The Hospital, whose construction was mainly financed by the Luxembourg Development Cooperation and private donors of Friendship Luxembourg has been named the world’s best new building.
The brick structure located in the southern region of Bangladesh won the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) international prize awarded in recognition of transformative buildings that demonstrate innovative thinking, execution excellence and peculiar contribution to its users.
Located in a highly water-logged region, a distinct attribute of the hospital is its peculiar design that preserves rainwater through its zigzag waterway.
"Rising sea levels caused by global warming have turned the surrounding landscape of grain fields into flooded areas, making the groundwater too saline to be used for normal purposes," the building’s lead architect Kashef Chowdhury told the Guardian, while stressing the role of well-ventilated and calming ambiance in the wellbeing of patients.
"When someone is ill or needs care, one of the most important things is the mental aspect, not just the physical care. I think the kind of space you inhabit during treatment - with the view of the water and the trees, the sound of the birds, the feel of the breeze - contributes greatly to healing," said Chowdhury.
The 50-bed hospital offers polyclinic and neonatal services and has a medical laboratory and three operating theatres to cater to the health needs of deprived and vulnerable populations. After making the initial shortlist in July last year, the building won the award ahead of 16 other entries from 11 countries including buildings by David Chipperfield and Wilkson Eyre.
The building architect previously won the Aga Khan award linked to the architectural design of the Friendship Centre, a training centre in northern Bangladesh which was also largely funded by Luxembourg donors.