Transforming Hospital Infrastructure and Landscape to Address Emerging Healthcare Needs

By Michael Li

Over the past decade, hospital projects in Hong Kong have undergone substantial development, driven by technology advancements; changes in healthcare service modes; the call for healthcare system resiliency; and growing public expectations. The following three hospital projects, delivered by the Architectural Services Department, serve as examples to demonstrate the city’s recent development in healthcare infrastructure.

REDEVELOPMENT OF QUEEN MARY HOSPITAL, PHASE 1: RESPONSIVE TO LATEST CLINICAL SERVICES DEVELOPMENT
The project is situated on a tight sloping site of around 8,300 square metres, surrounded by natural terrain, formed slopes and the busy Pok Fu Lam Road that connects the Central and Western District with the Southern District of Hong Kong Island. The scope of works includes the construction of a new block, Clinical Block 1 (CB1), in the existing acute hospital compound of the Queen Mary Hospital (QMH).

CB1 comprises 28 above-ground storeys plus four lower ground floors, providing over 900 in-patient beds in general and specialties wards, 27 operating theatres and an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department. Its vertical form gives a representative demonstration of healthcare service efficacy necessary for hospital projects to maximise land use and fit within the high-density city.

REDEVELOPMENT OF KWAI CHUNG HOSPITAL: DESIGNING FOR PATIENTS’ HEALING AND REHABILITATION EXPERIENCES
The Kwai Chung Hospital (KCH), established in 1981, is building a new campus to adopt a hybrid model to provide, support and coordinate a full range of whole-person psychiatric services spanning from hospital to community. It will be transformed into a therapeutic campus with multistorey ward gardens, serving as Hong Kong’s first hybrid mental healthcare hub. The KCH will provide 1,000 in-patient hospital beds along with an out-patient and community care centre, which was designed with a person-centric focus

on patients’ journey to recovery and community integration. The overall setting will be relaxing and homely, while evoking the feeling of staying in a green healing village.

Expansive natural views for patients and staff at Kwai Chung Hospital; image by Shui On Joint Venture and TFP Farrells Ltd

THE CHINESE MEDICINE HOSPITAL OF HONG KONG: CREATING SYNERGY TO PROMOTE HEALTHCARE CONCEPTS
First of its kind in the city, the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMH) will comprise 400 in-patient and day-patient hospital beds as well as out-patient clinics. Collaborating with the Health Bureau at the project’s early planning stage, the CMH will form a Chinese Medicine Hub with its neighbouring Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI). The hub aims to create a synergy in promoting Chinese medicine.

Perspective view of the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong from Wan Po Road; image by China State Construction Engineering (Hong Kong) Ltd, Wong & Ouyang (HK) Ltd and Arva Ltd

MICHAEL LI, JP

Director of Architectural Services Architectural Services Department, Development Bureau, The Government of the HKSAR
Michael Li is an architect by profession and joined the Architectural Services Department in 1997. Before returning to the department in 2014, he was posted to the Energizing Kowloon East Office under the Development Bureau, responsible for facilitating the transformation of Kowloon East area into another premier Central Business District of Hong Kong. Michael possesses extensive professional experience and has been involved in various projects, including the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital and Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point Complex. He also oversaw a number of public works adopting MiC, such as the disciplinary staff quarters at Pak Shing Kok; the elderly homes at Kwu Tung North; Quarantine Camps; Community Isolation Facilities; and Light Public Housing.

This is an excerpt. The original article is published in
Construction+ Q3 2024 Issue: Constructing Healthcare.
Get the print magazine or subscribe to the digital edition to read the complete article.