45 degrees
How can we design a space purely responding to the specific needs of scoliosis rehabilitation?
45 Degrees – Scoliosis Rehabilitation Centre
The 45 degrees Scoliosis Rehabilitation Centre helps teenagers afflicted by spinal deformation disorder to cope with it both physically and emotionally. The building’s new internal structure is enclosed by a ramp system, which guides the patients through their daily routine, and functions as part of the rehabilitation process after surgery. To ease the patients’ emotional transitions, the internal semi-transparent polycarbonate walls give awareness to what is within, akin to an X-ray of a body.
SITE CONTEXT
The new scoliosis rehabilitation centre for teens is based in the former Canal Warehouse built for The Fellows Morton and Clayton Company. It is an industrial building that is situated between the Nottingham Canal and Canal Street and within the Canal Conservation Area. It is a walking distance from the train and bus stations and conveniently close to Nottingham’s city centre. The decision for choosing this site was influenced by a number of factors: convenient central location, quick access to bus and train stations, next to an actively used canal; interesting architectural features, such as a canal basin going inside the building, large open spaces inside, unconventional style; available car park; large outside area next to the canal.
PROGRAM
I have designed a system of specifically tailored ramps that wrap around the new internal structure. Ramps will provide circulation guidance through daily routine of the patient and will act as a treatment method for those after the surgery. Starting to walk again after spinal fusion surgery is a challenge that teenagers encounter and ramps will provide a more gentle approach as well as different gradients of ramps will give the opportunity to push themselves.
The journey for scoliosis patients starts at the Ground floor that is comprised of reception desk, joined gym and swimming pool area with changing rooms and showers, as well as three treatment rooms: massage, acupuncture and osteopathy therapies. There is also a chance to explore the internal canal basin and relax before the treatments. The first floor has a double-height ceiling and includes a café, as well as the main toilets. On the mezzanine floor, there are doctor rooms for general check-ups and a counselling room, as well as staff room and toilets. Second floor holds private patient quarters that consists of 5 patient rooms. It also accommodates night nurse room and a playroom for patients, as well as showers and toilets.
MATERIALITY
The new internal structure is supported by cast iron columns and lightweight steel brackets .Walls are cladded with polycarbonate sheets, that make the space light up, as well as provide silhouettes that is an interesting part of the design and creates movement. Sandwiched in between some of the sheets is a layer of a plaster bandage used to produce casts. This gives texture and incorporates the theme of the centre into its design. The texture and clarity of the walls vary depending on the use of the room. Counselling rooms are less transparent to introduce privacy, as opposite to the clearer social spaces.
The prefabricated concrete ramps with poured white mat resin will stand out from the existing brick walls and will frame the new internal structure.
