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Maggie's Centre Design Competition

Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres are landmark buildings which have been designed with one purpose in mind – to offer those suffering from cancer a place where they can find relief from the consequences of their condition.

'Architecture of Hope', an exhibition currently taking place in Glasgow, will allow others to explore the many Maggie’s centres which have been set up across the country thanks to millions of pounds raised for charity. The Lighthouse, Scotland’s centre for Architecture and Design, is hosting a showcase of 13 centres which have been opened in Scotland and England or will be completed next year.

To coincide with the Architecture of Hope exhibition, a competition was launched in early summer inviting students of Standard Grade and Higher Levels to create a design to add to the Maggie's portfolio of great architecture.

Joinly organised by Maggie's Cancer Care Centres and The Lighthouse, the competition invited students to submit designs inspired by the work of Maggie’s.

Applicants could be individuals or classes, and the competition brief asked students to submit plans of their design in 3 x A4 or A3 format, comprising plan and perspective drawings and a short paragraph describing the design.  Students were asked to consider the building layout and how it would help people relax and feel comfortable, and additionally how the building would inspire people through space, light and materials.

Organisers were hugely impressed by the response - over 40 entrants - and the standard of entries.  Following the judging process, carried out by organisers and Gerry Grams, City Design Adviser for Glasgow City Council, a worthy winner emerged in the shape of 'The Leaf Sanctuary' by Laura Kerr and Catriona Brown, both 13, and Standard Grade students of Hermitage Academy, Helensburgh. A Commendation was also awarded to Todd Barrie of the Grange Academy, Kilmarnock. Both projects are illustrated in detail below.

Winners were invited to the opening of the new Maggie’s at Gartnavel
Hospital, designed by Rem Koolhaas, and won a work experience placement with Reiach & Hall Architects in Edinburgh.

The winning projects and all other entrants are currently on display in the Architecture of Hope exhibition at The Lighthouse from October 2011.

Gerry Grams, City Design Adviser for Glasgow City Council commented:

"The proposition of inviting senior school pupils to embark on an understanding of what, how and why Maggie’s Centres exist is an intriguing one – a challenge of creating environments and objects and how people inhabit and react to those spaces and each other goes beyond the setting of a design problem.

The collaboration with The Lighthouse has been stimulating – one which I hope can be built on for future years, as the Maggie's Centre programme continues to develop and grow and to be mutually beneficial to both organisation and school design teaching."

Winner
The Leaf Santuary by Laura Kerr and Catriona Brown [Hermitage Academy]

The Leaf Sanctuary is inspired by nature, for instance our unique and undulating leaf shaped roof rises and falls like a natural hill side. A natural stream surrounds the centre, we have also incorporated a soothing waterfall that flows into the stream creating a scene enironment.

The natural design extends into an orchard with walkways into the forest. We have many windows which let in natural light including a glass roof embedded in the leaf design. The shapes are soft and smooth with natural curves that blend with nature.

The sanctuary's facilities include a kitchen, gym, large pool and a cafe where the residents can socialise and relax. We have included opportunities such as cooking classes, music lessons, art classes and aerobics.

The site on which our santctuary is situated is peaceful and private. As a result of the architectural design the residents will find our centre beneficial to their health.

Judge's Comments:

‘The Leaf Sanctuary’ proposal provides a well considered approach from the location of the building in its surroundings to the interior qualities such a building should possess. The designers have created a strong concept around which to build a series of stimulating environments for the users of the building, as well as sensitivity as to how the landscape would contribute to a feeling of well-being. A subtle and articulate solution which merits development!'

Above: The Leaf Sanctuary

Laura and Catriona along with their Art and Design Teacher Richard Millar took time out to speak to www.scottisharchitecture.com about 'The Leaf Sanctuary' and their reaction to winning the competition...

 

“Mr Millar told us about the competition before the summer holidays,” explains Catriona. “It was a new challenge, but we’re both interested in architecture so we wanted to give it a go. We’re both passionate about art and design, so decided to collaborate on the project. We worked very well together and at one point we were actually drawing on the same page. We also came up with the idea together, and got inspiration from each other. (In terms of our idea) we wanted to look at the theme of nature, so we looked at natural materials such as wood and also (explored) the colours of nature.”

 

“We researched the Maggie’s Centres,” continues Laura. " We looked at the buildings to see what they had in common, such as the open spaces, and we liked that they are all very different in terms of their architecture. I hadn’t really thought much about architecture before, but this project has really got me interested in it now. When I heard we had won the competition I couldn’t believe it! Going to the opening of Maggie’s Gartnavel was amazing. We love the design of the building and especially the courtyard. Our work placement at Reiach and Hall Architects is happening on Tuesday 6th December, and we’re both really excited about the trip. We think that the work experience is a really great opportunity.”

 

“Catriona and Laura are in third year, first year Standard Grade, and are both only 13. They were in the Standard Grade course for only a couple of weeks when we got the e-mail about the competition," explains Richard Millar.  "I opened the competition up to all my third year classes and we got some good responses, but the best definitely was Laura’s and Catriona’s project - they put a lot of time into it. They went away over the summer holidays, and came back with amazing A3 sheets with lots of ideas, natural photographs, research on Maggie’s Centres, and concept ideas for rooms. The whole idea about the organic design and the leaf forms for the roof, were all worked out by the girls over the summer holidays. They managed to do all this in their own time, meeting at each other’s houses.

 

When term resumed we sat down and I looked at the project and thought ‘what a great start’. I offered a couple of little pointers such as how to do the 3D drawing – that was part of the class anyway as we teach perspective in third year.  So the girls took that on board and went away and worked further on it.  They worked in tandem in their own time and lunch times and then came up with a concept of how the overall building would look (with a little help from me and a few tweaks). The girls then researched the type of therapies that could be included in their Maggie’s Centre, and came up with the idea of the swimming pool themselves and the idea of the underground space. I was so impressed by what they came up with. Everybody in the school was amazed by the final design, including the head teacher. As the competition was across standard grade and higher, for the girls to win across the board is absolutely amazing.

 

What I liked about the competition was that it was open to Standard Grade students as our Higher students couldn’t have taken the project on, as they were involved in other things. When I saw that it was open to Standard Grade students and when I saw that it was run by Maggie’s Centres and The Lighthouse, that ticked the boxes in my head. We teach architecture in the school in 4th year, and we have lots of people who want to take architecture further when they get to Advanced Higher.  But to have two kids in S3 who are now passionate about architecture and the prospect of taking it further, maybe as a career, is great.”

Above: The Leaf Sanctuary

Commendation
Todd Barrie [Grange Academy]

Above: Todd Barrie's Commended Project

The key elements I have considered during the designing of Maggie's are:

Colours; light and peaceful
Privacy
Connection with nature
Windows and natural wood effect
Open social space
A large kitchen table

The colours I have used on the inside and out are natural and easy on the eye, they don't jump out at you. I have also tried to keep the constrast of colours down so as to make it more peaceful and less of an eyesore. I have inserted a garden area and a decking area so the centre has a positive connection with nature. The natural wood effect and the large windows are yet another example of a connection with nature. In my plan there is a large social area where people can site on large sofas or sit around tables and socialise with the other people in the centre. A large kitchen table is also important as it is another places where people can congregate and eat.

Judge's Comments:
'Todd’s elements of design are well defined and sit at the heart of this well-planned and architecturally articulate proposal. He has recognised that all details – to the kitchen table, are key to creating a comfortable environment, and that ultimately Maggie’s facilities are about human interaction.'
Above: Todd Barrie's Commended Project

Main Image: Taken outside the new Maggie's Gartnavel at the opening of the building on October:  with Kirsty Wark are Hermitage Academy's Catriona Brown (standing), Art and Design Teacher Richard Millar, Laura Kerr (seated). Grange Academny's Todd Barrie and Art and Design teacher Paul McGurn are also pictured.

Images and information with thanks to Kathryn Lamont of Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres and Ian Elder and Mary Pettigrew of The Lighthouse, Glasgow.