Collage of the Senses: Healing Devices for Transitional Pediatric Care in Calgary, Alberta

Abstract

The current approach to pediatric healthcare design throughout North America produces three care scales: hospitals, clinics, and home care services. These forms of healthcare architecture often fail to create spaces that are genuine healing environments for children due to a lack of accommodation for families and friends. This thesis develops a mid-rise clinic as Transitional Pediatric Care Centre in Calgary, Alberta, which aims to address the transitional healthcare needs between hospital and home. Drawing from phenomenology and using collage as a design tool, the project integrates sandstone ruins of Calgary’s first major hospital. The program provides suites for patients and families, and explores the roles of play in the healing process of children experiencing body-image and body-mobility related medical conditions. The scope is specific to allow exploration of key design decisions, but is transferable and well suited for other transitional care units aimed at inclusive reintegration into the community.