The opening of a new cancer treatment center in Nottingham isn’t the sort of thing that usually makes headlines, but when it’s designed by Piers Gough, founding partner of London-based CZWG Architects, with interiors by fashion designer and Nottingham native, Sir Paul Smith – then it does. This will be the ninth Maggie’s Centre to open in the UK, and after looking at some of the other locations, it’s clear that good design is an essential part of their treatment.
Frank Gehry designed the Dundee location (with a wavy roof line and all) and Zaha Hadid is responsible for a surprisingly angular Centre in Fife. I’ve never been a fan of her work – or bulbous, cartoony design in general – but her Fife location is amongst my favorite of the various and impressive Centres. I definitely like it better than the new Nottingham facility – with its interjecting green ovals, oddly punctuated by a rectangular balcony and windows, the entire building looks more like one of those wooden, children’s shape-matching games. At least the inside looks bright and cozy!
designer(s): CZWG Architects | paul smith
