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Diabetic Emporium
Project No. 020
The Diabetic Emporium is a specialist healthcare facility that provides care to patients living with diabetes. Located in the heart of Polokwane, the core design challenge was to promote wellness through the architecture.
Project Details
Client
Location
Area
Year
Project Type
Status
Private
Polokwane, Limpopo
900 m²
2022
Health + Science
Construction
Design Intent
Located in a market that is certainly not short of healthcare facilities, the design intent of this clinic was centred around differentiation and futurism right from the onset.
Our approach was to carefully consider the relationship between the street and the building facade in order to create a unique and inviting experience. This was achieved by dissolving the boundary wall and replacing it with the full extent of the building mass, which was then delicately concealed behind a light timber screen - promoting privacy and security at the same time.
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Experience
Off-set from the street, the building recedes into the site in order to first welcome you in, and second to allow easier vehicular access from the busy road. From here, the composite timber screen directs your eye to the first plane - an extended wall reaching out as though it were a helping hand.
Here you are greeted by Rigard van der Muelen's 'Unravel' statue - interpreted to symbolize the state of living with diabetes and being healed at the same time.
At this point, you are sheltered by a cantilevered set of roofs floating effortlessly above the vehicular entrance and the pedestrian main entrance - these lead you to a one-of-a-kind drive-thru pharmacy and main reception respectively.
The vehicular access road, located at the furthest point from the one-way direction of traffic flow, leads you to the laboratories, Radiology department and Emergency Room, where additional parking is provided and a dedicated Ambulance Bay leads to the ER entrance.
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