yorkshire maggie's centre by thomas heatherwick gets planning permission

yorkshire maggie’s centre by thomas heatherwick gets planning permission
all image courtesy of heatherwick studio

UPDATE: on july 31, 2015, it was announced that the yorkskire maggie’s centre, designed by heatherwick studio, has been granted planning permission by local authorities. focused on providing specialist cancer services, there will be core program of support including psychological support, nutrition workshops, relaxation and stress management, art therapy, tai chi and yoga.

thomas heatherwick’s concept is based around forming the buildings to look like a series of containers, each presenting their own private garden and using greenery to evoke a positive and therapeutic experience — unlike the more formal and clinical hospital environment. according to local press, the building will be erected on land next to the alma street multi-storey car park, and close to the hospital’s existing institute of oncology.

‘we’re absolutely thrilled to have been granted planning permission to bring a maggie’s centre to yorkshire,’ commented laura lee, chief executive of maggie’s. ‘creating a calm and uplifting environment to enable us to be able to provide our program of support to people living with cancer is incredibly important and heatherwick studio’s wonderful design will allow us to do just that.’

each volume is set at different heights where the floral and fauna is purposely planted at differing proportions — allowing the greenery to naturally drape over the edges of the buildings, with private areas located at its core. hoping to instill a warm and uplifting interior setting for the visitors to the center, guests and passers-by, maggie’s yorkshire is set to open its doors in 2017.