Oldham Maggie’s Center
Known for feats like giving birth to the first successful “in vitro” fertilized test tube baby, Louis Brown, the Royal Oldham Hospital, located near Oldham Town Center, around eight miles from East Manchester City, has yet another achievement to add to its repertoire.
It is about to get a new addition in the form of a special support center for cancer patients. Maggie’s, an organization renowned for its Cancer care charity work, has secured the permission to build this support center, its second project in Greater Manchester. Maggie’s Center is to be “a house full of surprises,” the architects of the commissioned dRMM firm, explained while throwing some light onto the details of the subject.
Courtesy of dRMM- Photography: Alex de Rijke
The building is supported on slender columns which provide an elegantly sophisticated aura to the place. Enhancing the atmosphere is a sloped garden which gives way to airy rooms very picturesquely framed by Palm and Birch trees, infusing the air with lovely fragrances and a fresh feeling. There is also a rainwater pool, discovered underneath the building, which reflects the whole arrangement providing a symmetrically pleasing visual.
Courtesy of dRMM- Photography: Alex de Rijke
Natural, is what the building is, for there are trees in and all around it. The structure grows into trees, maximizing the concept of the whole design, that of it being more about the content than the form. Any visitor who enters the premises, gets unexpected surprises on the way, first a timber construction filled with daylight and natural air, a reflective pool ahead and then to the sloped garden of delights. The whole project uses timber and glass as the principle materials.
Courtesy of dRMM- Photography: Alex de Rijke
The spaces have been masterfully designed according to the needs of privacy as well as collective meetings. A central light-well lightens the atmosphere inside with thick walls to define the boundary of spaces inside. The walls have been artfully carved into niches and meeting places.
Courtesy of dRMM- Photography: Alex de Rijke
“The centre will create a calm and uplifting environment for everyone that visits the centre,” says Maggie’s Chief Executive Laura Lee of the whole place which is about to make its debut in 2016.
Courtesy of dRMM- Photography: Alex de Rijke
“This building will offer patients, carers and staff something entirely different to any of our existing facilities, It is designed around the needs of people rather than the technical function of our clinical facilities,” Dr. Roger Prudham, the deputy medical director for Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust exclaims.
To say the least, this appears to be an excellent facility for Cancer patients to support and be supportive, to grow and to help others grow, a truly calming experience and a veritable house of surprises, as was always the intention.
By: Antara Jha