Architecture of Hope: Maggie’s Cancer Centre in Oldham, UK by dRMM.

Since 1996, the Maggie organisation has been teaming up with world renowned Architects to create spaces that seek to use design to uplift those living through the turmoil and pain of cancer. In their pursuit of continuing Architectural excellence, they have worked alongside some big names such as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and OMA – to name a few.

The central idea and goal of the organisation is to produce environments which provide the polar opposite of the typical, sterile, clinical hospital, and it’s plain to see they have totally hit the nail on the head with this latest offering by London based dRMM.

The centres are built on the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, always striking in form and strategically designed to offer hope and lift the spirits of visiting patients and their families. There are usually a few common themes and design features – visually always contemporary, with a consideration for comforting textures and materials, and an element of nature interwoven.

Standing on stilts and rising above the neighbouring buildings it overlooks, dRMM have opted for a simple and sophisticated design. Their selection of colour and tactile finishes softens the potentially harsh form. Timber is present everywhere and, not surprisingly, this is critical to the concept. By embracing natural materials at every opportunity, the Architects have created a sense of escape. The principle views from the building focus out beyond the hospital grounds to the rolling hills of the distant landscape – a subtle but clever trick to, yet again, offer patients a liberation from the confines of the institutionalised environment.

Not only visually calming and beautiful, the timber has a very practical use too. Given that some of those undergoing chemotherapy can actually feel pain or discomfort when touching cold objects, the Architects have been meticulous to the point of choosing oak door handles as opposed to the standard aluminium or steel. This shows a wonderful attention to detail and a consideration to those who will enter this building for comfort and support.

Central to the building is a large lightwell which is the home to small garden and single tree which is encouraged to grow upwards to the light. The glazing overlooking this space is one of the elements that doesn’t follow the dominant linear language, allowing a freedom and breaking the self-defined conventions.

This project, along with all the Maggie Centres which have come previously, are for a noble cause. They demonstrate the theory in action that good Architecture can be beneficial to one’s wellbeing. Its appearance and the fact that the building is elevated is very reminiscent of a tree house, bringing an innocence and joyful associations which I can only presume is a breath of fresh air for the patients.

Well done dRMM on another stunning project to add to the catalogue of your impressive work.

[Images courtesy of dRMM. Photography by Alex de Rijke, Tony Barwel, Jasmin Sohi & Jon Cardwell.]