Embedded Nature at Hengqin Hospital

When developing the design for the Hengqin Hospital, nature had particular influence in making design decisions. Seamlessly integrated into the life of the hospital, the landscape design features three gardens which help to nurture the well-being of patients, family, visitors and staff using ecological devices composed in an artful way.

The Green Heart
Patients and staff can find solitude in the Green Heart Garden. This garden is central to the campus, and a constant visual reference for all users, which can be seen from all areas of the hospital. The garden will be a lushly-planted green space, featuring native plantings that are rich in colors, textures and fragrances that highlight the uniqueness of the local flora, creating a home away from home. These plantings are arranged in accompaniment to a topography that unveils a range of spatial experiences to accommodate each level of the healing process. There, they will have access to shaded seating areas, spaces for practicing tai-chi, river views and a variety of other activities.

Surrounding the Green Heart garden is the Healing Plaza, a paved pedestrian zone that provides patients and staff with a space to enjoy the outdoors, with wonderful views down to the central waterfall. In combination, the garden and the plaza were designed as a key piece of the wayfinding system, orienting visitors and staff to without relying on the use of signage to navigate the hospital complex.

The Rejuvenation Garden
The Rejuvenation Garden is a meandering green walkway, robustly planted with fruiting and flowering trees, shrubs and groundcovers meant to distract and stimulate the senses. The lawn area and encompassing stone pathway is green and soft on the feet for daytime strolls. A continuously curving sculptural bench provides ample seating and lighting along the pathway. We hope that a variety of native birds, butterflies, and other animals will be attracted to the native flora and provide an additional layer of sensorial delight.

The Inpatient Garden
A singular 12-story block sits on top of the Crescent and houses the inpatient units. It is a signature piece of architecture that stands proudly at the center of the campus. Directly adjacent to the tower is the Inpatient Garden, which is designed to create two widely different outdoor opportunities to engage with nature. The first is a vibrant  vegetable garden and orchard, which is more akin to a neighboring village than a hospital. Here, patients can practice therapeutic gardening activities and enjoy the beauty of the developing harvest. In addition, the garden includes a space for contemplation and meditation. Its design is intended to be lush and intimate in feel, with small water features arranged within a series of smaller spaces around a smooth walking path.

Collectively, these three gardens reveal a beautiful experiential landscape for all users and functions as an ecological machine by cleaning water and cooling spaces.

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