On 13th July 2013, EGM architects received the Design & Health International Academy award for the best hospital in the world (category small hospitals till 40.000 m2) for the Tony Molleapaza Rojas children’s hospital in Arequipa, Peru.
The award was received by Prof. Bas Molenaar who was personally involved in the design and realization of the hospital. In his speech he mentioned to be honored and he expressed his gratitude for winning this prize for a small, yet incredibly important project in Peru. During the conference, Molenaar gave a lecture on the success factors and the development of the hospital. He mentioned that human scale, the use of local materials, wayfinding, comprehensible architecture and stimulation of a social network were important aspects during the design and realization of the project.
About PAZ-Holandesa EGM architecten designed the children’s hospital for the PAZ Holandesa foundation that provides children with a congenital abnormality such as a cleft lip or clubfoot with free medical and after care, preventing these children to become isolated. In 2005, EGM architecten decided to sponsor the Tony Molleapaza Children’s Hospital by taking over the design expense and remotely advising on the project implementation. The hospital is made up of forty beds, operating rooms, an outpatient clinic, an X-ray unit, a laboratory, a pharmacy and a guesthouse. The construction and equipment of the hospital was made possible by private donations, funds, company donations and by the support of a number of local institutions.
Pavilions The design consists of a cluster of small pavilions in which the various areas can be found. On one hand, the design is dictated by practical considerations such as earthquake hazards, while on the other hand, the small scale matches well to the functions of the children’s hospital. The existing height differentiations, formed by former agricultural terraces, are integrated into the plan. Local materials such as white solar stone (volcanic stone from the nearby volcano, Misti), wooden frames, metal roofing and stucco were used. This is how a small, colorful, comprehensive children's hospital with state-of-the-art technology came into existence in Arequipa, Peru.
Dutch Health Architects successful The Design & Health World Congress in Brisbane has been very successful for both partners in Dutch Health Architects, since De Jong Gortemaker Algra architecten & ingenieurs was also prize winner in the category ‘mental health’. This shows that Dutch Health Architects is for sure an esteemed internationally operating healthcare architect.
About the Design & Health International Academy Awards The annual awards program has a significant influence on the global design of salutogenic environments that support health, wellbeing and quality of life, reflecting important aspects of the exceptional work undertaken by researchers and practitioners at the forefront of the field of design and health.
