Burtinle District Hospital

Burtinle District Hospital forms part of the second tier of Puntlands health system in-the-making. Its primary functions include an Emergency Unit (12 beds), Maternity Unit (22 beds), Operating Unit (6 beds), Outpatient Unit (3 beds), Inpatient Unit (17 beds). These are supported by facilities such as a Pharmacy/Dispensary, a Laboratory, a Morgue. Units for administration, housekeeping and engineering maintenance finalize the design brief. The project for a hospital in the small town of Burtinle in Puntland, Somalia, makes use of traditional spatial typologies and techniques to provide modern healthcare and a healing environment to vulnerable communities. Located on the town's outskirts, the compact site perimeter is surrounded by a rigid boundary wall due to reasons of climate and hygiene as well as security. Inwards, the low-rise ensemble of new and existing structures develops a spatial and climatic complexity, which draws on traditional knowledge and spatial practise of Islamic architecture: A simple existing building was extended by two elongated, East-West oriented new volumes to create a central courtyard. The use of vegetation, covered connective walkways and arched verandas, allows to buffer and negotiate thresholds and spatial sequences between the courtyard and the interior spaces. Buffered from the harsh outside conditions, the inner-most medical spaces provide standards of hygiene ad low-tech comfort previously unavailable in the region. The result is a building complex, which despite its high density within the perimeter walls, offers a generous array of differentiated qualities from shaded gathering spaces and intimate waiting areas to cool wards and hygienic medical spaces.