The vision for the Heartfelt Guesthouse is to create a safe and welcoming home away from home for the families of patients at Sacred Heart Medical Center, RiverBend.
A collaboration between PeaceHealth Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Heartfelt Guesthouse offers inviting yet affordable accommodations for out-of-town families to support loved ones at the hospital. Sacred Hearts current guesthouse hosts on average 313 families per year. Nevertheless, lodging in the area is in high demand throughout most of the year often resulting in the need for more space. Moreover, the current guesthouse is located 20 minutes away from the hospital; making trips to and from lengthy and occasionally stressful depending on the circumstance. The new Guesthouse is expected to host approximately 1,500 families per year and is located minutes from the medical center. This close proximity will provide peace of mind to family members who sometimes unexpectedly will need to attend to their loved ones.
The architect’s vision for the Heartfelt Guesthouse was to create a place of refuge; allowing guests to unwind and find solace after spending long days at the hospital. With the main entry facing east addressing the medical center, the building is laid out in a simple manner. 20 adaptable guest-suites are arranged along two private wings connected by a central common area and outdoor courtyard. This communal space, dubbed the “living room,” was established to foster a strong sense of community. Serving as the beating heart of the building, this central zone contains a multitude of functions including: a play room, reading room, and lounge space all centered around a warm and inviting hearth. Additionally, each wing of the building is equipped with a shared kitchen. Providing space to prepare a meal can make a world of difference not only to visiting families, but the patients as well.
Focused on establishing a strong sense of “home” the architects were thoughtful about material selection and spatial arrangement. Elements with a classically residential vocabulary: window seats, dormer windows, and trellises are re-imagined throughout the project with a contemporary twist. Slat walls combined with large expanses of glass and whimsical pendants create a striking interplay of light and shadow; bringing an unexpected playfulness to the spaces. The courtyard was created to strengthen guests’ connection with nature, maximize daylight and create an outdoor room for respite.
Funded entirely through charitable giving, the Heartfelt Guesthouse embodies our community’s spirit while providing a home away from home for those in need.
