Foster + Partners releases greenery-enhanced design for Shanghai Luye Lilan Hospital

Image © Foster + Partners

A rendering of the new hospital shows it composed of a cross-shaped volume that features plants and trees in its cascading floors for special "recovery times". The proposed design challenges the traditional hospital model to provide value-based, patient-centric healthcare, that will enhance patient experience and improve recovery times.

"China’s extraordinary growth story presents immense potential to push the boundaries of innovation in healthcare," says Ben Scott, partner, Foster + Partners.

"The Shanghai Luye Lilan Hospital offers an opportunity to create a new world-leading blueprint for healthcare in the future, integrating latest technology and patient-centric care in a flexible facility that is immersed in nature."

"There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that access and views to green spaces can improve recovery times and contribute to better clinical outcomes for patients, while providing a more comfortable workplace for medical staff."

Intimate, domestic scale

The building will be surrounded by a rich landscape and flooded with natural light. Its comparative low-height offers a more intimate and domestic scale, allowing patients to feel at ‘home’ and better connected with the surrounding greenery whilst maximising interconnectivity for staff to create a cross-disciplinary working environment.

A central circulation hub with a full-height open atrium makes wayfinding intuitive and reduces travel times for patients and staff. The building form lends itself to modular planning – the functions and spaces assigned to them are interchangeable, allowing for flexibility to adapt to future changes in the building layout and the integration of new technology.

"We greatly enjoyed the experience of working with Cleveland Clinic on their new facility in Ohio, which is designed to pioneer significant innovation in health education and nurture professional and collaborative relationships between separate disciplines, ultimately raising quality of care. We look forward to continuing the partnership through their connection with Luye Medical on this exciting project in Shanghai, a city that embodies the progressive and ambitious spirit of China," said David Summerfield, head of studio, Foster + Partners.

The hospital will establish clinical specialities such as cardiology, urology, digestive disease, and oncology. The building design will promote collaboration between the different departments by integrating social spaces that encourage chance encounters and knowledge-sharing between staff as well as providing dedicated areas for staff research and learning.