Children’s Surgical Hospital in Entebbe di Emergency

Thema participated in the pro bono project developed by Renzo Piano and his Studio RPBW in collaboration with Studio TAMassociati and the EMERGENCY Building Division for the Children’s Surgical Hospital in Entebbe operated by EMERGENCY, in Uganda. The polyphonic project gave rise to the hospital which offers free excellent care to children and young people under the age of 18 with surgical needs from all over Africa.

One of the most interesting design challenges concerned the main facade of the hospital, which directly overlooks Lake Victoria. Thema dealt with the technical analysis and design of customised solutions for the construction of the hybrid trapezoidal facade, 8 metres high. The ambitious request of the designers aimed for a transparent architectural solution, to allow the greatest possible contribution of natural light thanks to the use of thin uprights, without intermediate brackets, but also able to reach considerable heights with stability.

Thema, in addition to the construction of all the windows, doors and secondary facades, took care of the 360-degree management of the construction site logistical and project management complexities. In a project like that of Entebbe, the logistical and organisational aspects are even more important than usual.
The project and the construction site were in fact developed with a view to economic and environmental sustainability. In addition to the architectural quality of the facade, particular attention was paid to the simplicity and efficiency of the assembly, installation and future maintenance of a complex machine like that of a hospital.