Sustainable Healthcare Facility in Satkhira Shortlisted for RIBA International Prize 2021

The 80-bed Friendship Hospital in Satkhira, designed by Architect Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury of Urbana, has been shortlisted for the prestigious RIBA International Prize 2021. This hospital is a sustainable facility that not only addresses climate change but also provides a calm and composed environment for patients. The hospital's design incorporates a natural cooling system, water harvesting, and a fabric-first approach, making it an exemplary model for economically challenged communities in rural areas.

Key Takeaways:

• The Friendship Hospital in Satkhira has been shortlisted for the RIBA International Prize 2021 for its sustainable design and healthcare facilities.
• The hospital is designed to withstand climate change and provide a calm environment for patients, with a natural cooling system, water harvesting, and a fabric-first approach.
• The hospital's design considers the local context and incorporates locally sourced materials, including hand-made bricks, to reduce costs and encourage local manufacture and enterprise.
• The hospital's filtration system uses local equipment and suppliers to purify rainwater, making it a practical solution to the region's salty groundwater issue.
• The design of the hospital is inspired by the deltaic landscape, incorporating a 'canal' to separate inpatient and outpatient areas and collect valuable rainwater.
• Architect Kashef Mahboob Chowdhury notes that designing a hospital in a rural area requires more sensitivity, knowledge, and experience than building in urban neighborhoods.
• The hospital's design and construction process aimed to create a sense of community by hiring local labor and craftsmen.

Statistics:

• The 80-bed Friendship Hospital is a significant healthcare facility in the region, providing medical services to the local community.
• The hospital's sustainable design features, including natural cooling and water harvesting, aim to reduce costs and carbon emissions.
• The filtration system used in the hospital was set up at a very low cost using local equipment and suppliers.
• The hospital's design and construction process employed locally sourced materials, including hand-made bricks, to reduce costs and encourage local manufacture and enterprise.
• The RIBA International Prize 2021 winner will be announced on December 2.

Sources:

• "80-bed Friendship Hospital in Satkhura shortlisted for RIBA International Prize 2021" by Dhaka Tribune, 2021
• RIBA International Prize website, 2021.