Maggie’s Centre, London (2009)
How could a building generate an immediate sense of welcome, serenity and even love on a frantic Hammersmith thoroughfare in the shadow of a dauntingly huge NHS hospital? Rogers Stirk Harbour’s quietly confident building unquestionably provided a haven for those diagnosed with cancer. The architects’ achievement is in having created a completely informal, home-like sanctuary for cancer patients.
Conceived as a two-storey pavilion, the architects sheltered the centre from its harsh surroundings with a thick and cheerful orange masonry wall that also serves as a backdrop for carefully planted tree groves and gardens. Its positive spirit is signaled by a roof canopy that over-sails its many intimate internal gardens and courtyards.
Rogers Stirk Harbour Partners
