Key Design Concepts

The planning and development of The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK), being Hong Kong’s first flagship Chinese medicine (CM) hospital, must be able to meet the unique regulatory requirements in Hong Kong and the needs in fulfilling the given missions and functions. As a change driver which seeks to promote the service development, education and training, innovation and research, and become a reference model for many other regimes, the CMHHK will be planned and designed to be capable to rise to the challenges ahead as a result of the ever developing knowledge, skills and technologies in CM. The key design concepts include:

(1) Evolving development
(2) People first
(3) Upholding CM tradition and culture
(4) Intelligent hospital
(5) Green and environmentally friendly
(6) Visibility
 

(1) Evolving development

It is expected that the service scope, operation mode, technology adoption and service demand of the CMHHK will be on an evolving path. Thus, the design of the CMHHK will be versatile and flexible by adopting features including modular design, flexible architecture and information technology (IT) orientation etc. As a result, the spacing and facilities arrangement of the CMHHK can be adjusted flexibly according to future evolving service needs and development.

Learn more about modular design of inpatient and day wards of the CMHHK.

 

(2) People first

The CMHHK puts people first. Personalised care which are safe, convenient and with high quality will be provided to patients. The CMHHK will also provide a safe and convenient working environment to staff. The physical environment, layout, design, technology and IT adoption, use of information and the workflow design will be:

 

(3) Upholding CM tradition and culture

The CMHHK aspires to be not only the first of its kind in Hong Kong, but also be missioned to demonstrate the genuine CM ideas as well as to promote CM to patients and the society. The unique identity of the CMHHK will be reflected in the architectural design where CM traditions and culture are upheld while the unique features of the hospital such as CM meeting western medicine (WM), the infusion of intelligence and modernisation into traditional CM being are also presented as contrasting features. The CMHHK, being a key platform to promote CM and Chinese medicines (CMs) (中藥) in Hong Kong, will take every opportunity in its physical design to foster the patients and visitors of the hospital to have a better understanding of CM including CMs, which would enhance the communication between CM practitioners and patients for deliberation of condition and treatment program under CM theory. With basic CM knowledge, patients and visitors are encouraged to adopt CM approach in their daily lives in maintaining good health.

 

(4) Intelligent hospital

An intelligent hospital brings together the architecture and design of the hospital, innovative technologies, application of IT, design of workflow and the best healthcare practice to achieve optimal patient care and working environment. The key concepts are:

 

(5) Green and environmentally friendly

Energy consumption of a hospital is high due to operational requirements such as 24-hour air-conditioning, use of medical equipment and service support appliances. Material consumption is also high due to requirements in infection control and waste management. The CMHHK will adopt a multi-pronged approach in saving energy, minimising the use of disposable consumables, migrating to paperless operation as far as possible and instituting a green environment around the hospital premises. It will also take opportunity to promote environmental protection, nature conservation and sustainable development to the users and community.

 

(6) Visibility

The design concept of upholding CM culture, intelligent hospital and environmental friendliness will be visible to patients and visitors to facilitate understanding of their applications, underlying objectives, knowledge and impact.


Video Clip of the CMH design (with Cantonese narration only)

Overall architectural spatial layout

The CMHHK is built on a sloping hillside, surrounded by greenery and overlooking the sea. It follows and rises with the natural contours of the hillside.

The design for the CMHHK represents the unique relationship between the tradition of CM culture and the contemporary image of the technological advancement of CM practice, expressed in distinctly contemporary architectural language that embraces the fundamental spirit of its roots. It is also a green hospital powered by modern technology. The central garden and the medicinal plant garden adopted design concepts inspired from natural landscape, bringing nature and nourishing wellness in the CMHHK.

Respecting Context
Respecting Context
Establishing Form
Establishing Form
Greening the Campus
Greening the Campus
Wellness
Wellness
10 Oct 2024