A Healthy Future
At Design4D we've been researching how health centres could play a larger role in the Big Society. Traditionally these are places where ill people come to get advice and medicine. Even some of the new expensive centres are mono-functional and completely introverted offering little back to the public realm.
Our research led us to discover a pioneering scheme called the Peckham Experiment in South East London. Established back in 1935 this experiment looked to provide health, leisure, education and family support in a community run scheme. There was even a farm nearby where organic food was grown to be sold in the centre. The focus was on achieving more than just a disease-free community but a healthy community. The architecture was an important part of this process and was specifically designed to express and accommodate the flexible needs of the project. This was more than just a place to get medicine this was a focus for community involvement and support.
We are slowing moving out of a recession caused by the invisible hand of greed but are about to enter an exciting new era. Architects and top developers have realised that to create sustainable communities you need to consider both the green agenda and the Fourth Dimension in architecture. We look forward to a healthy future.
The Peckham Experiment 1935
