The story behind the design: Patongo’s Vocational Training Centre

This week Article 25 were delighted to welcome Henning Stummel back to our office. Henning worked with us as a design partner on a Vocational Training Centre in Uganda, which was completed in 2012. The visit gave our current team a chance to listen to his experience of visiting Patongo, and to ask questions about the design and consultation process. 

Henning Stummel sharing his experience with our team.

 How the project began 

In 2010, Jubilee Action (now Chance for Childhood) appointed Article 25 to deliver a children’s education and rehabilitation centre for displaced young people including former child soldiers in Patongo, Uganda. We invited Henning Stummel Architects to collaborate with us on the design. You can read more about the project origin, design, and impact here.  

 The first field trip  

Henning made a field trip to the area to survey the site and begin conversations with the community and students. Meeting the students, and recognising their need to play and learn as part of their recovery, had a profound impact on Henning, and he was keen to listen to their ideas for the centre.  

 Site investigations and community collaboration 

Henning began initial site investigations by exploring the vernacular architecture, surveying the site, meeting the local team, and spending time in conversation with the children.  

The students told him that they felt part of something bigger, with a sense of belonging, when they played football together. One of their key wishes was to have a dedicated space for this. Henning was touched by how football offered the children a safe space to play and recover from trauma. He was spurred on to research the size of football fields and how this could be included in the design.  

One of his most memorable moments was when he was able to let the children know they would have a new pitch, the exact same size as Arsenal’s. He said he’ll never forget how their eyes lit up at the thought of being able to play like the professional footballers they admired.  

 Informed by local architecture and materials 

Henning also explained that by visiting the area, the local architecture gave him insight into what the community had lived through, and what resources they had: the most common materials used for building were soil and recycled metal from aid boxes sent by American charities. None of the buildings had windows and were padlocked for security. It was clear  that shelter from heat and security both needed to be prioritised in the design. 

Cleaning the brickwork, Patongo, Uganda.

 Challenges and solutions in the design process 

There were a number of different challenges in designing the space, both for security reasons and because the site would be off grid. Henning and the team had to accommodate natural filtration and sewage waste systems, meaning toilet use would be rotated after a year so the waste could compost. Storerooms, which housed valuable teaching equipment, needed to be in the centre of the building to protect from theft, and many of the young girls were survivors of rape and forced motherhood, so the training centre had to include a secure daycare area. 

The design also needed to be earthquake resilient - the roof from the colonnade and main roof structure had to be separate, and the building used stabilised earth blocks with reinforced concrete to tie the building to the foundation and ensure corners were strengthened.  

The metal roofs were set at an angle with overhangs and gutters to allow for rainwater harvesting, and also had roof vents which allowed hot air to escape during the day, keeping the buildings at a comfortable temperature for learning. 

We’re grateful to Henning for sharing his experience of working in Patongo with us. It’s a great example of how our commitment to community consultation and using locally-sourced and produced materials informs our design process. 

 How the Centre is being used 12 years on 

The Vocational Training Centre in Patongo continues to thrive and support over 6,000 vulnerable children, with an average of 122 new students joining vocational training programmes each year. They’re learning skills like hairdressing, ICT, tailoring, or making soap to sell. Betty studied hairdressing at the Centre and says: 

 “I got a customer this weekend! My mum wasn’t sure about me studying but is now very happy that I have started earning money. She now encourages me, as she sees the course as key to a better future. I will encourage my friends from school to start courses at the Centre too.” 

Thanks to this space, and the inclusive and responsive design, hundreds of young people who had no future now have the chance to learn a skill and earn an income with pride.  

Safeguarding leprosy research: rebuilding Nepal’s essential lab

Nestled in the forested slopes of the Kathmandu valley, Anandaban Hospital is Nepal’s main specialist centre for leprosy treatment. It’s one of the only places that people affected by leprosy can access reconstructive surgery. But in 2015, a terrible earthquake caused significant damage to the site, and Article 25 were involved in a feasibility study to reconstruct and refurbish the buildings. 

Working with The Leprosy Mission, we have now redesigned and overseen the reconstruction of the hospital’s trauma centre. We’ve continued the partnership, and recently finished the designs for a new, improved research lab next door.

The hospital’s laboratory is currently housed in a former hostel, and lab technicians are working with equipment that desperately needs updating. The outdated conditions have put the lab in danger of losing its government licence – which would mean a huge knowledge gap in the pioneering research it carries out on late-stage leprosy.

The Article 25 team have long experience in the design and construction of medical facilities, as well as creating structures that respond to demanding landscapes and earthquake risks – all vital skills when it comes to designing a hospital site next to the Himalayas.

SOM - a More Than a Building platinum partner - created these striking visuals of how the completed lab will look.

Ground-breaking leprosy research

The lab is unique as it is focused on late-stage treatments for leprosy, which has historically been under-researched. In Nepal, sufferers often won’t visit a hospital in the early stages due to stigma, so they are seeking treatment when the leprosy is at an advanced point. As the hospital treats many of these cases on a day-to-day basis, the clinical side of the research lab is well placed to study and apply the most up-to-date treatments, and in turn share this information with the wider scientific community.

Current phase: a complete design

The design process included many complex elements as Article 25’s Project Architect, Mario Balducci, explains:

“This site is on a steep hill where there is a huge risk of landslides. A lot of work had to go into investigating the ground conditions and making sure that the building, which will have lots of retaining walls, is fit to be structurally resilient in the event of an earthquake.”

The laboratory is also service-heavy, meaning every room has a different practical use. This is why user consultation has been so important, as Mario illustrates: “We've been working closely with the lab team, talking through every decision with them. They have the practical experience of working in the lab and know the kind of problems they're likely to encounter that are unique to that environment. They have given us lots of important information in this respect, for example, they'd rather have a tiled floor rather than an Epoxy floor because of chemical spills. It was very much a discussion about the practicalities of their work and how the design can facilitate this.”

Article 25 now have a complete design for the building, and we are preparing the tender set for local contractors. The design includes a 1,100sqm laboratory and a 500sqm refurbishment across two further buildings which will house a Vivarium, Pharmacy and Blood Bank.

As soon as the design is approved, it will be full steam ahead on receiving and checking tenders, then appointing local contractors.

Cultural design exchange

A clear benefit to both Article 25 staff and the building stakeholders is the exchange of knowledge and culture which arises from every project and influences the final design. Mario talks about some interesting additions that Article 25’s international perspective brought to the project:

“It can be quite cold during the winter in Nepal and hospital staff end up having to wear their coats indoors. So, we’ve proposed a sustainable way to insulate the building, making the environment much more comfortable to work in. Article 25 brings that expertise in this particular building typology and healthcare in general, but also aspects related to bioclimatic design which really benefits users in the long term.”

Locally sourced materials

As we have already completed the Trauma Centre within the Anandaban Hospital complex, we have the advantage of knowing which local materials are suitable and available to use. The Trauma Centre was built with local brick to respect the traditional production and use of this material in Nepal. The lab will use this too. Mario explains the importance of sourcing local materials, something which Article 25 always prioritises:

“Within our design, we try to find and respect local materials and building methods. This also helps when we use local contractors to build our projects. In this case, because it is such a complex building, there are going to be a lot of challenges along the way, so the more we can facilitate the process by choosing materials and techniques that everyone knows and has had experience with, the smoother the process will be.”

A stable future for late-stage leprosy research

The Anandaban Mycobacterial Research Laboratory contributes vital knowledge to the treatment of leprosy, and Article 25 is extremely motivated to continue the project through to completion and give hospital staff the best possible space to work in, which will meet the necessary biosafety standards and safeguard future research.

Saving smiles in Casablanca: Hôpital Bouafi refurbishment

Operation Smile carries out corrective surgery and care for people with cleft palates and lips around the globe. We’re proud to have partnered with the charity’s Morocco branch to design and construct two clinics: one in Oujda, and another underway in Marrakesh. This year, we will complete a rather different project with Operation Smile - refurbishing one entire floor of a hospital in Casablanca.

In Morocco, getting treatment for a cleft lip or palate can change a child’s life. It can give them access to school, a job, and acceptance in society. Our Director of Projects, Bea Sennewald, explains the situation:

“Parents are often quite worried and can hide the children. We’ve seen that it’s common, especially in rural areas, for a child with a cleft palate to be kept at home because of the stigma. They may not even go to school. Creating clinics also teaches awareness.

“There are many steps that lead up to an operation and a lot of steps afterwards, including getting a child to feed properly or learn how to eat; speech therapy or psychological care. This can go on for months and sometimes years, which is why these clinics are so vital.”

The clinics provide this outpatient care, but Operation Smile also needs large, suitable theatres to perform as many operations as possible when their surgeons visit an area. It was great news when the charity was offered space in Hôpital Bouafi, Casablanca.

The hospital decided that an entire floor could be redesigned to create paediatric surgical space. It could be used for Operation Smile missions as well as children’s intensive care during the rest of the year. The Article 25 team got to work designing the layout, theatres and wards, corridors and waiting rooms that this new space needed.

Every detail matters in hospital design

Article 25 has a strong history of working on medical facilities, with around half of our projects sitting in the healthcare sector. This means we understand the design requirements for sterile medical environments. A hospital refurbishment is a complex project to design and manage - you’re working around patients and doctors who must not be disturbed. You can read more about the specifics of our design here.

When working in hospital design, minute details can make a huge difference to patients’ safety and welfare; from the windows in the corridors to the direction of airflow in the operating theatres.

The practical challenges of building inside a working hospital

This build has been a complicated one to manage. As we are working in an existing building, between two hospital floors, we have to take care when removing anything from the site. We can’t risk cutting off any supply to other parts of the building, so we have to map and reroute pipes and ducts very carefully. Bea describes how good communication between Article 25, the local team and the site architect keeps the project running smoothly:

“Almost every morning, we receive pictures of what the team are doing, and we have an architect who makes sure everything stays on track and gets finished in the end. So, on a project like this, it takes a fair amount of involvement in the construction to keep everybody moving forwards and to make sure nobody deviates from the design. A refurbishment between two floors is tricky. This complex healthcare project management is what Article 25 excels at.”

Changing lives across the Casablanca region

The hospital refurbishment will be finished in 2024, ready for hundreds of children to receive life-changing operations.

We have been working with Operation Smile for some time now and Bea has seen first-hand what a difference their services make to local communities:

“I talked to lots of patients after our first Operation Smile clinic opened. There were children, adults and even small babies. It was lovely - they felt well treated and knew somebody cared about them. I think it's a very hopeful experience. One mother said, my child will have a normal childhood now.”

A brighter future for cleft patients in Morocco

As well as the opening of the hospital in Casablanca, construction will begin in 2024 on a new Operation Smile clinic in Marrakesh. We’re proud to partner such an active organisation and look forward to hearing more stories of transformation from the team.

Changing perceptions of disability: CST Inclusive Preschool

In Tanzania, schools have not been built with accessibility in mind. Even though a government policy exists to ensure children with disabilities have the right to primary and secondary education, the lack of accessible spaces makes this very difficult to fulfil.

In 2016, we began working with Able Child Africa and Child Support Tanzania to design an extensive and inclusive school campus that could become a model for the construction of other schools in the country. You can read more about the project's origins here. 

A model school designed for every child

The accessible design of the school enables children with disabilities to join a mainstream school curriculum at age five alongside their able-bodied peers. Key design elements include wide doors for assisted walking or wheelchair use, level access throughout the school, built-in ramps and accessible bathrooms.

The design responds to the particular challenges in the region, offering protection from extremely dry weather. It also uses verandahs and deep overhangs to protect against heavy rain or hot sun, and has built-in earthquake resistance.  

Article 25’s Senior Architect and current Lead Architect on this project, Toby Pear, is excited about further schools using the CST Inclusive Preschool design. He says:

“This project is a first of its kind in the country, which is hugely motivating as we have the chance to make a tangible difference to the local community as well as developing a low-cost exemplar which, with the right partners, could be replicated with very few changes in different sites across Tanzania.”

Breaking news - project update

The project recently entered Phase 5 of construction - in this phase, two more classroom blocks and a suite of accessible toilets will be built. The new blocks will house five classrooms in total. When the project is completed, 200 children will be able to attend classes at the school. Toby reports: “The foundations were successfully laid in December 2023 and everything is on schedule.”

The school already makes use of six completed classroom blocks and a dining hall from previous phases. The dining hall was recently used to train 280 teachers from the region in topics such as inclusion, children’s rights, child protection, and safeguarding.

Phase 5 will be completed by the end of the year.

Keeping things local

The impact of the school reaches the wider community too. All of the materials, the contractor and labourers come from within the locality.

“Employing twenty people to build the foundations for Phase 5, rather than using hired machinery, means these workers are on site earning a wage in a place where unemployment is a huge issue,” Toby explains. “The effect of this is, they can feed their families and contribute to the local economy. Our model of keeping things local, right up to making blocks on site, means minimising imported materials and maximising local labour for everyone’s benefit.”

The strong relationship between Article 25 and the local community offers a further advantage for the project: “We spend a lot of time at the site and have someone on site every day to supervise the build. This puts us in the unique position of being able to improve the design as we go along. We can actively solve problems. It makes Article 25 so much more than a consultant.”

Toby goes on to say how important it is for Article 25 and partners to learn from the community: “It’s a privilege to work with local people on this project. I’ve learnt a lot from them. You quickly realise you need to drop any preconceived ideas about what you thought you knew. It’s the ideas and opinions of the people who will use the buildings, and the wider community, that shape the project and make it a success.”

Future plans and visits

The next planned phases of the project include an office for the school’s staff, a sensory garden and a physiotherapy pool. 

Toby explains that getting beyond the classroom was a key consideration in the planning of this project: “Children with disabilities experience the world differently, so designing an area where students can explore light and textures, with an opportunity for sensory adventure and joy, was vitally important.” 

The Article 25 team will next visit the CST Inclusive Preschool in March. Toby says they are all really looking forward to it: “We can’t wait to talk to the children and wider community to hear about the impact this project has had on people. We want to be able to tell these stories widely and help make the case for more schools like this to be built in Tanzania.” 

We’re thrilled that the CST Inclusive Preschool continues to develop and is now recognised as a model school by the Tanzanian government.

You can read more about the design on the project page.

Rising from the ashes: Montserrat’s New National Hospital

29 years ago, Montserrat’s brand-new hospital was destroyed by the volcanic eruption that buried the capital city in mud and ash and made half of this Caribbean island uninhabitable. Now, finally, work is starting to build a New National Hospital on Montserrat, designed by Article 25.

Our architects on the project, Branca Pegado and Joe Davis, were in Montserrat a few weeks ago to hold public information sessions, talk to the Ministry of Health and visit the site. They were excited to see that work to prepare the site for the new hospital had just begun.

For the past 29 years, Montserrat residents have been using a ‘temporary’ hospital set up in a former primary school in St John’s. This was never intended to be a permanent solution for the island. The current hospital consists of eight separate buildings, many of which are old and not hurricane-resistant. Our New National Hospital will be built on the same site with a completely new, innovative design that is much more suitable.

Construction is due to begin in 3-6 months’ time, and should take two years to complete – we will be managing the build to make sure it’s completed on time and on spec. The building contract is going out to tender soon, and we will support our government client to choose a company to work with.

Breaking news is that the Montserrat National Trust has offered to research and provide all the plants for the site, as a project to reforest the area using native species!

Montserrat needs a unique hospital

Around 5,000 people live on the island of Montserrat. Despite the small population, it needs a hospital with a wide range of services and departments - A&E, maternity services, radiography, outpatients – quite unusual for a hospital of its size.

“In the UK, you can be transferred to another nearby hospital that has the specialist services you need,” Branca explains. “But in Montserrat, that’s not practical. The nearest hospital is on another island like Antigua, which requires a plane or boat to reach. And while it’s not that far (90 minutes by sea), the journey is dependent on Caribbean weather conditions. Services are often suspended or delayed due to severe weather.

“Until this month, patients needing a CT scan had to fly to Antigua on a tiny aircraft – if it wasn’t too windy. I’m excited the hospital recently got funding for its own CT scanner which arrived at the end of last year and is already in the process of being installed.”

This project poses some other unique challenges too.

The delivery of essential hospital supplies can take months to be delivered due the remote location of the island, so the hospital design needed to include lots of storage room to accommodate these bulk supplies.

Importantly, the hospital needs to be resilient to earthquakes and hurricanes. The previous Montserrat hospital was destroyed by a combination of hurricanes and earthquakes. Our design therefore includes specialist measures like hurricane-resistant shutters that can lower over every open corridor and window.

It’s also very difficult to get building materials to Montserrat – they all have to be delivered on a container ship, so more items can’t be ordered spontaneously.

But these are the sorts of challenges we love. Article 25’s expertise in designing buildings to withstand natural disasters, and getting projects delivered in remote locations where resources are scarce all contributed to the government choosing us to design and deliver the New National Hospital.

As Mr. Hannes de Bruin, the government’s project manager said: “Once this hospital is built, it’s going to be the safest building in Montserrat.”

“We know what works in tropical climates,” says Branca. “For instance, plasterboard isn’t going to be suitable here, the climate is too humid and it isn’t widely used so it would be challenging to find professionals with installation experience - we know this from working in similar tropical environments. When we first visit a site like this, we even go to the local B&Q or equivalent and see what materials are readily available there so we can keep imports to a minimum.

“Our cost consultants on this project are based in St Lucia and our engineering partners have worked with us on other builds in the Caribbean.”

With a project this unique, we always strive to make sure the design meets the real needs of the people who are going to work in and use the building. In the design phase we spent many weeks consulting with every person who works at the hospital, from surgeons to cleaners, so we know that what we are creating will actually work in practice.

We’re thrilled to see the project getting off the ground as we enter 2024 – the people of Montserrat have needed this hospital for a long time. You can read more about the design on the project page. It’s fun to note that this will be the first public building in Montserrat with a lift!

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The project is funded by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office through Montserrat’s Capital Investment Programme for Resilient Economic Growth.