Shyamnagar Friendship Hospital won world's best award

The Shyamnagar Friendship Hospital, located at Soalia village in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira, has been nominated for the Best Architecture Award by the UK based Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). On 26 January, the Royal Institute of British Architects officially announced Shyamnagar Friendship Hospital for the 2021 Riba Award.

It is worth mentioning that on November 16, the James-Simon Gallery in Germany and the Lille Langebro Bridge in Copenhagen, Denmark took place in the list of the three best architectural structures along the Sundarbans.

Earlier, Shyamnagar Friendship Hospital, built on the theme of changed win-win situation, was selected for the final competition out of 16 exceptional designs of architecture from 11 countries of the world. Creating an example of eye-catching architecture at a low cost, the issue of changing climatic conditions prevailed in the construction of this building.

The hospital was built on a 2.5 acre land at Soalia village of the upazila with all modern facilities. The installation has been constructed in a combination of 20 buildings by combining skillful design and unique architectural style. Built using local technology and construction materials, this exceptional design of about 48,000 square feet is surrounded by water on three sides.

In order to prevent environmental catastrophe, STP has taken measures to destroy all the wastes of the entire installation immediately. The presence of a clean natural environment has been ensured by creating reservoirs in the middle and side of the buildings instead of the boundary wall.

It is learned that the architect Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury has designed the 80-bed hospital. He determined the location of the hospital wards considering the wind direction while preparing the design. Earlier, the Gaibandha Urbana Bhaban, designed by this Bangladeshi architect, was awarded the Aga Khan Architecture Award.

An on-the-spot inspection shows that a large open space has been set up in front of the hospital wards. Considering the issue of intense salinity, the presence of only brick masonry and casting on the walls and roof without plaster has brought perfection to the whole creation. The original design has been literally implemented by planting different species of trees at different points throughout the installation. A salt water treatment plant has been set up in the installation to ensure the presence of salt water on all three sides.

As can be seen from the surroundings of the installation, two types of security measures have been put in place for the indoor and outdoor activities of the hospital through its beautiful architectural style. Considering the scarcity of space, the presence of 10 feet wide reservoir in different parts of the boundary wall has been confirmed here. The hospital has outdoor and indoor medical facilities as well as auditoriums, convention centers, canteens and prayer rooms with spacious corridors.

The presence of wide doors-windows with ventilation system in a combination of brick and glass in multiple parts of the entire installation has caught the eye of the whole architecture. The presence of spacious corridors and wide natural light air as an alternative to electricity has made architectural style important. There is a system of drainage of excess water in the Mother River through the Kalyanpur canal next to it through modern sewerage system through the bottom of the buildings.

Ehsanul Haque Rokon, who is in charge of maintenance of Shyamnagar Friendship Hospital in Satkhira, said construction work of the hospital started in 2014, two kilometers away from Shyamnagar Upazila Sadar. In the same year after the completion of the work in 2018, the medical services of the service seekers of the coastal towns started there. Of the main installations, 5 buildings are used for residential and 15 for health services, he said.

Supervisor Shahinur Rahman said there is a 24-hour emergency department with 6 doctors and 12 nurses. Almost every month, several specialist doctors from outside the country come to Friendship Hospital to treat the patients. There are also low cost tests for all types of tests. He also confirmed that there is an opportunity for patients from outside the area to seek treatment at the hospital.

Architect Kashef Mahbub Chowdhury said Shyamnagar is one of the worst affected areas due to climate change. There is a need to consider the low budget when designing a hospital with all the facilities. The design of the installation is designed keeping in mind the environmental conditions as well as the touch of the highest modernity and biodiversity with life and nature.

The hospital's assistant manager, Asim Tristopher Rosario, said there were multiple operating theaters, incubator facilities in the neonatal care unit and all kinds of medical services.