Open Architecture Network

The Nyaya health clinic responds passively to its local contexts, cultural, historical, social and vernacular. It seeks to optimize the use of existing resources, both material and human. The design seeks to communicate with its environment in a humble manner, respectful of the building traditions of rural Nepal, and in doing so seeks to become part of the daily routine of life in Sanfe Bagar. The design comprises of two blocks organized around a central open space. One block contains the health care functions, while the other contains the community outreach functions of the Library and the Computer Lab. Thus functionally the building engages the civic lives of the inhabitants of Achham. The health clinic follows the site topography, thus reducing the amount of foundation excavation required. Acknowledging the role of climate, the structure and the open space is oriented towards the South-West to take advantage of the warmth of the sun's rays. Conversely, the North-East face of the building has very few openings and minimizes the surface area of the building being buffeted by the cold North winds. The walls of the health clinic are sourced from within a mile of the site, as they comprise of a stone random rubble random rubble plinth with stabilized mud blocks on top. Such a technology of construction is part of the vernacular of Nepal, India and Tibet with abundant skills in such techniques in the local population. The stone plinth provides for protection from moisture and rains, and the mud blocks serve as cheap and sustainable insulating masonry block. Electricity generation in rural mountainous regions is prohibitively expensive since the diesel fuel that runs the generator has very high transportation costs coupled with the natively high cost of fossil fuels. Since the major part of the health clinic is in daylight hours, the design provides for clerestory windows, that open to the south-west and provide warm daylight into the rooms. The counselling rooms, meeting room, AV telemedicine room are organized around a courtyard, which gives them operational privacy while permitting easy circulation between the different spaces. The courtyard arrangement also serves to distinguish the healthcare functions from the community oriented outreach functions of the library, the computer lab and the pharmacy. The open nature of the design serves to create welcoming spaces, that open into the common gathering space, which becomes the focal point for all its functions, as well as becoming the civic space of the village. Education and communication occurs best in conditions of communal congregation. It is in the gathering space that children will be play in the grass, while the older folks catch up on the village gossip. In doing so they appropriate the space of the health clinic, making it part of the space of their daily lives The identity of the health clinic is derived from its communal role. The architectural identity is subdued in favor of creating a sense of belonging to the spaces of the building amongst the local populace. A communal identity is far more enduing than an architectural identity, and the building provides spaces for the community to engage in social interaction, education and cultural gatherings. In such a presence the health clinic becomes part of the communal imaginary, fostering strong relationships between the purpose of the health clinic and its user base.