A general practice that “charms” its unpromising site with its “sculptural form” has been shortlisted for architecture's most prestigious award, the Stirling prize.
The £1.2m ($1.8m) curved white building, which is next to the Hammersmith flyover in west London, houses a four-partner practice and was completed last year.
It is the first newly built building to be designed by Guy Greenfield Architects of central London, although the firm has refurbished 14 other doctors' surgeries. It had to satisfy three clients: the practice; the Hammersmith, Hounslow and Ealing Health Authority; and the Riverside Healthcare Trust. It also had to provide quiet and privacy for the doctors' consulting rooms on a busy, noisy site.
To overcome the problem of noise, the building has a single internal corridor on the curved side next to the flyover, on each of the first and second floors, which provides sound insulation for the doctors' rooms. The consulting rooms themselves overlook a secluded courtyard.
The judges, from the Royal Institute of British Architects, said: “We considered this to be an inspired architectural solution, both in response to the difficult site and the involvement of the three separate client bodies.
“We considered the building a landmark ‘gateway’ for the borough of Hammersmith and an inspired example of the potential of health-related buildings to contribute positively to the urban realm. A medical consultation in this building must be a positive experience.”
The winner of the prize, who is to be chosen from a shortlist of seven, will be announced on 20 October.
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PAUL TYAGI
“A medical consultation in this building must be a positive experience”