Center for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed, commonly known as CRP, is a healthcare with rehabilitation facility, aiming to ensure the inclusion of the disabled people into mainstream society, to promote an environment where all disabled people can have equal access to health, education, employment, physical environment and information. CRP-Bangladesh was founded in 1979 by a small group of Bangladeshis and a British physiotherapist, Valerie A. Taylor, who was appalled at the lack of facilities for the disabled in the aftermath of the 1971. Since then, CRP commenced its service to the poor, disabled people and still continues to be the only center of its kind in Bangladesh.

At present CRP’s headquarter is in Savar. Hence CRP intends to establish sub-centers to all six divisions of the country. A corporate stakeholder in Bangladesh has donated a site from their enlisted property at Kalurghat, Chittagong. The following  project aims to develop an ideal and comprehensive programme for a Model CRP Center based on which a detailed Master Plan for CRP Chittagong Center can be designed.

SITE AND PROGRAMME

The site is comprised of multiple division of plots, acquired over decades, hence has formed a rather irregular demography. Being sited adjacent to a  narrow creek, which eventually has led its path into  the greater Karnafuli river, the site has opportunity to arrange the complex along its primary NW-SE axis, directed towards the river. However, along with all ancillary facilities the required programme for a Model CRP Center has an estimated area of 100600 sqm, of which, the major services at CRP Chittagong Center shall include Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Rehabilitation ward,  Stroke Rehabilitation Ward , Pediatric Unit, Outpatient facilities, Emergency service, Operation theaters for ICU Beds ,Therapy ( Physiotherapy , Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy),  Halfway hostel and Multipurpose Hall.

DESIGN APPROACH

To understand the scope and need for this project many possibilities on design layout has been studied and explored. Aspects those were given particular consideration were – therapeutic environments (environment of care, green design and sustainability), functional clarity, disaster planning (building in block-system), safety and security, energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness (low height building construction).  Nevertheless, the following key notes are the basis for initial design approach, which led to undertake major design decisions –

‘ABILITY, not DISABILITY’

Ease of movement for the PWDs (people with disabilities) is a pre-requisite. A ramp that can lead PWDs from ground to roof-top can create a statement for universal accessibility, if designed with harmony with the overall building volume.

‘Psychological demand transforming into space’

The building volume needs to confine an enclosed space within itself to curtains the internal area from the external world. As such, the building blocks can act as buffer (yet functional) to achieve that required privacy.

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION

Spinal cord injury is a catastrophic condition. It not only includes physical disability for the person but invariably causes the family economic hardship. Since the patient will stay in the center for a long period of time, therefore they must feel a sense of belongingness. Here the design has been done taking all these factors into consideration.

The complex forms an internal court that isolates the internal area from the outside, which is compulsory for the patients’ well being and privacy as they find themselves tortured into a changed physical condition. Therefore, the Entry block, along with the OPD & Operation block create a buffer from the main road, so penetration of noise is curtained. Also, such open ground can be adequate for patients to facilitate them with multi-physical activates, which can attract a new patient and generate hope at first sight.

Environmental comfort has been kept in mind. The pediatric block and the ward block have been placed in a way that it directly receives the southern air. The ward block being place at an angle of 45 degree allows optimum cross air flow into the wards and also helps to refrain from religious conflicts that a patient with serious injury might not want to attend. Also wheel chair patients can easily use the adjacent verandas, coming out directly from their wards to enjoy the views.

On the other hand the Therapeutic block is placed on the west. Since it will run till the end of morning session, this again is an attempt to protect the internal complex from direct heat gain. The Pediatric block is benefited with a personal green court and a hydro-therapy pool. However, flexible modules have been articulated for designing these therapeutic and pediatric blocks, for ease of future expansion.

There are scopes for any physically challenged person to access the building from the ground to the roof top with three ramp-access ways. This is again an example that can put mark on the surrounding neighbourhood to make aware that how a building can be designed for physically challenged person, where ramps can act as corridors; hence a symbol for “Universal Accessibility”.

The patients are taught gardening and vegetation in CRP. Scope has been created both on the ground and on roof top by ensuring roof gardening system. A good number of open-to-sky terraces has been designed which acts both as breathing space and add to the aesthetic value to the overall built volume. Natural ventilation is allowed in most functional rooms where fresh air shall be drawn-in through seal level and used warm air can flow-out through louvres above windows.

The building complex extends upto the riverside, where a GHAT (river bank) has been created with access for the patients with disabilities. Patients prefer suggestions and inspirations through peer activity. Therefore interactive space,  in form a Shaded Pavilion has been designed to hold multiple activities (e.g. paper bag making, ball through, target through etc.), since the best way to rehabilitate patients is to keep them engaged in variety of activities. All ancillary service blocks have been placed on the periphery, connected by a service road.

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