Large wooden shutters filter light and air into Mallorcan home by Company Studio

The home is surrounded by a white wall

Spanish practice Company Studio has completed a family home in Mallorca featuring large wooden shutters that allow the living spaces to extend onto a south-facing garden and pool.

Alaro House, named after the historic Spanish town in which it sits, was designed by the local practice to reflect the area’s traditional typology at its northern end, contrasted by a more modern form and garden to the south.

Alaro house is a square concrete building
Top image: Alaro House is surrounded by a white perimeter wall. Above: the home has a pool at the rear of its garden

These two halves of the home are united by a central, double-height courtyard garden, which is glazed on all sides and planted with a small tree.

“These types of townhouses usually have two bays that frame the volume, and sloping Arabic tile roofs,” the studio said.

“The project has included a third bay and a new sloping roof, twinned with the originals through an interior patio.”

Large rectangular windows punctuate the concrete facade
Wood battens were used to form bi-folding shutters

On the ground floor, a garage sits to the north of the home while a large living, dining and kitchen area sits to the south, benefitting from the light from the internal courtyard and the garden.

Above, four bedrooms and two bathrooms are organised around the central courtyard, wrapped by a small landing area that filters light and provides privacy. The main bedroom opens onto a private south-facing terrace overlooking the garden.

Tree in courtyard
Rooms are organised around a central courtyard

The front maintains the strict composition of shuttered openings typical of the area, while at the back of the home the openings are expanded, with large glass doors covered by accordion-style iroko wood shutters.

These shutters allow a range of different relationships to the exterior to be created on both floors of the home, permitting just light or air or completely opening the spaces to the outside.

“This mechanism allows us to create multipurpose spaces,” said the studio.

“The porch closes and becomes part of the bedroom in summer, or we can divide the living room but keep the kitchen open to the garden.”

Alaro house has concrete floors
Wood battens line the staircase referencing the home’s shutters

In the garden, which is surrounded by a high white-rendered wall, two concrete seating areas at either end are connected by a stepping-stone walkway that crosses a pool.

A steel and branch canopy shelters the patio at the end of the garden.

A palette of neutral materials has been used in the interiors, with a polished concrete pavement on the ground floor contrasted by warmer oak wood flooring in the bedrooms and a microcement finish in the bathrooms.

Light filters through the shutters at alaro house
The kitchen occupies the rear of the home

A double-height run of vertical oak beams referencing the shutters creates a balustrade for the staircase, which sits at the western side of the home.

Another Mallorca-based practice, Isla Architects, recently completed a rough, red mortar-covered home in the island’s Pla de Mallorca region, while OHLAB created a standalone villa for a hotel with a window designed like a cinema screen.

Photography is by Eugeni Aguiló.

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Ten Chinese bookshops that display books in imaginative ways

Yangzhou Zhangshuge bookstore's tunnel interior

From shops that display books on tree trunk columns to stores that reflect books all over the walls, we’ve rounded up ten bookshops in China that exhibit books in non-traditional ways.


Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore by X+Living

Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore, Chongqing, by X+Living

Mirrored ceilings and zigzag staircases create the disorientating interior of this bookstore in southwest China designed by Shanghai-based studio X+Living.

The books that line the many walls are amplified by mirrored panels on the ceiling, giving the illusion that there are thousands of books within the store.

Find out more about Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore›


Bookstore by Wutopia Lab

Cifi Xintiandi bookshop, Shanghai, by Wutopia

Perforated aluminium and quartz stone were used for the bookshelves in this maze-like Shanghai bookstore by local architecture studio Wutopia Lab.

The 452-square-metre bookstore is made up of interconnected cave-like spaces for relaxing and admiring the many plants dotted around the shop.

Find out more about Chongqing Zhongshuge Bookstore›


Harbook store by Alberto Caiola

Harbook, Hangzhou by Alberto Caiola

Books are exhibited on steel archways and giant geometric display stands inside this book and concept store in Hangzhou, China, designed by Alberto Caiola.

Caiola designed the geometric forms and silver coloured surfaces to attract young urban customers to the Harbook bookshop.

Find out more about Harbook›


Yangzhou Zhangshuge bookshop by Li Xiang

Yangzhou Zhongshuge, Zhen Yuan, by XL Muse

Floor to ceiling arched bookshelves and a black mirrored floor create a tunnel of books inside this store.

Shanghai studio XL-Muse looked to the waters in the surrounding Zhen Yuan area to design the shop with the mirrored flooring emulating the reflective quality of water.

Find out more about Yangzhou Zhongshuge›


Mumokuteki Concept Bookstore by LUO Studio

Mumokuteki Concept Bookstore, Bejing, by LUO Studio

Chinese architecture firm LUO Studio inserted translucent rotating walls that pivot inside the interior of this bookshop in Beijing.

Located in the basement of a retail mall in the Chinese capital, Mumokuteki Concept Bookstore has books, design objects, flowers, food and coffee for sale.

The rotating walls, which are composed of a steel frame and frosted plexiglass, act as dividers or partitions, allowing the store owners to adapt the space as they see fit.

Find out more about Mumokuteki Concept Bookstore›


The interiors of The Glade Bookstore in Chongqing

The Glade Bookstore

Books are hidden behind translucent glass panels at The Glade Bookstore in Chongqing, which was designed by architecture studio HAS Design and Research.

Nestled among a range of nearby high rise buildings, the bookshop and restaurant makes use of calming colours and materials to contrast the bustle of the city outside.

Find out more about The Glade Bookstore›


Shanghai Sanctum bookstore by Wutopia Lab

Sinan Books: Shanghai Sanctum, Shanghai, by Wutopia Lab

Chinese architecture studio Wutopia Lab designed Sinan Books: Shanghai Sanctum to resemble a map of the human body and mind.

The metaphorical “subconscious” part of the body is located on the first floor of the building, while the entrance level represents the building’s heart, the third floor symbolise the eyes and ears, and the top floor the brain.

Find out more about Sinan Books: Shanghai Sanctum›


Xiadi Paddy Field Bookstore of Librairie Avant-Garde by TAO

Paddy Field Bookstore, Xiadi Village, by Trace Architecture Office

Trace Architecture Office transformed an abandoned house into a store for independent booksellers Librairie Avant.

The bookshop is mostly hidden from the outside as it is tucked into the old rammed earth gables of the building in the remote countryside. A cantilevering cafe space projecting from the building is the only clue to the building’s total transformation.

Find out more about Paddy Field Bookstore›


Hubei Foreign Language Bookstore by Wutopia Lab

Hubei Foreign Language Bookstore, Wuhan, by Wutopia Lab

A third bookshop by architecture studio Wutopia Lab is located in Wuhan, China. The studio renovated the Hubei Foreign Language Bookstore by inserting a shard-like glass lightwell that pierces through six floors.

Triangular aluminium plates that form the facade on the exterior are designed to mimic the unique lightwell inside.

Find out more about Hubei Foreign Language Bookstore›


A mirrored bookstore

Zhongshuge-Hangzhou, Hangzhou, by XL-Muse

An oval room in this bookshop in Hangzhou by Shanghai studio XL-Muse has stepped shelving for books, while tree-trunk-shaped columns are used to display books throughout the store.

Mirrors give the impression that the rooms are larger than they are.

Find out more about Zhongshuge-Hangzhou›

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This sustainable furniture collection is made from burnt cork!

Have you ever made a bulletin board from wine bottle corks? I thought that was the most creative use of corks instead of throwing them away but obviously I am no  Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance! The French designer created a whole furniture set using burnt cork as the material and therefore the range is aptly called Burnt Cork. He uses discarded cork for the range, choosing different gradients and cork grain patterns to create a play between textures.

Sustainable designs often draw inspiration from nature and this furniture series is no exception. It is produced through the designer’s own Portugal-based studio Made in Situ and it celebrates the beauty of Portuguese landscapes which are abundant with cork forests. Cork is one of the most resilient natural materials. While the designer was driving through the Pedrógão Grande mountain region during the forest fires of 2017, he was thinking of the destruction, and during that he had the “Aha!” moment of using burnt cork as a material. A year later, he visited a traditional cork manufacturing company where he discovered various cork processing techniques which included the waste material from the fires – literal burnt cork!

Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance spent two years on research and development before giving second life to the waste cork. The furniture set is an homage to the resilience and beauty of this sustainable material. Burnt Cork is crafted using a blend of traditional and modern techniques resulting in organic forms with curved lines that give it a unique sculptural aesthetic. Every design highlights the dichotomy of the rough and fine cork textures.

The limited-edition set includes a dining table, two low tables, a lounge chair, a dining chair, a chaise longue, and a stool. Each piece has a base with a bark-like texture that then transforms into a fine grain surface at the top. The chairs showcase ergonomic silhouettes that promise comfort while the tables feature architectural elements. Cork is an underrated sustainable material that finally got a chance to shine through design in the Burnt Cork furniture set.

Liang Architecture Studio creates retrofuturistic boutique in Hangzhou

Diamond-shaped lamp

Grand steel and micro-cement structures, celestial lighting and symmetrical layouts add a sense of ceremony to the shopping experience within this clothing boutique in Hangzhou, China by Liang Architecture Studio.

Located within a corner unit on a busy street in the city’s Xiaoshan District, the 300-square-metre Audrey boutique sells women’s fashion. Arranged over two floors, the store features a generous curved glazed facade.

Clothing displays in fashion boutique
The store features curved interiors

The interior, designed by Liang Architecture Studio, follows the theme of “retro-futurism” – a movement that celebrates depictions of the future produced in an earlier era.

For the Audrey boutique, this is translated into symmetrical brutalist forms made from micro cement and steel that the designers said create a “church-like” feeling and “a sense of ritual”.

Micro-cement interiors
Micro cement was used to create dramatic shapes

The micro-cement structures form the walls, ceilings and displays, pairing graceful curves with sharp geometric elements.

To contrast with the coolness and rigidness of the concrete and metal, the studio incorporated soft fabrics and retro teak veneer into the design.

Retrofuturistic store
A circular seating area welcomes visitors

A semi-enclosed symmetrical display area with a rust-coloured carpet welcomes customers into the store. Here, a central seating area made up of five outward-facing seats is surrounded by curved concrete displays with rails.

Up above, a large diamond-shaped acrylic lighting fixture that changes colour pierces through the ceiling to create a dramatic focal point.

Rust-coloured staircase
The two floors are connected by a steel staircase

Towards the left of the space, a carpeted, rust-coloured steel spiral staircase with a glass balustrade connects the store’s two floors.

The symmetrical concrete forms and orb-like lighting continue on the second floor, which hosts a VIP display area.

“The freedom of this space is not about visual effects but emotional expressions,” explained Xu Liang, founder and design director of Liang Architecture Studio.

“Customers will be attracted by its atmosphere and be guided to perceive its attitude.”

Pink pyramidic lamp
A diamond-shaped light protrudes from the ceiling

“Spatial design is a medium of communication,” Liang continued. “For this project, the design team combined colours, structures and lights to create an ambience that resonates with people, hoping to provide diversified spatial experiences.”

“Simplistic, clear structures and pure textures together express the spatial aesthetics.”

Customer lounging in clothes shop
The store interior was informed by retrofuturism

Other designers and architects who have embraced retro-futurism include Atelier Vens Vanbelle, which added an extension to a house in Belgium which it described as “a cocktail of science fiction and nostalgia.”

British designer Tom Dixon brought retro-futurism to the seas with his rock-and-roll-inspired suite designs for Virgin Voyages’ first cruise ship.

Photography is by Shao Feng.

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Overstuffed pockets are a problem. Say hello to bolstr Elements – crossbody alternatives for your everyday carry


More spacious than your pockets and more compact than your backpack, bolstr Elements comes in a range of perfectly sized bags and accessories that let you carry all your daily essentials in one place. The series is available in three sizes that you can wear crossbody, carry in-hand, clip-on via carabiner, or store in-bag for organization. bolstr Elements gives you a dedicated space for all your personal effects, from your phone and wallet, to your keys, AirPods, sunglasses, and other small items with which you would otherwise stuff your pockets.

Designer: Jay Yoo

Click Here to Buy Now: $29 $49 ($20 off). Hurry, only 16/50 left!

bolstr addresses three degrees of minimal everyday carry, filling a sweet spot in the bag market between your pockets and an oversized backpack.

BOLSTR MINI POCKET. Larger than a wallet, smaller than a handbag.

MINI: An extra pocket for pocket essentials only. Four pockets for credit cards, Airpods, charging cables, and more.

BOLSTR AUX POCKET. Smaller than a sling pack. Larger than a wallet.

AUX: An extra pocket designed for daily essentials, but not much more. Five pockets for a smartphone, Airpods, credit cards, passport, and wallet. Elastic bands for charging cables and a pen.

BOLSTR SMALL CARRY. Smaller than a laptop bag. Larger than a holster.

SMALL CARRY: Five pockets for sunglasses, smartphone, airpods, wallet, passport, small tablet, but not much more.

bolstr’s designs build on close to 20 years of soft goods design (apparel and accessories). Asymmetrical shapes create visual tension, which bolstr uses for aesthetics and identity. You know it is a ‘bolstr’ just by looking at it.

Obsessed with quality and innovation, the company uses only the best materials. Military-grade materials of construction, including Dyneema*, waterproof YKK zippers, Fidlock magnetic closure (Small Carry),  D-rings for keys, aluminum clip hooks for strapping and keys (MINI an AUX) and made in the USA.

*Dyneema is a high-performance material known to be 15x stronger than steel, finding its way into mission-critical applications like tethers that pull satellites in space.

Why make a bag with more than seven (7) pockets? bolstr’s design philosophy, BA7ANCE™, is based on half a century of cognitive research, which proved ‘chunks’ of information longer than 7 become significantly harder to remember. All bolstr bags have no more than 7 pockets, making them the perfect ‘in between’ carry with just the right amount of space.

The bolstr Elements Kickstarter offers four colorways: Stealth (ballistic), Grey Matter (ballistic), Lunar Blue (Cordura®), and B-DYM (Dyneema). All bolstr Elements are available as add-ons, in addition to facemasks, Niteize stainless steel slim carabiners, and their Universal Strap. Clean your carry!

Click Here to Buy Now: $29 $49 ($20 off). Hurry, less than 72 hours left!

The International Design Conference virtual event is back – Here’s how to join

The past two years have seen every industry evolve and adapt and for sure the design community has done its best to rise up to the occasion. I remember showcasing many innovative face masks and air purifiers, here on Yanko Design, as the demand for it had increased manyfold. Interestingly, I saw many startups and designers innovating this category at lightning speed, providing solutions that were never thought of before! I experienced the transformation and saw designers learning from each other through meaningful conversations on social media. Agile, adaptive, and inspiring – a new aspect being added to the role of designers.

Click Here to Get Your IDC Ticket

Keeping up with its mission to connect designers across disciplines, the International Design Conference (IDC) is returning virtually in 2021. The objective of the event ties in with the demand of the hour. This 24-hour non-stop event starts on Wednesday, Sept. 22 at 12pm EDT and ends Thursday, Sept. 23 at 12pm EDT. You can expect to engage with global design leaders at Amazon, Samsung, IDEO, and more. However, I have another reason why you should attend the conference – Yanko Design.

Included in the 60+ sessions across 24 hours will be a session hosted by Yanko Design on Design Journalism. At the end of this session, you will know more about how to effectively communicate your design in a voice that will resonate with your audience – be it an Instagram post, a Facebook update, or an article on your page.

Produced each year by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), IDC is an international platform for amplifying the unique and bold voice of industrial design while celebrating the deep interconnection with other disciplines. One of the perks of the conference is networking. And to give you a great example is the fact that Airbnb was born during the 2007 IDC! Will your million-dollar idea be the next?

You can expect networking, keynotes, main stage presentations, workshops, panel discussions, breakout sessions, and more. With limited resources at our disposal, IDC is a good way to capitalize on the future of design and design work. Learn how to leverage AI and super AI, DesignOps, biometrics, 3D printing, NFTs, and blockchain technology.

Amongst other things, like how to integrate DEI into emerging tech, hiring practices, and your own design work on multiple levels, I will be talking about how to market yourself and your work through design journalism.

In IDSA’s Education Symposium, under the 2021 theme “Breaking Down Barriers: Fostering collaborations for systemic change,” design educators from across the globe will discuss topics like increasing diversity in design education, enhancing ID education with user experience design, leveraging designers for patent content, and achieving carbon neutrality in makerspaces. IDSA’s annual Student Merit Award winners will also be present during the event.

Today we designers and design enthusiasts must learn to design for the post-pandemic era. We have to reinvent the wheel in some situations, and personally, I think IDC offers the perfect platform that can help us with the tools required to be agile, adaptive, and inspiring.

Click Here to Get Your IDC Ticket

This 3D printed smart home is autonomous and self-sustainable!



Do you know what the future of architecture looks like? Smart, sustainable, and self-sufficient! You shouldn’t have to choose between a smart modern home and a sustainable lifestyle because you can have it all in one 3D printed unit thanks to Haus.me because they have created the ultimate autonomous self-sustaining shelter! Haus.me’s homes also feature an air-purifying system that claims to eliminate 99.99% of bacteria – a USP post this pandemic for future homeowners.

Designer: Haus.me

This off-the-grid home comes fully ready to move in and is equipped with water tanks, solar panels, and autonomous waste disposal — no plug-ins needed! There are two models – mOne and mTwo – available for sale at $199,000 and $379,000. All the features are the same, however, the only difference between the two models is the floor area – the smaller one is suited for two inhabitants and the larger one is made for a small family.

The two models come move-in ready, fully furnished, with the technology to use solar energy and recycle water, no utility hookups are needed. The unites are ready to host you for 365 days of complete autonomous living. It doesn’t even require laying a foundation, just a flat surface!

The homes also come with a patented window system and insulated walls to help minimize their energy consumption which lets them comfortably depend on solar power as their sole source of energy. The interior is packed with every smart feature that you could want like Nest cameras and thermostats, Apple TVs, and internet connection for complete autonomous living. When you buy any of the models, they come fully furnished with everything because it has all been designed keeping in mind how space can be optimized in the compact dwelling.

These structures are the first fully self-sustainable mobile houses and don’t require an electric grid, propane, natural gas, firewood, or any other fuel – it is 20x more energy efficient than a traditional American home. The 3D printed units have a minimal and modern aesthetic without compromising on the warmth of a home and while enabling us to live our best flexible/remote lives!

The prefabricated structures can be placed on any flat piece of land and come fully-assembled, unlike your IKEA furniture! The 3D-printed homes do not require any construction permits and reduce construction site waste because of their building/assembly process.

The mOne model is meant for two inhabitants with a 400 square-foot floor area.

The mTwo model is meant for a small family of 2-4 people with an 800 square-foot floor area.

Each unit is equipped with solar panels, water tanks, and autonomous waste disposal — no plug-ins needed!

Haus.me says the 3D polymer frame can withstand hurricanes and earthquakes too!

The exterior is made of carbon fiber, polymers, and guarded glass panes which give it a monochromatic aesthetic with sweeping windows.

The studio model is fitted with the exact features are the larger one but more furniture modularities like the couch is also a pull-out bed.

Residents can customize the colors, appliances and decor in their units.

The company has mentioned that the units can take up to 7 weeks to be manufactured and another 2-3 weeks for delivery around the USA.

All the units have furniture designed in a way that they optimize space so the compact home still feels spacious not claustrophobic.

The furniture is either pushed back in, stacked, or folded down to keep the floor area open.

There are plenty of built-in shelves for storage considering that you will need to store a lot of things if you are living off-the-grid entirely.

The kitchen is equipped with all modern appliances like an oven, a large refrigerator, and a dishwasher.

The sloping A-frame shape also allows for additional overhead storage in the form of cabinets.

The 3D printed walls are insulated and patented window system to help minimize the overall energy consumption.

The bathroom has a standing shower, sink, a toilet, and a washing machine.

In disasters or unusually bad weather conditions, the home will automatically switch to low energy consumption mode to conserve power.

Haus.me says their units are unbreakable even if most of the structure is made from windows.

There is a strong security system that can be controlled from your phone/tablet along with other smart features of the house.

You can unlock the house with your fingerprint or facial recognition and control other things like temperature and lights from your phone.

Hybrit Makes “Green Steel” Without Coal

While traditional ore-based steel manufacturing uses coking coal and creates approximately 8% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions, Swedish venture Hybrit replaces coal with “renewable electricity and hydrogen” to make their “green steel.” Hybrit is owned by Nordic and US-based steelmaker SSAB (which currently accounts for “10% of Sweden’s and 7% of Finland’s carbon dioxide emissions”), as well as state-owned utility Vattenfall and miner LKAB. They are keen to create a fossil fuel-free process that’s kinder to the environment. Further, they’re providing this hydrogen-backed “green steel” to Volvo, and plan to launch proper commercial production in 2026. Read more at The Guardian.

Image courtesy of Hybrit

This DIY flatpack van conversion kit makes it easy to transform your van in a mobile camper overnight!

VanLab creates high-quality, flatpack DIY van conversion kits just like IKEA furniture kits so anyone can turn their van into a mobile camper.

You just finished Nomadland and you’re looking for a way to turn your car into a fully-equipped camper like Fern’s, but getting the job done is no easy feat. It can get costly and knowing which materials are worth splurging on usually requires an expert’s eye. Nowadays it feels like we’re all considering a mobile lifestyle and New Zealand-based company VanLab is making that possible. Turning each of us into expert camper van outfitters, VanLab constructs DIY flatpack van conversion kits à la IKEA so anyone can transform their vans into mobile homes.

Now available for shipping in the US, VanLab’s flatpack van conversion kits require only two electric screwdrivers and can be assembled inside your van between three and six hours, then all that’s left to do is configure the wiring. Like IKEA furniture, VanLab’s conversion kits can be built by anyone; no carpentry experience is necessary. Speaking to the ease of assembly, VanLab founders note, “Absolutely anyone can build this kit. All the holes are pre-drilled and the panels are pre-cut. All you need to do is follow the simple instructions in the manual provided and screw the panels together.” Constructed from Baltic Birch plywood, the wooden panels come pre-finished and are designed to fit together like puzzle pieces so anyone can give rise to their van outfittings with ease.

VanLab’s conversion kit dedicates space in each camper for a full-size bed with integrated storage and an ergonomic kitchen with a countertop or worktop space. Each kit can be customized for your preferred size and spatial needs. For instance, the kitchen can either remain as an open countertop or be outfitted with cut-outs for a sink, cooler, and refrigerator. Since each kit includes all the tools, instructions, wood panels, hinges, screws, door magnets, and hatches necessary to turn your van into a mobile home, you’ll only need to take care of extra amenities like a portable toilet and leisure batteries for things like laptop and smartphone charging.

Designer: VanLab

Each kit can be customized to fit your van’s size and spatial requirements. 

With integrated shelving and storage, VanLab makes van conversion kits to maximize available space in your van!

Each kit comes with pre-finished wooden panels and pre-drilled holes so each piece fits together like a puzzle.

The kits think of everything you might to make your mobile lifestyle feel like home.

The kits come with countertops that can either remain open for extra countertop space or come with pre-cut holes for sinks and refrigerators.

Just like IKEA furniture packs, VanLab’s conversion kits come in flatpack designs.

Adjaye Associates designing 101 hospitals "to transform Ghana's medical system"

Agenda 111 hospitals by Adjaye Associates in Ghana

Architecture studio Adjaye Associates is designing over 100 hospitals for sites across Ghana as part of the country’s Agenda 111 program.

The studio, which is led by British-Ghanian architect David Adjaye, will design the facilities as part of an overhaul of the country’s healthcare system that will see 111 hospitals built.

Hospitals in Ghana designed by Adjaye Associates
Above: Adjaye Associates has designed 101 hospitals in Ghana. Top: they will be located across the country

“The District Hospitals presents an opportunity to transform Ghana’s medical system by establishing unparalleled access to healthcare facilities throughout the country,” said Adjaye Associates.

“Guided by the ambition to define a next-generation hospital experience, the design concept merges 21st-century technology with a contextual and holistic approach crucial to the delivery of state-of-the-art healthcare.

Linear blocks at David Adjaye-designed building
Linear blocks will be divided by walkways

As part of the Agenda 111 program, Adjaye Associates is designing 101 hospitals. The 8,500-square-metre facilities will consist of a series of single-storey blocks within a walled campus.

Each of the hospitals will contain an A&E department and surgery along with pediatric, maternity, isolation and surgical wards. 

Alongside these primary care facilities, the buildings will also contain a mortuary, residences for doctors, laundry, an energy centre, kitchens and stores.

Hospital at night
The hospitals will be surrounded by green spaces

The buildings will be arranged linearly with security and entrance blocks at the front followed by primary healthcare facilities, with wards at the rear.

Patient ward blocks will have butterfly roofs to let in large amounts of natural light, while the surgery, A&E and other spaces will have gabled roofs.

All of the blocks will be arranged around a central courtyard and surrounded by green spaces.

“By approaching the hospital as more than just a place for the provision of medical services, the design scheme aims to unlock the potential of this ambitious initiative by repositioning the hospital as a piece of community infrastructure that embodies sustainability, efficiency, and generously provides green spaces to facilitate wellness and healing,” said Adjaye.

Patient ward with natural light
Patient wards are designed to have large amounts of natural light

The hospitals will have a similar layout but be adapted to each of the 101 sites, which are located across the whole country.

According to the studio, they will be built from prefabricated elements to reduce the building’s carbon impact.

Hospital layout in Ghana
The 101 hospitals will all have similar layouts

“Acknowledging that the building design will need to adapt to over 101 locations in different urban and rural settings across the country, the design scheme embraces smart strategies and ecologically responsive systems able to conform to each unique geographic condition,” explained the studio.

“The use of prefabricated systems work conductively with materials to maintain the lowest possible carbon footprint whilst also maximizing the ability to reproduce efficiently and rapidly.”

Adjaye Associates, which was founded in 2010, is led by Adjaye who recently won the RIBA Gold Medal. The studio is also designing a new cathedral in Accra, Ghana, which will be topped with a dramatic concave roof.


Project credits:

Architect: Adjaye Associates
Design coordinator: Sutherland & Sutherland Architects
Biomed: Titan Biomedical Engineering
Contractor: Varies
Electrical engineer: Global Engineering & Technology
Kitchen consultant: Smollensky’s
Hospital consultant: Ministry of Health
Landscape: Brix Landscaping
Mechanical engineer: Global Engineering & Technology
QS: CC&M Consult
Signage: Mainline
Structural & mechanical engineer: CSEng

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