Steven Holl Architects have designed the new Maggie’s Centre in London on the premises of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Okalux made a glass façade that brings trough glass wall light to the inside. Have a look.
The site in the London district of Smithfield is stony and full of history. Great Britain’s oldest hospital and London’s oldest church were founded here. The design of the edge of the new construction is especially effective: The curved glazing keeps a respectful distance exposing the detailed corner blocks of the old construction to the viewer. The new construction does not try to copy the old nor does it want to dominate it, but uses its own architectural language to refer to the material and characteristic attributes of the surroundings.
Rhythmicized façade
The appearance of the façade changes depending on the time of day and position of the observer. During the day, the translucent glass and the colored lenses seem very homogenous, almost like alabaster, so that the façade blends in with the neighboring stone buildings. In the evening, when the artificial light is turned on, the building component glows from the inside out.
See also: A colourful glass artwork for London
Raf Makda
The glow of the colored lenses in the interior is especially impressive. The effect is reminiscent of the meditative radiance of church windows.
As he has often done in the past, Steven Holl uses the Kapilux functional glass from Okalux to achieve this alternating ambience. Capillary inserts integrated in the cavity diffuse daylight deeply into the interior thus giving it an even, soft and atmospheric illumination while increasing the intensity of the colored lenses.
Okalux worked very intensively with Steven Holl Architects and the façade builder seele to produce curved insulating glass with colored capillary inserts for Maggie’s Centre. The geometry of the glass, in which a flat area merges directly with a curved one, was especially demanding for production. The multitude of special formats was also exceptionally large.
Also interesting: BAFTA headquarters in London get dynamic solar shading rooflights
The persistent developmental work was definitely worth the effort. With its luminous rooms conveying meditative peace and security, the new construction offers the suitable setting for emotional and practical help.
