Wandsworth Acute Unit by Medical Architecture and Art Projects, United Kingdom

November 09, 2009 Category: Commercial Building, Hospital

The Wandsworth Acute Unit (WAU) was designed by Medical Architecture and Art Projects/MAAP that located in London, United Kingdom is first phase of Springfield University Hospital redevelopment replaces mental health facilities. It includes a 18 bed Acute Ward (AAU) and a unit of 10 beds for psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) with team bases and community facilities outpatient. Located in Tooting, South West London, the hospital is the largest of the 50 sites of the Trust, with 33 hectares of land, with a number of heritage buildings and protected trees preserved.

Designed by MAAP Architects, the goal was to create an environment that is conducive to therapy and recovery within the framework of a city block. The challenge of this project was to provide welcoming and attractive buildings filled with natural light and offer direct access to high quality, reliable and secure open space. The street pattern defined by the blueprint proposed new mental health facilities would occupy the same size buildings. The topography of the existing site presented opportunities to adapt to the car parking and services and increases below the perimeter of the building for other uses, including a small cafe and a garden in the southeast corner (not yet realized ). The construction cost was £ 23m and the building was completed in April 2009.

Wandsworth Acute Unit at Springfield University Hospital, exterior garden