Located in Abdoun, Amman, with panoramic views from its hillside site towards the city, the project sought to establish visual connections to the greenfield site.There is a wealth of evidence to suggest that a well-designed hospital environment can improve recovery times and contribute to better outcomes for patients, while providing a more enjoyable workplace for medical staff.The ambition was to design the hospital as a natural place for all those who use it.

Everyone -whether a surgeon, nurse, or porter – is regarded as a ‘partner’ in the delivery of health care, with a common goal of promoting patient well-being. Divisions between departments are sought to be minimized to ease the stress involved in consultation and treatment for patients and reduce walking distances for staff. A double-height atrium, containing a café, nurses’ station and reception point, provides a social focus for patients and staff alike.

Throughout the hospital there is an emphasis on natural light and views: recovery spaces on the lower level are fully glazed, as are the operating theatres, and all look out across the surrounding green hills. Balconies line the building’s edges, oriented to maximize views across the surrounding countryside. Sympathetic landscaping further emphasizes the therapeutic natural environment – an overall approach very different from more familiar, institutional hospital surroundings.