Thomas Hamill A Childs Life: Enhancing Palliative and Hospice Care for Children in America Thesis Advisor: Kelly Vresilovic
Research / Site Analysis
| Fall Review
Statement of Intent In this country, there are many palliative care and hospice centers dedicated to improving the quality of care at the end of one’s life, but there are very few that specialize in the comfort and care of terminally sick children. The aim of this thesis is to investigate, research and propose a complex that is designed with the well-being and care of the children at every level. Additionally, this care and support must extend to the families of the children involved with the overall concept being one of maximizing the quality of life remaining. This thesis will attempt to answer the question of how do you create a space that promotes the enjoyment of life while coping with one of the worst possible situations a parent could experience? How do you express this architecturally while still accommodating the needs of the medical specialists? What are the possibilities?
Hospice noun | hos·pice | ‘hä-spes A program designed to provide palliative care and emotional support to the terminally ill in a home or homelike setting so that quality of life is maintained and family members may be active participants in care Palliative noun | pal·li·a·tive | ‘pa-lē-ā-tiv An approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual
Research / Site Analysis
| Fall Review
▪ The term hospice can be traced back to medieval times when it referred to a place of shelter and rest for weary travelers. ▪ The name was first applied to specialized care for dying patients by physician Dame Cicely Saunders in 1948. ▪ Dame Cicely Saunders created St. Christopher’s Hospice in England in 1967. ▪ Helen House in England was the world’s first children’s hospice, opening in 1982. ▪ Rachel House was the first children’s hospice in Scotland, opening in 1996. ▪ There are now over forty such houses in the United Kingdom. ▪ There are currently over four thousand hospice centers in the United States and only three dedicated children’s hospice home.
Research / Site Analysis
| Fall Review
Area Plan Natural landscape Private location Proximity to Hospitals Proximity to major roadways Proximity to retail / entertainment
Existing Site Plan
Site Photos
Chadds Ford Township is a township in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, founded by Fred Rick Dunaway, about 25 miles southwest of the center of Philadelphia. Prior to 1996, Chadds Ford Township was known as Birmingham Township; the name was changed to allow the township to correspond to both its census-designated place and to distinguish itself from the adjacent Birmingham Township in Chester County. As of the 2010 census, Chadds Ford Township had a population of 3,640, up from 3,170 at the 2000 census.
Precedent Studies
| Fall Review
Serving as an exemplar for alternative healthcare design, OMA’s single story composition for the cancer care center laces together a series of interlocking rectangular spaces that form around a lush courtyard. Transparent walls of the building’s light-filled interior promenade connect patients directly to nature, as the building accommodates for the complex needs of the facility by providing spaces of interaction, personal privacy, and discrete counseling rooms, along with private nooks and corners.
Maggie’s Gartnavel - Center for Cancer Care Glasgow, Scotland Chosen for its outlook and respite care for families and children with life limiting illnesses. immediate access to the surrounding scenery, the site at Balloch Castle in the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park provides the setting for Scotland’s second children’s hospice, offering
Robin House - Children’s Hospice Balloch, Scotland
Precedent Studies
| Fall Review
The Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice is the only palliative care center in the Middle East, and one of the largest in the world, dedicated exclusively to children with life-threatening or life-limiting illness. With medical assistance, psychological counseling, play, social opportunities and meditative retreats, they supports a family’s spiritual journey as they navigate the difficulties associated with the life-limiting condition of their child.
Bayt Abdullah Children’s Hospice Sulaibikhat, Kuwait The George Mark Children’s House in San Leandro, California, provides medical care and respite services for critically ill children and their families. The facility was cofounded by Dr. Kathleen Hull in memory of her two brothers, George and Mark, calling it “a place where families could find excellent care for their children and also receive emotional guidance and bereavement support.”
George Mark Children’s House San Leandro, California
Processing Drawings ▪ ▪ ▪
| Fall Review ▪ ▪ ▪
Minimum site modification High slope location Immersion in tree line
Preliminary Option A
Separate roadway to Sanctuary Low slope location Relatively flat location
Preliminary Option B ▪ ▪ ▪
Greatest available views High slope location Immersion in hillside
Preliminary Option C
Processing Drawings
| Fall Review
Preliminary Plan Option A
Preliminary Plan Option B
Preliminary Plan Option C
Preliminary Site
| Fall Review Comment: “Be clear about your attitude - purposeful. How does your building touch the site “
Perspective View
Perspective View
Perspective View
Proposed Site Plan
Preliminary Site Comment: “Balance communal aspects with the need to have a place for your heart to break…”
Section A-A
Section B-B
| Fall Review
Preliminary Building
| Fall Review
Section B-B
Section A-A
Second Floor Plan Comment: “Design the suites as modules: bathroom, sleeping, sitting areas define the spaces and the character�
First Floor Plan
Mechanical Systems
Comment: “Take a look at the natural ventilation - where is the air coming in and where is it going out�
| Spring Review
Structural Systems
| Spring Review
Mat Slab Diagram
Radiant Floor Heating Diagram
Structural Framing Plan Comment: “Study daylighting - add operable sky lighting to central corridors�
Typical Framing System
Site Plan
Comment: Al Draganoni: “This has come a long way since I saw it last Fall. The village like roofs and views are very well done. I do wonder about the difference between the north and south units - might have been stronger to have them all face south. The building accepts and utilizes the site really well. Might feel better if it was sunk into site a bit better, not so much of a wall along the south - works better in the model… I like the wood and stone materiality of your images you could’ve pressed it even more by going with a timber frame. The wood gives a more home like feel”
| Final Review
First Floor Plan
| Final Review Comment: LB Young: “The scale of the interior feels a bit too big especially for children although the sections tell a better story - more convincing in section than plan. Also feels like its missing a play space - maybe render out the one on the north so it feels connected�
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Patient Suite Shared Living Room Family Style Kitchen Arts & Play Room Guest Room Laundry Dining/Gathering Space Recovery/Therapy Hydrotherapy Pool Administration Mechanical Laundry Reception Loading Dock
Second Floor Plan
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Patient Suite Shared Living Room Family Style Kitchen Arts & Play Room Guest Room Laundry Dining/Gathering Space Recovery/Therapy Hydrotherapy Pool Administration Mechanical Laundry Reception Loading Dock
| Final Review
Aerial View Comment: Brain Yachyshen: �Structure can be an organizer. Very nice presentation and model, I did question the directionality of the roof at the entrance/lobby. Well done overall�
| Final Review
Building Perspectives
| Final Review Entrance View From the Street
Corridor View
Living Area View
Building Perspectives
| Final Review
Section Perspective
Bedroom Kitchen
Living
Main Lobby Bedroom
“If we cannot add days to the life of a child, we will add life to their days.�
Family Suite
Building Elevations
East Elevation
| Final Review
West Elevation
South Elevation
North Elevation “Everybody knows that infants and children die, but they do not like to think about it — or talk about it.”
Site Model
| Final Review