloped site, that each enclose a counseling room. These surround the ‘heart’ of the centre – the kitchen – as well as more social spaces for group activities including a library and exercise room.

Drawing upon the philosophy of Maggie’s and the belief that great design can help people feel better, Maggie’s Leeds uses several ‘healthy’ materials and energy-saving techniques. The building’s structure is built from a prefabricated and sustainably-sourced spruce timber system. Porous materials such as lime plaster help to maintain the internal humidity of the naturally- ventilated building, which has been achieved through careful consideration of the building’s form and orientation.

Thomas Heatherwick, Founder of Heatherwick Studio, said: “It’s been a tremendous experience and honor to design the Maggie’s center in Leeds. Our aim was to build a home for people affected by cancer that would be soulful and welcoming, unlike other typical clinical environments. By only using natural, sustainable materials and immersing the building in thousands of plants, there was a chance for us to make an extraordinary environment capable of inspiring visitors with hope and perseverance during their difficult health journeys.”

Image credit: Hufton+Crow

“Maggie’s Leeds has been a very special project for me and my team because we are convinced that there are kinder, more empathic ways to design places that can have powerful impacts on the way that we feel. This is particularly important in the design of healthcare environments, but is so frequently overlooked,” added Heatherwick.

The rooftop garden, designed by award-winning landscape designers Balston Agius, is inspired by Yorkshire woodlands and features native English species of plants, alongside areas of evergreen to provide warmth in the winter months. Inspired by Maggie Keswick Jencks’ love of gardening, visitors are encouraged to participate in the care of the 23,000 bulbs and 17,000 plants on site.

The interior of the center explores everything that is often missed in healing environments: natural and tactile materials, soft lighting, and a variety of spaces designed to encourage social opportunities as well as quiet contemplation. Window sills and shelves are intended for visitors to fill with their own objects to create a sense of home. The studio has also designed two tables, inspired by the building’s timber fins and built from cork and engineered beech timber, which reside in the heart of the centre.

Laura Lee, Chief Executive of Maggie’s, said: “It is fantastic to be bringing Maggie’s to Leeds at a time when people with cancer need our support more than ever. The center has been designed beautifully on a challenging plot of land. We were so pleased that Heatherwick Studio were able to incorporate plenty of green space into their design, as we know that a connection to nature, as well as great architecture and design can have a huge impact on people’s health, both mentally and physically. We hope that people visiting the centre enjoy the planting and gardens by Balston Agius and feel comforted by the design and layout of the center.”

Image credit: Hufton+Crow

The center is currently open for people with cancer and their families and friends to visit. Social distancing and cleaning measures are being taken. Maggie’s is currently encouraging visitors to call ahead and make an appointment to see the team. Visitors who are being seen in the hospital are also welcome.

Maggie’s Leeds expands upon the studio’s long-standing interest in the role of biophilia within the built environment, best demonstrated by the recently completed, EDEN, a new residential building in Singapore; Little Island at Pier55, a new park and performance space in New York City that is due to complete in 2021; and 1000 Trees, a mixed-use development in Shanghai, which on completion will include 25,000 individual plants and 100 different species of plants and trees.

“Maggie’s Leeds has been a privilege for our team to work on given the importance of the charity’s work. As one of the last remaining green sites within the hospital’s campus, we wanted to provide an open, welcoming center of nearly 5,000 square feet which felt encompassed by lots of nature, something we felt was extremely important in a healthcare environment because of its restorative effects. By utilizing the sloping contours of the site, the center also offers visitors a visual connection beyond the immediate hospital campus with inspiring views of the Yorkshire Dales and beyond,” concluded Mat Cash, Group Leader at Heatherwick Studio.

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