SANDY BAY
ITH the completion of the new W
extension to the Convalescent Home at Sandy Bay, Hong Kong, the Society for the Relief of Disabled Children can now care for 110 ten children in the Home.
Although the Home has been in operation for only ten years or so, the number of cases which the Society finds its must accommodate has grown to such an extent that even the new extension will not enable them to take in all the chil- dren who need their care.
In con- sequence a further extension, with 200 beds, in now being planned. When the whole is completed the Sandy Bay Home will be the largest children's convalescent home in the Far East.
Designing the new extension called for much research, because the problems set by a convalescent home where gravely disabled children might have to stay for one or two
FOR
years before they can be discharged as cured or at least fitted to live a reasonably whole life call for solu- tions rarely covered by existing buildings, projects or studies readily available in this part of the world.
es.
Research established many sential points, all of which are in- cluded in the buildings designed by the two architects-P. K. Chan and E. Y. Wu. These include the 25- bedded ward as the ideal size for children, allowing one nurse to five children; open wards so that the children in bed have as much sun. shine as possible and also the illusion of being part of the outside world; no steps anywhere in the home area and no ramps with a steeper slope than one in twenty; quarters for doctors and nurses near to the chil- dren but separated from them; the whole planned round the nerve centre of the physiotherapy and hydrotherapy block, the roof of
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which is planned as the "psychologi cal point of expectation"
This last has become recognised as an essential concept in all modern architect hospital planning. The has to create in his architectural design a point of interest on reach- ing which in his stay every patient will realise that he is on the point of recovery and has become a whole person again.
In this new extension the roof of the physiotherapy and hydrotherapy departments is this focal point, be cause it is the place where children at last able to walk again go for playing games and riding tricycles.
When children arrive in the Home they have at first to remain in the wards, then they undergo remedial treatment, are taught to walk-all on flat ground. After months of treatment the day comes when they tackle the ramp up to the roof---and
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GROUND FLOOR LAYOUT PLAN OF THE CHILDREN'S CONVALESCENT HO
THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER VOLUME 17, NUMBER 2