This 10,000 SF dental and vision clinic is designed to create a welcoming, effective space for serving the dental and vision needs of Bwindi’s targeted population. This clinic’s design gently engages the landscape, using nature as a partner in nurturing and restoring health. The spaces are organized around a beautiful courtyard/garden. Dental and vision wings are connected to a centrally located entry pavilion. These elements are sheltered and unified by a simple L-shaped roof canopy that extends beyond the outer perimeter of the medical spaces, this creates deep overhanging roofs, which shade walkways, exterior spaces, and gardens.
The shed of the clinic’s structure comprises a shallowly sloped roof supported by regularly spaced beams and rafters. This structure can be built of local wood, steel, or a combination of available materials. The roof structure is supported by bearing walls and beams as needed. Most structural walls can be built of concrete block or poured concrete and clad in stucco or other local exterior material finishes. The renderings show pairs of wood columns bound as one unit. These columns support a tree-like truss on the roof’s outer perimeter.
This column-and-truss structure is inspired in part by local forests and jungle canopies. Both screen systems allow for natural ventilation; cool breezes can be filtered by the courtyard gardens and flow through the medical spaces. Ceiling fans can also move air through the spaces. Irrigation water is captured from the roof and stored and redistributed as needed. Ground well water provides potable water. In the future, adding solar power to the expansive roofs is under consideration. In summary, this project reflects the integration of local materials and craftsmanship in building a recuperative environment that helps uplift health and the economy.
This 10,000 SF dental and vision clinic is designed to create a welcoming, effective space for serving the dental and vision needs of Bwindi’s targeted population. This clinic’s design gently engages the landscape, using nature as a partner in nurturing and restoring health. The spaces are organized around a beautiful courtyard/garden. Dental and vision wings are connected to a centrally located entry pavilion. These elements are sheltered and unified by a simple L-shaped roof canopy that extends beyond the outer perimeter of the medical spaces, this creates deep overhanging roofs, which shade walkways, exterior spaces, and gardens.
The shed of the clinic’s structure comprises a shallowly sloped roof supported by regularly spaced beams and rafters. This structure can be built of local wood, steel, or a combination of available materials. The roof structure is supported by bearing walls and beams as needed. Most structural walls can be built of concrete block or poured concrete and clad in stucco or other local exterior material finishes. The renderings show pairs of wood columns bound as one unit. These columns support a tree-like truss on the roof’s outer perimeter.
This column-and-truss structure is inspired in part by local forests and jungle canopies. Both screen systems allow for natural ventilation; cool breezes can be filtered by the courtyard gardens and flow through the medical spaces. Ceiling fans can also move air through the spaces. Irrigation water is captured from the roof and stored and redistributed as needed. Ground well water provides potable water. In the future, adding solar power to the expansive roofs is under consideration. In summary, this project reflects the integration of local materials and craftsmanship in building a recuperative environment that helps uplift health and the economy.