Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani Children Specialist Hospital (HPKK)

The project was commissioned by the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) to embody the approach it has always adopted to paediatric care: to associate functionality and quality services with the nobility of beauty.

The idea to design such intricate spaces is that based of a child's mobility around the space whilst allowing children to enjoy being in such huge and playable spaces. In order to maximise solar gain, all windows within the building are faced towards the Southern direction to create better light articulation, penetrating through the facade of the building. The idea of "alleviating" comes from the same root as "levitating" : lifting the burden of pain. Ultimately, this is the reason and power of human pietas within the idea of a paediatric care: to relieve the pain of those who live here.

All the volumes are raised from the ground by columns with circular sections and a series of mirrored glass facade are placed overlaying the columns. The fronts of the buildings are rhythmically patterned by transparencies and opaque sections to provide sunshade when natural light gets more intense as time passes by. The slope of the site enables the volumes to be harmoniously inserted in the landscape setting, using the ground floor of the main building as a transitional element and link between the existing external levels. The ground floor features a double-height entrance with various activities: reception, secretarial services, meeting rooms and a passage towards outdoor activities.