Many Congratulations to Bayt Abdullah Children's Hospice

Well done to all those dedicated board members, management, supporters, sponsors, volunteers and employees. It is truly a wonderful day to see this project reach it's goal and be ready to receive its young patients and their families.

Bayt Abdullah is a place that allows children to maintain a sense of normalcy as they face varying phases of their life-threatening illnesses.  When completed, it will be the largest inpatient health center in the world dedicated to terminally ill children.

Spaces within the complex are designed to allow families to conduct normal daily activities in a non-institutional setting.  Mother and child suites, which are essentially patient rooms with hospital beds, will have living and dining areas for family visits and residential-grade lighting for a comfortable ambiance. The hospice’s rainbow room is a communal space where families come together to pray and, eventually, to say goodbye to their children.

Design

Many of the play areas’ design elements were drawn from research the NBBJ team conducted on educational spaces for children. What they found developed into ideas for structured and unstructured play.  For example, the dining center includes “cocoon” areas for the children.  The major corridor that links the north and south points of the building serves the main play area and is filled with interactive elements to accommodate a range of motor skills and technological interactivity, as well as low-tech imaginary play.

Interior elements draw upon natural themes to bring the outdoors indoors.  The plaza area is designed around a sea motif, a reminder of the water nearby.  Chalet rooms have fiber optic lighting over the bed resembling a sky-blue starry sky.

With thanks to ASID for the photos and info.

LWDLIK - And now I'm half-way through a box of kleenex because reading this is just overwhelming. Tears of happiness and pride in humanity.

Have just read in the Arab Times (page 5) opening was scheduled today to be inaugerated by HH the Amir but Deputy Amir and Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah will conduct  the inaugeration instead.