A Study on Open Wards

from Design 9 Architecture Studio with Prof. Chris Harnish & Prof. Chitsanzo Lamba-Isaac

In Malawi, the rapid spread of COVID-19 threatens hospital infrastructure by exposing high numbers of patients and staff to risk of infection. Infectious disease transmission is serious concern among Malawi's already strained healthcare facilities, suggesting that innovations in architectural design can play a role in improving existing conditions.

Through in-depth research and design, this project rethinks the typical Ministry of Health (MOH) open ward by asking: "How can programmatic organization, building assembly modifications, and ventilation strategies lower the risk of airborne transmission to improve the safety of healthcare workers and patients when compared to existing models of open wards?" The design proposal explores sustainable, practical, and efficient advancements to the Malawi open ward at the district hospital level.

Analysis of Existing Open Ward Conditions

Priya Badri
B. Architecture '21
Minor in Sustainable Urban Preservation and Regeneration
Listening to Journey, Queen, or Coldplay

Architecture to me isn't just about making a space based on baseline needs, it's actively understanding cultural, societal norms and how the architecture responds in a manner that can enhance those attributes.

What innovative ideas are explored in this design?
This project mainly explored the current economic conditions of Malawi and what materials were most affordable for the development oft these wall assemblies. Factors like contribution to environmental health were taken into account when researching multiple organic materials to improve conditions for the wall assembly systems.
-Priya Badri

What inspired the design for this project?
In Malawi, health infrastructure systems have been built to provide just the bare minimum of needs for healthcare services. Many things like sanitary conditions, air quality conditions based on local surroundings and just the environment of the hospital all have cause for diseases and pollution to be passed through the air and increase risks for the patients receiving care in those spaces. Through a series of material investigations, differently structured wall assemblies with some of these organic, natural materials can aid in reducing those risk factors and simultaneously improve performance. Most of these selected materials provide a method of filtration to improve air quality and environmental performance of the facilities.
-Priya Badri

Building Assembly Modifications

Programmatic Organization

"It was really gratifying to get positive remarks from the stakeholders knowing their level of experience in and out of the architecture field."

The research side of things really opened my eyes to how important that kind of knowledge is to designing and the need for it. I think my favorite part of these studios has been engaging with stakeholders, especially medical professionals. We had to understand how to communicate our ideas and designs in a whole other way in order to have a successful and productive conversation with them. It was really gratifying to get positive remarks from the stakeholders knowing their level of experience in and out of the architecture field.
-Kaitlyn Cusumano