Category Archives: HEALTHCARE

CURA | Modular Intensive Care Unit

Venice, Italy, Carlos Ratti and Collaborative Team
https://www.archdaily.com/936911/interview-carlo-ratti-on-architecture-that-fights-covid-19?ad_source=search

Repurposed shipping containers can serve as modular intensive care units. This shipping container infrastructure allows for a high level of flexibility, as well as making the project affordable, since these are inexpensive. Shipping containers give the opportunity to be installed anywhere and when not needed, can be taken away supporting flexibility without leaving marks behind. They can be stacked on top of each other with no structure needed, which makes these modular healthcare units expandable and scalable.

Berlin Airport Turns Covid-19 Hospital

Berlin, Germany, Opposite Office
https://www.archdaily.com/936568/opposite-office-imagines-the-new-berlin-airport-as-a-covid-19-hospital/

The Berlin, Germany airport (in construction since 2006) is still an unused space, which could be utilized to support healthcare needs in light of COVID-19. The 6 feet apart rule is an inspiration for the modular layout of the hospital beds and personal rooms. By reusing existing infrastructure, we are able to fight the pandemic and use our existing resources in order to help those in need. The circular layout is adaptable to other buildings not in use during the pandemic such as schools, gyms, or even parking lots.

Schoolbus Mobile Testing Unit

Perkins & Will, USA | Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, Denmark | Arup Group, Denmark
https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/global-design-firms-collaborate-new-covid-19-mobile-testing-lab-bring-testing-vulnerable

Diagram outlining the urgent need for testing facilities that are accessible to underserved communities regardless of their financial or transportation restrictions
Underserved and high risk communities have less access to healthcare and testing. Retrofitted school buses combined with mobile app access can provide a scalable and cost-effective solution for mobile testing. Mobile and accessible innovations are necessary in eliminating the disproportionate care underserved communities are experiencing. This not only provides a solution for testing in times of COVID-19 but could be adapted in the future for different uses to provide better healthcare services and much needed access to resources.

DATA VISUALIZATION EDUCATING PUBLIC

Purdue University, USA
https://www.businessinsider.com/video-how-cough-particles-spread-virus-in-airplane-cabin-coronavirus-2020-4?r=US&IR=T

This visualization from Purdue University shows how tiny invisible droplets from a single cough can flow through the cabin of a Boeing 767 passenger jet. The model is based on the assumption that the 2003 SARS virus was airborne. Airlines spent weeks touting the safety of flying and their steps against the coronavirus, passenger cabins still pose a danger for the spread of infectious diseases, experts said. It is a problem of biology, physics and pure proximity, with airflow, dirty surfaces and close contact with other travelers all at play. 

TALK #11 | HEALTHCARE

Andrea Burns, Director, Age Strong Boston, City of Boston
Anne-Catrin Schultz, Associate Professor, Architecture, Wentworth

Andrea Burns Titleslide

In the FutureLab Talk #11 Andrea Burns [City of Boston] joined Anne-Catrin Schultz [Wentworth] to discuss the initiative to build an age – friendly Boston. She shared initiatives such as intergenerational housing where graduate students and recent college graduates are matched to an affordable, multi-generational home. This initiative contributes to both parties having affordable housing and helps address some of the issues around isolation of elder populations. Although COVID-19 has exploited the issues that many communities face, it has challenged the community to accelerate work in making sure the aging adults of Boston are not shut out and left behind. Innovations in technology can still leave some behind which is why projects such as cooking classes and Boston Public School art exchange are critical to helping older adults maintain connections with their community.

TALK #12 | HEALTHCARE

Ami Bowen, Director of Community Relations, Harbor Health Community Health Center
Monique Fuchs, Associate Vice President, Innovation + Entrepreneurship, Wentworth

Ami Bowen Title slide

In the FutureLab Talk #12 Ami Bowen [Harbor Health] discusses with Monique Fuchs [Wentworth] the accessibility of community healthcare, social determinants of health, and the barriers preventing individuals from receiving proper and consistent healthcare. While COVID-19 has only highlighted disparities, Ami shares how telehealth is an alternative with limitations and how the future of care could look like on a local level. Harbor Health Community Health Center was the first of its kind in the nation considering a more holistic approach to health care and creating greater accessibility to health care services while giving greater consideration to barriers impacting overall well-being such as nutrition, transportation, affordable housing.

NOORAHEALTH | PATIENT EDUCATION

India and Bangladesh
http://www.noorahealth.org/

Hospital in India waiting room
Noorahealth partners with hospitals to upskill healthcare workers to provide education to patients and their families about their family member’s care plan and health trajectory. Hospital waiting rooms are transformed into classrooms increasing the patient family’s confidence to care for their relatives once released from the hospital. Check-ins are administered as a follow up to assure the patient’s well-being and to answer any questions. In rural and underdeveloped areas this has been a strong support system to increase healing success in patients.

ISOLATION ON WHEELS

Bangalore, India
https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/05/asia/indian-railways-coronavirus-hospitals-intl-hnk/index.html


Since the global shutdown to control the spread of the virus, mass transit has become a thing of the past and left thousands of passenger trains in India completely idle. With minor repurposing, these trains are being transformed into mobile isolation wards. Each carriage offers up to 16 additional beds, nurses and doctors stations, as well as storage for medical supplies and equipment. This will reduce the strain on hospitals and easy to reproduce, these hospitals on wheels offer future opportunities for makeshift solutions and more flexible and accessible healthcare.

Mobile Testing Stations

Los Angeles, USA, M-Rad Architects + Trailer Made
https://www.designboom.com/design/mobile-covid-19-testing-stations-los-angeles-m-rad-04-28-2020/

These mobile testing stations will be situated in the most vulnerable neighborhoods that see an increase in positive cases in dense cities. Created with antimicrobial copper, this will help with self-sanitization and establishing a secure place to keep safe and clean for testing. Medical practitioners at the stations in LA will be taking swabs from patients using arm length rubber gloves through a Perspex divider to prevent any chance of cross-contamination. The mobile units could be repurposed to serve the homeless population in the form of shelter, medical and cleaning facilities, remote food delivery, blood donations, or vaccine delivery.