M I S S I O N

The conception of these Health Centres is fascinating because they are spaces engineered to instil and propel feelings of wellness within the people that use and work in them. 

These factors are environmental - through the architecture; the use of open space, light, accessibility, colour, material and acoustics but fundamentally it is the effect this has on the interaction between people that use and work in the centre that is most influential in sustaining what it sets out to do.

The Sun Room and Gym are spaces in KTHC which house social activities on a regular basis for the community in and outside the centre. This offers the users of the centre a time and space for recreation and interaction but also an opportunity for contemplation. The activities range from antenatal classes, group family therapy, yoga, origami, singing, dancing and a once a month one on one with the local Camden MP. The importance of these activities in relation to well-being relies on the fact that they help the individual to foster a self-directive approach to health and allows them to build stronger relationships with their community.  

Medically our health is measured by listening to and observing our bodies on quite a rudimentary and relatively surface level through stethoscopes and the X-rays to deeper levels using more modern technology such as ultra-sound, CT Scans and endoscopy.

In my attempt to extract environmental factors which harness well-being I will also be using instruments to observe and listen to particular environments, namely microphones and cameras. On Wednesday I made my first recording in the Sun Room of an origami class using a contact microphone to record the sound of paper being folded on the table.

ORiFish by

You can hear the recording best through headphones or speakers rather than the speakers in your computer.

D E S I G N H I S T O R Y

The building in its' design and social intentions, reminds me of pre-NHS, modernist health centres which considered our health to be directly influenced by how we live our lives, not just medicinal treatments to stop disease. Wellness became a keyword in encouraging individuals that they could have a positive impact upon their own wellbeing in regards to their diet, exercise, environment and relationships with others.

The Peckham Experiment which took place at the Pioneer Health Centre, Peckham from 1926 - 50.  The new centre, built in 1935 was funded to sustain the research into social medicine made in previous years.

As the experiment was founded on an interest in the affects of our interaction with the world around us and prided itself on open observation, the building was designed accordingly. A minimal amount of internal walls and large windows allowed for both members and docters to observe each other. Windows could slide open allowing in natural light and fresh air. Great importance was placed upon physical exercise, a swimming pool lay at the heart of the building and sports and leisure activities were also encouraged.

The Finsbury Health Centre, Clerkenwell was designed by Berthold Lubetkin the Russian-born architect who also designed the famous penguin pool at London Zoo 

The open-plan H building incorporated glass brick walls to allow sunlight in all day long and also housed a solarium alongside its' clinics.  The buildings' internal walls were covered with murals designed by architect Gordon Cullen, author of The Concise Townscape