MATTHEW YIP
Architecture, Design and Place-Making
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St Enoch's Early Years Clinic
Glasgow, Scotland
2016
Glasgow’s health and social issues are attributed to poverty, education, stress and culture, leading to what is termed the ‘Glasgow effect’. Glasgow has the lowest life expectancy in Europe, the highest obesity rates in the world as well as containing 30% of Scotland’s most deprived.
This high level of deprivation contributes to the issues of child poverty, such as poor upbringing, social development and relational skills; with poverty having a direct statistical correlation to youth crime. Children living in low income households are also three times more likely to suffer from mental health problems than their affluent peers, which leads to a ninefold increase in public spending costs within the primary healthcare sector.
In line with Glasgow’s integrated children’s services plan and under the national frame work “Getting it Right for Every Child”, my proposal aims to ease Glasgow’s long term issues with a preventative healthcare approach, aimed at early years (0-5 year’s old). This is also the period with the highest cognitive development within child growth.
A new mixed use development, comprising of an early years clinic and therapy centre, with ground floor amenity, public space and upper floor guest accommodation will provide parental and early years support, supplying pre-natal and post-natal healthcare, advice and education (parenting skills/everyday skills) within a nature-rich environment.
The theory of Biophilia (E.O. Wilson) posits that Humans have an innate affiliation to nature and natural processes, with many studies showing that contact with nature both physically and visually has a positive effect on physical and mental health, particularly within a healthcare setting- including quicker patient recovery times, improved mood and taking less analgesics/painkillers.
The healthcare scheme therefore incorporates nature as a positive asset both for its primary users as well as for the public, with a series of courtyards acting as pocket parks within the city grain of Glasgow.