Maggie's Centres

Maggie’s Centres are designed to provide a drop in service for those who have been affected by cancer. They provide caring environments with practical, emotional and social support. Maggie’s Centres are spread all across the UK and further and they have all been designed by well-known architects throughout the years.

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Gartnavel General Hospital in Glasgow received a Maggie’s Centre in 2011, designed by Rem Koolhaas of Page\Park Architects. The building is designed as multiple L shaped and rectangular rooms that interlock to create one continuous space that rotates 360 degrees around a central courtyard. This was to create a homely feel within the building as all rooms are linked together, which in turn would create a more comfortable environment. The building is located in the woodland grounds of the hospital which is just “far enough away from the hospital to create another world”. This allowed glass facades to be used. The majority of the building has glass walls that enable users to look outside and into the internal courtyard, as well as this, the use of glass maximises the amount of light entering the property which creates large, bright open spaces. Concrete was used as the main structural material to create a plain simple surface. This makes the external natural environment stand out and bring life and colour inside the building. Wooden interiors were used to decorate the ceilings; this was to match the woodland area and blend the two environments into one to create a peaceful, natural space. Rem Koolhaas has designed the building with context in mind and has fully succeeded the brief. By using the glass walls he has produced large open, bright, airy spaces that allow people to feel calm and relaxed. The use of the interlocking rooms also means enclosed spaces have been created for counselling rooms which allows people to receive support in a private environment where they can feel at home and relaxed.

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Dundee is another city within Scotland that has a Maggie Centre. Frank Gehry designed a white cottage like building on the grounds of Ninewells Hospital in 2003. The walls of the building have been covered in white render and have elements of timber cladding throughout the main structure. These two materials complement each other and blend into the natural surroundings to create a soft look to the building that makes it fit into the scene. Many windows have also been positioned around the entire building so natural light enters the interior from every side to illuminate the space. Frank Gehry has placed his mark on the building by designing a very unique metallic roof that waves from one side of the building to the other. The use of the reflective metal reflects the sunlight that illuminates the entire roof. This particular design of the building is one of the main features that attracts people to the centre. It creates interest and excitement which makes people feel welcome and invites them to spend time there. The building was designed with a Scottish theme with a similar look to the butt n’ ben dwelling that keeps the history within the area and makes the centre have a greater depth of meaning. The inside has been designed to maximise the size of the space. The technique of leaving the timber roof trusses exposed, creates a large open area and you can see from floor to ceiling, meaning the space is airy and calming. The centre also has a main central tower that expands above the ceiling creating peaceful views of the surrounding landscape which is therapeutic to the occupants. The building has been designed around the context and the clients brief to produce a welcoming centre that can provide care and support to people affected by cancer. This was done by creating a remote area where they can come and relax in the cottage style building that is only surrounded by the natural environment with landscaped gardens. As well, the unique design of the building creates a peaceful environment that reduces the levels of stress and allows people to come and free their minds from everything else. 

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Maggie’s Centres have become a very important place for some of those affected and previously affected by cancer. From the BMJ article Inspiration, Maggie’s Centres by Edwin Heathcote the main importance of these centres is highlighted. With hospitals being a place where we are spending an increasingly large proportion of our lives, they are extremely depressing and grim. No-one wants to go to hospital as it is not a pleasant environment with the plain décor, sterile bureaucratic corridors and unhomely feel. This is why the Maggie’s Centres are designed to create large, open welcoming spaces with pleasant interiors, kitchens and sofas, so that the user can feel safe, relaxed and as if they were in their own home.  This helps reduce the levels of stress that come with the illness and help the individual enjoy their time there. The Centres are all designed to maximise the levels of natural light as well as exposing the natural elements surrounding the building.  This is due to the research that has linked views of trees, greenery, the sky, and natural light with quicker healing. By creating these centres it allows the patient to remove themselves from the gloomy hospital to the bright spacious area that allows them to feel better as they are in a nicer place. The fact that it is a free drop- in service and no appointments are needed is another important factor, as it means the care and support is available at any time and if help is needed they can come directly to the centre for individual support. This also makes the building informal which further helps people to relax as there is no control, and the individual is free to do what they want without being confined by time. Edwin Heathcote spoke to many people that work within the Maggie Centre as they said how they were profoundly and deeply affected by the quality of the building and the thought that went into the design. This is an example how the use of good architecture can make you feel better. Good architecture with natural sunlight, views and art along with a relaxed atmosphere that allows you to drop in and out as you please is all an attempt to help play a part in a patient’s recovery.

The Maggie’s Centres have been a success since they were first introduced. Edwin Heathcote said when he visited the centre it was occupied by many whom had finished their treatment. This shows the importance that the Maggie Centre had on their healing process, that they wish to return to see friends and have a cup of tea, and also highlights the depth of the charity, that those who defeated cancer want to help those still in need by using this building. The architectural design is extremely important for the user, as unlike the curtain enclosed beds of the hospitals, the architects have created open, illuminated spaces that look warm and welcoming, as well including design features that allow elements of nature to be seen to create a peaceful, stress free environment. Here the user can sit and relax with friends and family allowing them to forget the worries of their illness.

With allowing well known architects to design these charity centres, it allows exciting and interesting structures to be placed within the landscape, as well as performing their function. This also helps the charity as the building stands out from the rest, interest grows and the organisation and its plan become better known. This in turn could potentially  influence future projects to occur to help even more people in need, and could also have an direct impact of the design of future hospitals, as they can see the impact of good architecture on people’s health, and improve the design of the traditional hospitals today. The public’s perception on Maggie’s Centres has been mainly positive. Due to the buildings being unique with exciting designs they help bring life and energy to the hospital scene which makes the area slightly more attractive to the eye. The fact that the Centre also helps those in need, it is seen as a beneficial addition to the area as it helps improve the lives of those affected by cancer.