This project is an expansion and upgrading of the Existing Bagan Specialist Centre – built in the 1980s – to include a Cancer Care Centre with Radiotherapy bunker, Chemotherapy Department and to increase the number of beds from 150 to 350.Other new facilities include a new car park block for 400 cars, 9 OTs, 40 specialist clinics, cafeteria and 4 training rooms.The M&E, Car-park Blocks, the Front Block and OT Department are in operation, and the expansion phase of the project completed in 2020.
The original hospital was located at one corner of a triangular site, which shares a long boundary with Sungai Perai and is accessed via a dual carriageway (Jalan Bagan 8).The new hospital complex was designed as a series of blocks – the main Ward Block, the Clinical Block, Car-park Block and M&E Block, which is practical and logical for two main reasons:
Firstly, the triangular shape of the site warranted the architect to place the Ward Block facing the river, with the Car-park Block at the narrow end of the triangular site, and the M&E Block strategically placed at the ‘elbow’ linking the existing hospital and new Ward Block. This placement of new and existing blocks created a courtyard in the centre of the new hospital complex. Wardrooms, clinics and training rooms overlook this courtyard. Much of the ground floor plane is naturally ventilated with views of the courtyard and Sungai Perai beyond.
Secondly, as the existing hospital continues to be in operation during the expansion project, it is logical for the construction to be phased; M&E Block completed first to take over support services from the existing M&E plant, Car-park Block next, followed by the Clinical Block to free up rooms in the existing block to link to the new OT Block. Finally, the existing facilities are decanted into the new Ward Block for the former hospital building to be upgraded to house new A&E, Dialysis and Imaging Departments.
The architectural scheme is a balance between compliance to medical flow and requirements, tectonic expression and climatic response.The connection between the Ward, Clinical and OT blocks is by way of shaded corridors along the central courtyard; they are shaded with awnings and garnished with planters and views of the trees.
Ward blocks typically have ‘thick’ floor plans, resulting in squat proportions – this we mitigated by breaking down the facade into sun-shading fins and ledges, while service areas are represented in vertical strip windows to elongate the overall massing.This architectural treatment resulted in bay windows in some of the wardrooms which serve as a day-bed for the patients’ carers.The roof of the Ward block is capped with a light steel roof to harvest rainwater for the ward toilets and provide heat and weather protection.
The Front Clinical block is the ‘face’ of the hospital with its naturally ventilated main lobby and seminar rooms on the upper floors. It has views of the “tapak lapangan” (field site) but unfortunately faces west, which was taken care of by slanting the west walls and inserting the windows between them.This results in natural light diffusing into the clinics and waiting areas, enhanced by flowering creepers on the building facade.
The Operating Theatre block is tucked in between the M&E block and the existing hospital building from which the former departments were decanted.The connections are crafted to introduce public spaces such as the Physiotherapy terrace (between OT and Existing blocks), the Mini-library (between the Ward and Front blocks) and the Breastfeeding room (between the Front and existing blocks).Many of these public spaces take the opportunity to explore design possibilities such as up-cycling hospital equipment into library shelves and seating.
As a whole, the hospital complex utilises very few building materials; concrete, steel, aluminium and glass most of which are sourced locally.Passive design is practised whenever it is possible – lift lobbies are naturally ventilated and lit, patient and staff circulation are supported by outdoor corridor and stairs, ceiling heights are kept high (3.2m) to promote air circulation and landscaping is introduced into the common areas to cool and filter air.There are also plans to enhance the existing “tapak lapangan” as a green forecourt for the hospital and exercise area for the neighbourhood.
The new Bagan Specialist Centre has been operational since early 2020, however, the upgrading is ongoing as the existing block is being upgraded to house Dialysis, Rehab, Endoscopy and A&E departments.The journey continues.
