In Raciborz, Poland, a new center for the donation, storage, and study of blood and blood-related diseases has a unique take on what a healthcare facility should be.
Designed by FAAB Architektura, the project's aesthetic was guided by its function. The color scheme, facade panel glossiness, and the irregularly elevated leitmotif were intentionally designed to evoke the "richness" of blood, according to the architects.
The physical geometry of the building also aims to illustrate a larger concept about the facility: the clash between biology and technology. Any rounded parts of the building are meant to represent biology, and the straight sections represent technology.
"The intentional vivid color scheme of the elevation, making the building visually suprising to the public, calls attention to the idea of the blood donation," the architects said in a press release. "Application of the glazed panels is inspired by the local Silesian building tradition, which is present in the historical building facades with the glazed bricks."
Three different shades of red were used to create irregularity on the exterior of all four levels of the facility. Ceramic pipes at the top level prevent overheating in the conference room and disguise the technological systems located at the roof level.
The Regional Blood Center, phase one of this project, contains storage rooms, a blood collecting unit, advanced medical laboratories, blood radiation laboratory, offices, and a conference center. The interior design goes hand-in-hand with the exterior design, using the same red-and-white color scheme.
Most rooms are lit naturally by two belts of windows, with the lower belts lighting up laboratory worktops on the outer walls and the upper belt, located just below the filings, allows light to penetrate to the remotest part of the rooms.
The blood center project is divided into three parts: the main Regional Blood Center building, a mobile blood center located on a bus, and Poland's first center for blood cancer diagnostics. Currently, only the first phase is complete.
Related Stories
| May 8, 2014
Infographic: 4 most common causes of construction site fatalities
In honor of Safety Week, Skanska put together this nifty infographic on how to prevent deadly harm in construction.
| May 8, 2014
Sporting events in style: Infographic showcases novel stadiums of the world
UK precast concrete maker Banagher, which specializes in precast stadia solutions, has assembled a list of the world's top stadiums in terms of architectural and structural design.
| May 7, 2014
Design competition: $900,000 on the line in Las Vegas revitalization challenge
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman wants your economic development ideas for remaking four areas within the city, including the Cashman Center and the Las Vegas Medical District.
| May 6, 2014
'Beyond' is artist's cinematic take on 2.5 years of development in the UAE
Seven-minute video offers a time-lapse trip through the built environments of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
| May 6, 2014
'Ugliest building in New Jersey' finally getting facelift
After a decade of false starts and mishaps, the American Dream mall in the Meadowlands may finally get built.
| May 5, 2014
Toronto residential tower to feature drawer-like facade scheme
Some of the apartments in the new River City development will protrude from the building at different lengths, creating a drawer-like "push-pull" effect.
| May 5, 2014
Tragic wired glass injury makes headlines yet again
In the story, a high school student pushed open a hallway door glazed with wired glass. His arm not only broke the glass, but penetrated it, causing severe injuries. SPONSORED CONTENT
| May 3, 2014
Health system capital planning for the future: The benefits of master plan portfolio analysis and ambulatory market modeling
Money continues to be scarce, yet U.S. health systems need to invest and re-invest in their physical future. Healthcare facilities planning experts from CBRE Healthcare outline tools and strategies for identifying where to best allocate precious resources.
| May 3, 2014
4 easy steps to being a great project manager
Managing a team of people, especially creative people, is a task that not everyone is up for. Keeping your team on the same page while maintaining a schedule and budget that can keep your corporation happy will take confidence and bountiful people skills. Here are some tips for effectively managing a project. SPONSORED CONTENT