Swiss studio Manuel Herz Architects has built a pediatric hospital in Senegal, which is designed taking into account difficult climatic conditions.

Ekaterina Karpukhina

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A small pediatric and maternity ward is an annex to the main hospital of Tambakunda. It was built by architects of the Swiss studio Manuel Herz Architects commissioned by the Joseph and Annie Albers Foundation and the local charity organization Le Korsa.

Since Hertz and his team knew little about Senegal and its climate, they decided to develop the project in close collaboration with local doctors, engineers and contractors. So there was an S-shaped structure that meanders around the old buildings of the hospital, forming shaded courtyards.

The architects’ task was to build the longest and narrowest building possible so that it could be constantly ventilated. There is a corridor with rooms only on one side throughout the building — the other wall is a brick lattice through which air freely passes.

The maternity ward is located on the ground floor of the hospital, and the pediatric ones are located upstairs. In total, there are 150 beds, there are several incubators, two operating units, as well as intensive care units.

Manuel Herz Architects studio also tried to use only local materials in construction, obtained mainly from the Tambakunda region. “The only thing that had to be imported was equipment for operating rooms,” Hertz said.

“This ensures that almost all financial investments will remain in the region and benefit the local community.” In addition, the hospital building will not look alien, but on the contrary, it will fit perfectly into the environment.

Photo: Iwan Baan

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