A Reference Design for a New Children’s Hospital
BMJ Architects worked in collaboration with Nightingales to develop the reference design for the new Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Little France, Edinburgh.
Gold Standard Design
The existing Royal Hospital for Sick Children, often fondly known as the Sick Kids, cared for more than 34,000 patients each year and provided a comprehensive range of dedicated children’s services, including its own Accident and Emergency Department. By 2005, the original 1895 city centre building was no longer considered fit for purpose by NHS Lothian.
The new hospital was planned as a gold standard children’s hospital, designed to provide the best possible care environment for patients and a high-quality working environment for staff.
Concept and Strategy
The vision was to create a hospital with a strong and unique presence, valued by patients, families, staff, visitors and the local community, while remaining a landmark building for future generations.
BMJ’s research and design approach centred on the hospital’s main stakeholders: children and their families. The aim was to create a building that felt playful, fun and welcoming, while supporting efficient clinical care.
A central ozone was designed as the heart of the building, incorporating dens, play space, artwork and colourful graphics. The layout was developed to support better working practices and allow staff to focus on care, recovery and patient wellbeing.
Explore the Details
