Right in between the pandemic, at Shanmugam Associates we got an exciting opportunity to design a 300- bed mother and child hospital for the well-established Kauvery Hospitals group that had its beginnings in Tiruchirappalli.
Project Name: Maa Kauvery
Studio Name: Shanmugam Associates
Project location: Trichy, India
Completion Year: July, 2024
Gross Built Area: 1,95,000 sqft
Photo credits: Denis Amritraj, Maniyarasan R
The initial brief given by the CEO of Kauvery Hospitals was that the full spectrum of paediatric, maternity and gynaecology care needs to be planned under one roof, thereby offering comprehensive healthcare to women & children coming in from the Tier-2 town of Tiruchirappalli and the surrounding villages. The intent was to plan a facility that transforms the conventional hospital experience into a calming, mother & child-friendly environment. The multi-disciplinary team therefore offers comprehensive care so patients can spend less time at the hospital.
Streamlining circulation across programs was thought of in order to optimize birthing and paediatric facilities. Surgical care is placed in level two therefore offering a sterile environment with intensive care are in close proximity in level 3. Privacy of couples looking to conceive children through IVF is addressed through elevator connectivity directly to the basement parking. High footfall outpatient care and diagnostics are located in level 1. BMT is placed in level 5 taking sterility and quiet into consideration. Prioritizing quiet and healing, inpatient bed units are offered in levels 3 to 5.
Navigating through a hospital environment could be overwhelming to patients and caregivers. The design care at Maa- Kauvery has been scaled down for ease of circulation by simplifying through experiential graphics and wayfinding. The jungle themed graphic storyboard was planned, weaving a narrative across the floors that exudes an international appeal yet with a domestic relatability. Interactive panels in waiting areas, pastel hues-based graphics in patient rooms and child friendly furniture across floors were planned bearing in mind the visiting young patients. Spatial planning for the waiting areas was done with generous volume & scale in order to reduce the discomforting waiting experience.
Celebration of new life and empathy for anxious parents with sick children were the primary design drivers. Bearing these factors in mind the design was addressed by incorporating a healthy interior environment to enhance quick recovery.
Maa Kauvery Hospital’s LEED-rated structure demonstrates its adherence to sustainable practices, incorporating:
