Hospital Design Inspired by Local Culture and Nature

Guilin, where the Guilin Medical School Affiliated Hospital is located, is one of the most spectacular destinations in China. A beautiful city on the west bank of Li River, Guilin is famous for its beautiful landscape, limestone karst mountains, and the fragrant sweet Osmanthus trees. The new 1,700-bed, two-million-square-foot hospital will accommodate clinical care, teaching and research programs, which are currently provided in the co-located medical school and hospital campus.

The design concept of the project, “Garden in Garden,” is inspired by the natural landscape and culture of Guilin. Both the form and exterior design of the building are inspired by Guilin’s flowering Osmanthus. Osmanthus patterns throughout the facility create an aesthetically and physically healing environment. Several courtyards with therapeutic landscapes, roof gardens and light wells will improve the patient and staff experience.

Flowers and Form

On the new campus, each petal of the Osmanthus is a center of excellence and provides clear wayfinding to both patients and staff. This efficient design greatly improves workflow and medical circulation within each center of excellence, while making sure that the medical resources are evenly distributed. The goal was to create a modern, garden-style hospital full of sunshine and greenery.

The series of inpatient towers placed throughout the site are also unique, providing plenty of views and natural sunlight for the patient rooms and centrally located family zones. The symbolism of the local Osmanthus flower is dispersed throughout the building and gives its visitors a sense of local culture and belonging. The integration of nature into the hospital not only provides visually appealing imagery, but also helps patients and visitors remain connected to the unique and iconic natural surroundings of Guilin.

The new hospital is designed as a new futuristic model that promotes medical and wellness tourism in harmony with nature. Here, a holistic health journey blends eastern and western medicine to define a new path toward total health.