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The prestigious biennial awards celebrate projects from around the world that demonstrate design excellence and social impact. The winning enterprise was judged by a Grand Jury chaired by French architect and urban planner, Odile Decq.
Friendship Hospital is a remote hospital commissioned by an NGO called Friendship, located in the water-laden landscape of south-west Bangladesh. It delivers essential healthcare services to local communities who were affected by a major cyclone in 2007, and remains both sustainable and low-cost.
Water is central to the hospital’s design; a canal cuts through the length of the site, separating the inpatients and outpatients. Rainwater from all areas of the complex is drained and stored in a newly built tank to prevent water logging. This water channel also helps with microclimatic cooling during the hot summers, avoiding the need for high energy consuming air-conditioning.
A series of intimate courtyards bring light and natural ventilation to the wards, providing spaces for patients and visitors to rest with viewpoints of the natural surroundings. Sensitive areas of the hospital are protected from direct tropical light through shielded corridors and double-layered arches.
Built for longevity, the hospital campus is crafted in local brickwork chosen for its resilient qualities and low cost, with openings in the brickwork offering private shaded areas and natural cooling.