A competition-winning entry for the first sustainable heart centre in Southeast Asia, the National Heart Centre was conceived by ONG&ONG Pte Ltd, with Broadway Malyan.
The design concept was inspired by the medicinal courtyard gardens of the Middle Ages, and grounded in the recognition of the correlation between the healing properties of natural light and planting. A design philosophy of “placing people first” further propelled the creation of an environmentally responsive space that people – be they patient, hospital personnel or visitor – can work, play and recuperate in. This is seen from the open spaces that form the heart of the design. A collection of different healthcare-related facilities and social functions are arranged and gathered around such internal and external open spaces, which seek to heal the sick through the provision of natural light, ventilation and view as well as mend the built environment through the provision of planting that acts as a carbon sponge, noxious pollutant filter and heat island reducer.
The network of open spaces not only cultivates greater social interaction and retail opportunities but also improves ease of movement, which in turn aids in mitigating potential anxieties that patients and visitors would have faced if made to navigate complicated routes and paths. In fact, careful consideration was given to the operational layout of the building to minimise travel distances within the centre, with patient-related areas (such as operating theatres, clinics, laboratories, radiology centres and facilities for day surgery) concentrated within the first six floors of the building and non-patient-related areas (such as research laboratories, staff training area, library for medical records and administrative offices) allocated the remaining three upper floors. Easy access to all levels and the individual department reception areas can be made from the general reception area, where the information zone, retail stores and cafes are conveniently located.
The National Heart Centre’s unique design is not only defined by its philosophy on “placing people first”, but also by its incorporation of modular building methods. Recognising the speed in which medical advancements are achieved, such building methods ensure that the structure of the building remains flexible and adaptable both internally and externally, allowing for efficient and easy growth in the future. The employment of modern methods of modularisation also aids in the ease and speed of construction.
Through a rigorous environmental, social and economic design, the National Heart Centre sets the standard as a world-class facility that is a global precedent for sustainable heart-related healthcare development.#
Architect ONG&ONG Pte Ltd
Project Director Dr Goh Chong Chia
Project Manager PM Link Pte Ltd
Landscape Architect ONG&ONG Pte Ltd
M&E Engineer Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner (SEA) Pte Ltd
Quantity Surveyor Davis Langdon & Seah Singapore Pte Ltd
C&S Engineer Squire Mech Pte Ltd
Main Contractor Shimizu Corporation
Client Singapore Ministry of Health
Photographer Jaume Albert Marti
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