5. September - October 2010

ARCHITECTURE
Ar. Kishore Thapa with Ar. Tadao Ando
The shape of the hospital building is based on an
extremely simple, rectangular form. In respect of
construction method or materials, our possibilities were
limited due to difficulties of cost issues and availability
of local technology. For this reason, the Siddhartha
Children and Women Hospital (SCWH) became a
facility that has a slightly different expression from the
buildings I have completed so far. The exterior walls
are made of locally manufactured red brick; the interior
is covered with mortar and finished with white paint
that gives bright and clean impression to the space. A
colonnade is designed on the west façade. Windows
behind this colonnade provide shelter from the strong
sunshine and create a comfortable inner environment
for the patients and visitors. All spaces that are for
children (lobby, medical examination rooms, inpatients
and outpatients hospital wing) are consecutive and
organized along the colonnade. Realizing openness
and brightness that is appropriate for the local climate,
was one of the main themes of the design. The entire
building process - placing the concrete, piling the brick,
plastering and painting the walls - was carried out by
the unified power of local residents.
- Tadao Ando Architects and Associates
Tadao Ando, a self educated architect and one of the
most renowned Japanese architects of all times,
established his firm, Tadao Ando and Associates in
1969. A few of his representative works are the Rokko
Housing I (1983), II (1993), III (1999) Kobe, Hyogo;
Church of the Light (1989), Ibaraki, Osaka, Pulitzer
Foundation for the Arts (2001), St. Louis, U.S.A., Modern
Art Museum of Fort Worth (2002), U.S.A.
Key Players in the Design/ Construction of Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital, Butwal:
Architect: Tadao Ando Architects and Associates, www.tadao-ando.com
Local Consultant, including detailing and interiors:
Architect Kishor Thapa, k_thapa413655@yahoo.com
Architectural Assistance: Architect Mira Gyawali Structural Consult: Engineer Saroj Karki
Electrical Consult: Engineer Arjun Dhungana Sanitary Consult: Engineer Shyan Amatya
Construction: CE Constructions
Credits:
Interview with Architect Kishor Thapa, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
Interview with Dr. Binod Parajuli, Director, Siddhartha Children and Women Hospital
Telephonic Interview with Dr. Rameshwor Pokharel, Paediatric Surgeon, Teaching Hospital,
Co-ordinator, AMDA Mechi Hospital, and former President, AMDA- NEPAL
Drawings and Mr. Tadao Ando’s Statement provided by – Ar. Mira Gyawali,
Department of Urban Development and Building Construction
However in the extreme climatic
conditions of Butwal, the
presence of daylight as well
as natural ventilation have not
been given due importance.
These climatic problems are
further stressed by Architect
Kishor Thapa, as he explains the
complexity in pouring concrete
during peak summer months,
when the reinforcement would
heat up to such an extent that
they had to stop the pouring of
concrete.
It is noteworthy here that
though the local context was
prioritized in the perspective of
using exposed brick instead of
concrete, the local counterparts
in the project failed to emphasize
and give due importance to the
local climatic conditions.
The problem also lies in the
fact that much of the original
purpose of different spaces
have been distorted to fix the
growing needs. Yet the hospital
infrastructure has not been
able to grow at the same pace
as their requirements. Many
arrangements have been made
that not only disturb the building
but also the built environment.
Essential lobby and waiting
spaces, which could serve as a
breathing space in such a heavily
chaotic environment, are now
reused for patient observation
and partitions have been added
to create more divisions in
space, perhaps for multiple use.
When asked about these
changes, Dr. Binod Parajuli,
Director, Siddhartha Children
and Women Hospital, explains
that these changes are made
due to the needs, yet he does
not believe that any of these
changes are in fact drastic.
The hospital management has
been advised not to make any
changes in the outside of the
building but they are permitted
to change the interior as per
their need. He also comments
that as a user, he does not feel
the building is user friendly.
This issue is also stressed by
Dr. Pokharel, when he explains
how his comments on the
feasibility of the design were not
very well received initially. Yet
he clarified himself saying that
a hospital needs to be doctor
based and nurse based, where
the doctors and nurses should
be able to reach every part of the
hospital within three minutes as
human life can be saved within
three minutes, and not more.
It was then that they received
permission to change the
interiors, if required.
Design and Reality
The Siddhartha Children and
Women Hospital is an example of
segregation between form and
function, and between design
and reality. Much of what was
designed in the initial stages,
especially in terms of internal
planning, was eventually not
used on location. In addition, the
built form clashes with the use,
the lack of required amenities
only contribute to this chaos.
But one thing is certain, at the
Siddhartha Children and Women
Hospital, one cannot be clear
whether the form follows the
function or if it is the other way
around, and perhaps the dictum
shall always be put to debate.
Unfortunately for the hospital
though, the form and the function
do not contribute to the most
fundamental of all architectural
dictums – that of complimenting
each other.
www.spacesnepal.com 42
September-October 2010