Ohtel --- Part 3

3 Analysis

3.1 How to interpret the concept of “the focused factory” to the design of care hotel

- The Street vs. The circulation of Kunsthal Rotterdam

In the Ohtel, “The Street” works as main structure to connect all the functions in this building. Making these consecutive spaces in “The Street” also become the places for exercising is the key concept of this care hotel. However, how to arrange these spaces in the building to attract patient to do exercise there autonomously is a very important issue for this project. Especially when these spaces are designed for the 3 phases of rehabilitation, these spaces should definitely be given different spatial qualities. How to arrange all the different spatial qualities and create a continuous circuit to connect the continuously changing spatial experience is another crucial issue for this project.

Museum usually has very well-arranged routing to guide the visitors. In the Kunsthal Rotterdam, its continuous circuit connects all the exhibition rooms and forms a strong order to guide the visitors from entrance to exit. The spatial quality of each space in this building has its own character. When these spaces are connected with each other, they can create a continuously changing spatial experience. Especially in this case, ramp and corridor are not only used for connectivity. They are treated as the important parts of the spatial experience, and also can work as the exhibition space. This double use of ramp and corridor is very valuable for my design because it shows the potential of these spaces.

Figure 3.1.1-2
Diverse spaces along the continuous circuit provide different functions and spatial qualities
Source: El Corquis 53+79 OMA/Rem Koolhaas



Figure 3.1.4-5
The continuous circuit connecting the spaces from plaza to roof garden
Source: El Corquis 53+79 OMA/Rem Koolhaas

- Shouldice Hospital vs. “Ohtel”

In the theory of the focused factory, quality can be improved by focusing on accomplishing one task. For example, in the Shouldice Hospital, patient are encouraged or forced to leave their beds and walk more for rehabilitation because surgery and rehabilitation are equally important for healing. They are given less amenities in the room and the meals are served in the dining room. Also, the staff always prompts patients to do more exercise. Inspired by the Shouldice Hospital, in the Ohtel, patients are also encouraged to leave their room to do exercise after their knees regain some range of motion. Patients can do the exercises which correspond to different phases of rehabilitation in different spaces of “The Street”.

3.2 How to create a low stress healing environment by daylight and green

- Case study: The REHAB Basel, Herzog & de Meuron

According to Ulrich, green and daylight are two of the factors for creating low stress healing environment. In the REHAB Basel, Herzog & de Meuron use daylight, green and wood to create a relaxed healing environment. The 8 courtyards in the building provide daylight to the corridor, collective spaces, and patient’s room. The patient’s room on the top floor can also get skylight from a specially designed “light sphere” on the roof. The 8 courtyards contain different types of garden which bring the green view to the interior space. They also provide the outdoor green space for the patients to do exercise or walk. Wooden material is widely used in this building. Its façade, sunblind, floor, the ceiling in the patient’s room and the deck in the garden are all made by different kinds of wood. Wood makes this building like a pavilion or garden architecture which successfully responds the client’s wish that they don’t want to have a new REHAB centre look or feel like a hospital[1].

Figure 3.2.1 Patient’s room
Source: El Croquis 109/110

Figure 3.2.2
Ground floor plan
Source: El Croquis 109/110

[1] El Corquis 109/110 Herzog & de Meiron, 2002, El Croquis, pp.158-187