Located next to Chengdu East High Speed Railway Station, the Perennial International Health and Medical Hub (PIHMH) is positioned as a one-stop premier medical centre providing top-quality medical services in China. Hosting both local and foreign specialists, it offers specialist expertise such as Cardiology and Paediatrics, to name a few.

Originally designed to be a shopping centre with two blocks, the project presented an opportunity to rethink the cold and sterile interior design typical of healthcare facilities.

Not limited to re-designing of its interiors, the spatial programs of the two blocks were also re-planned in order to accommodate and appropriate the specialist clinics and new facilities in the medical centre. This had to be done with careful consideration of the existing structures and amenities such as the Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) rooms and lifts.

Aside from serving as a central node of circulation, the atrium also serves as an oasis for relaxation. Making full use of the space, a café was positioned in this atrium, providing visitors with not just a waiting area but a place for refreshments and respite.

Moving away from the cold sterility of a hospital, a warm colour scheme with shades of brown and bronze is applied to the interior. Materials selected are also textural, with timber and fabric contrasting against the bronze strips that line the interior.

Lighting quality was also considered in the medical centre’s interior design. To balance out the harsh white fluorescent lights frequently used in healthcare buildings, warm indirect lighting was used in public spaces such as the waiting areas, enhancing the warm colour palette.

Clean orderly lines also aid in creating a calm and positive environment. Integrating the centre’s local context, simple art and murals of flowers native to Chengdu offer positive distraction to reduce anxiety and create a positive healing environment. The overall aesthetic effect is a comfortable, warm and hospitable environment that subtly embraces visitors in a relaxing and assuring atmosphere.