Description:

Healing Gardens for Sahara Apollo Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Challenges:

Labelled as the first "7-Star hospital" in the country, this fully air-conditioned 350-bed multi-specialty tertiary-care hospital building with a total built-up area of 800,000.00 sq.ft, and rising up to 15 floors, will be the largest private-run hospital in India. The building is being constructed on a 31 acre plot of land on the outskirts of Lucknow city. Over 50 medical specialties will be provided in the hospital. The architectural design of the hospital building has been done by Hafeez Contractor. The landscape design desired was essentially to be of a State-of-the-art quality.

It is proved that the more social support a patient receives from family and friends, the better they are able to heal. A garden is one place where a patient and visitor can converse in private in an attractive setting. Hence it is essential that the garden is sensitivity designed using appropriate materials.

Solutions:

The garden was designed using the radial form with all connection leading to the Shrine- the ultimate point, a space which provides peace, composure & tranquility during a phase when the person needs it the most. Drive way ambiance up till the porch was smartly designed using royal palms to create an avenue effect, yet one ravishes the unobstructed view of the beautiful sculpture & the gardens in the background. Variety of Palm planters with seating were proposed at the drop-off to emphasize the entry.

Water sculpture using steel & toughened glass, while considering the safety aspect. Sculpture using mirrors is proposed to create an illusion of water. The existing basement wall is converted into seating and aesthetically treated. Sculptural frames are created within the garden to frame Vistas of the fragrant garden. Scree garden with rock sculpture is proposed in front of the shrine.