Pediatric ward in Yaoundé, Cameroon

Elisa Valero

The new Aladina Pavilion is a new building for children and mothers, constructed as an extension of the Dominican Hospital San Martín de Porres in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
The neighbourhood where the hospital is located is a sprawling dense area with scarce facilities. Water supply in non-existent and electrical supply is insufficient due to frequent blackouts and power cuts. This Yaoundé neighbourhood is growing very fast in the midst of a lush and exuberant natural environment. The rapid informal settlement and a lack of infrastructures and services are the context in which the new paediatric ward will help meet the basic healthcare needs of hundreds of families and children.

The extension project is designed is designed with large, sloping roofs and wide eaves that collect rainwater, which is stored in gravity-fed tanks for use in the bathrooms. The climate is temperate year-round, with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 30°C. The building features concrete latticework that protects from direct sunlight and rain while providing cross-ventilation. This facade, which does not require glass, incorporates insect screens to protect the openings from insects and other animals.
The building design has been developed with interdisciplinary collaboration. The program has been defined working hand by hand with the Saint Martin Hospital’s personnel, attending all their needs and specific requirements. The building system has been developed in Cameroon with a local engineer and builder. Local resources have been used and local manufacturers have been involved in the design process.
Embracing the foundational understanding of architecture as a tool for solving human problems, the design and calculation of this hospital extension aims to reduce the use of resources. The final goal it is to to provide the right place for the care of children.

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Elisa Valero ES

http://www.elisavalero.com
c/ Belén 17 | 18009 Granada