The clinics here are simple, even handsome. Instead of constructing hermetic shields in the form of airtight, inflexible hospital buildings, the architects took advantage of Haiti’s Caribbean environment, exploiting island cross breezes to heal patients and aid caregivers.
It’s not clear yet how well the clinics will work. [...] If they turn out right, they could serve as relatively light-footed models for other struggling countries that lack resources for high-end Western-style hospitals.
— nytimes.com
5 Comments
Good work, yes, but troubling at the same time. The media always focuses on the exceptional and political instead of the ordinary and everyday problems that run deeper. I know of many architects building housing in that area, but it isn't quite sexy and political enough for Kinmelman. Then there is the tendency at patronizing the people here with gems like this:
"Architecture and engineering helped eradicate these diseases ages ago in cities like London, Paris and New York, which constructed sewers and hospitals, while clearing slums."
Oh sorry not everyone is not so lucky to live in Paris, or New York, apparently the only places where people are talented enough to solve all of the worlds problems.
Essentially the problem with Kimmelman is he starts with an angle and then finds a building to support that rather than looking at buildings with open eyes.
Well now that New Yorkers feel good about themselves after reading this article, that's what matters most.
I am somewhat familiar with MASS's work in Rwanda, which is, in my opinion, the most holistically planned project I've ever put my eyes on. You see a lot of the same passive heating (cooling) and ventilation strategies as here, but the economic development and skill building for the local populace were top priorities in addition to a well functioning health care facility FOR the locals. This article really glosses over the specifics of MASS Design Group's ethos and sensibilities, and might give people the wrong impression.
"This article really glosses over the specifics of MASS Design Group's ethos and sensibilities"
Exactly. The point of the article is the design of health facilities in Haiti, not this particular one. Speaks to the design medias fetish for ideas and stats over realities. Though I wonder what people there think when the nicest buildings in town are disease centers. Weird.
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