Alberta Children?s Hospital is attuned perfectly to the needs of its young patients. And it?s no wonder ? architects from Kasian Architecture spent several days interviewing chronically sick children (some as young as eight) before starting their design.

So instead of a sterile aesthetic, this hospital features bold colors and whimsical touches like four-square window patterns like those in a child?s playhouse. Even the structure?s overall shape was affected -- a complex of shapes resembling stacked toy blocks.

The architects? intensive design workshops also led them to focus on creating a comforting, yet stimulating environment. They began with the positioning of the building, facing it westward with a panoramic view of the Canadian Rockies.

Inside, they created a host of unique amenities, among them a visiting room where children can see their pets, healing gardens, and other family-oriented facilities.

1  2 





CLOSE WINDOW