Frank O. Gehry - Maggie's Centre

Inauguration
Frank O. Gehry
Maggie's Centre
Ninewells NHS hospital
Dundee, Scotland

"I hope the architecture won't override the purpose of the building, but complement it and take it to a higher plane of comfort and beauty."
Frank Gehry

Photo: arcspace

Maggie Keswick Jencks, who died of breast cancer in 1995, pioneered the setting up of several small cancer caring centres in the UK.
The philosophy behind Maggie's Centres is that your immediate environment affects your well-being. These intimate buildings are the first stage in helping sufferers manage their fears.

Built on the landscaped grounds of Ninewells NHS hospital this is the third Maggie's Centre to be built from a list of 10 commissioned from leading-edge architects including Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Richard Rogers Partnership.
The financing for Maggie's Centre in Dundee came from charitable donations and local fund raising. Frank Gehry, who was a close friend of Maggie Jencks, waved his fee.

The building, Frank Gehry's first in the UK, is situated on a hill overlooking the beautiful Tay estuary and the landscape beyond.

Photo: arcspace

During the design process Gehry built over 70 models before he finally settled for two key elements: the tower, inspired by lighthouses, and the asymmetrically folded roof, based on a shawl worn by a woman in a Vermeer portrait he had seen with Maggie, for the main body of the building.
The roof construction, a latticework of Finnish pine and laminated plywood, is finished in stainless-steel shingles, with a soft matte finish, that reflects the clouds drifting by. With no gutters, the rainwater will cascade off the roof onto "soakaways" in the ground.
There are few right angles or straight walls and every pitch and angle of the complex roof is completely different.

Photo: arcspace

arcspace visited the building on the last day of construction watching the team of craftsmen applying the finishing touches before the September 25th Inauguration.

Photo: arcspace

Domestic in scale the building contains a communal therapy room, a kitchen with a cooking island, a big table and a padded bench along the window-wall, an information area and a circular library with a more private room above. Behind the staircase there is an intimate corner where you can sit by yourself and look out at the landscape; Gehry has not wasted any floor space.

Photo: arcspace

Pools of daylight and the warm laminated plywood wood create a welcoming and friendly environment with views of the landscape and the sky from every corner.

Photo: arcspace

Curving stairs lead from the library to the circular more intimate room above which has a skylight and one oversized window, shaded by a large timber overhang, looking out across the Tay estuary.

Photo: arcspace

It is a stimulating and uplifting "house" that brings to mind Gehry's early California houses.

Sketch courtesy Frank O. Gehry

Model photo: Whit Preston

Maggie's Centre

Completed: September 2003
Area: 200 square meters

Client:
Maggie Keswick Jencks
Cancer Caring Centres Trust

Architect: Frank O. Gehry
Executive architect: James F Stephen
Structural engineers: Arup Scotland
Construction: HBG

Architectural critic Charles Jencks, who was married to Maggie, plays a key role in commissioning the buildings.

Photo: arcspace

The first Maggie's Centre was Richard Murphy's conversion of an old stable block at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh which was followed by Page & Park's Centre at the Western Infirmary Glasgow. Frank Gehry's Dundee will be followed by:

Zaha Hadid, Fife: Construction start November 2003
Page and Park, Highlands: Construction start August 2003
Hawkins and Brown Sheffield: Estimated construction start summer 2004
Richard Rogers, London: Estimated construction start end 2004
Daniel Libeskind, Cambridge: Site is being revised

Maggie Keswick Jenck's book "View from the front line" is available from Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres
The Stables Western General Hospital
Crewe Road South Edinburgh EH4 2XU.

Visits to the Maggie's Centres can be arranged by contacting Barbara Kidd, Communications Director
Tel 0131 537 2457 Fax 0131 537 3130
email: barbara.maggies.centre@ed.ac.uk

Several events at the Centrespace Visual Research Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts, designed by Richard Murphy, will celebrate the opening of the Maggie's centre Dundee

One of the highlights of this programme is an international symposium "Breathing Space - towards an aesthetic for cancer care" where Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Charles Jencks, Richard Murphy & David Page will be speakers (amongst others).
Friday September 26
Symposium
Breathing Space:
Towards an Aesthetic of Cancer Care

This unique interdisciplinary symposium will examine the existing and proposed Maggie's Centres and aims to explore the relevance and contribution of each space towards an aesthetic of cancer care.

September 27 - October 19
Exhibition
Breathing Space

Photo: arcspace

Focusing on Gehry's unique working process, this exhibition charts the stages of Maggie's Centre Dundee from conception to completion, including Gehry's initial sketches, plans and architect models exhibited by DCA in 1999. "Breathing Space" also presents two films. The first a time-lapse film of the construction of the Maggie's Centre Dundee; the second, a specially commissioned film "Living Space" by artist Sarah Wood, exploring the relationship between architecture and illness.

Visit the Image Library to download larger images.

September 22, 2003

Frank Gehry arcspace features





				Features
		Inauguration Frank O. Gehry Maggie's Centre Ninewells NHS hospital Dundee, Scotland "I hope the architecture won't override the purpose of the building, but complement it and take it to a higher plane of comfort and beauty." Frank Gehry Photo: arcspace Maggie Keswick Jencks, who died of breast cancer in 1995, pioneered the setting up of several small cancer caring centres in the UK. The philosophy behind Maggie's Centres is that your immediate environment affects your well-being. These intimate buildings are the first stage in helping sufferers manage their fears. Built on the landscaped grounds of Ninewells NHS hospital this is the third Maggie's Centre to be built from a list of 10 commissioned from leading-edge architects including Zaha Hadid, Daniel Libeskind and Richard Rogers Partnership. The financing for Maggie's Centre in Dundee came from charitable donations and local fund raising. Frank Gehry, who was a close friend of Maggie Jencks, waved his fee. The building, Frank Gehry's first in the UK, is situated on a hill overlooking the beautiful Tay estuary and the landscape beyond. Photo: arcspace During the design process Gehry built over 70 models before he finally settled for two key elements: the tower, inspired by lighthouses, and the asymmetrically folded roof, based on a shawl worn by a woman in a Vermeer portrait he had seen with Maggie, for the main body of the building. The roof construction, a latticework of Finnish pine and laminated plywood, is finished in stainless-steel shingles, with a soft matte finish, that reflects the clouds drifting by. With no gutters, the rainwater will cascade off the roof onto "soakaways" in the ground. There are few right angles or straight walls and every pitch and angle of the complex roof is completely different. Photo: arcspace arcspace visited the building on the last day of construction watching the team of craftsmen applying the finishing touches before the September 25th Inauguration. Photo: arcspace Domestic in scale the building contains a communal therapy room, a kitchen with a cooking island, a big table and a padded bench along the window-wall, an information area and a circular library with a more private room above. Behind the staircase there is an intimate corner where you can sit by yourself and look out at the landscape; Gehry has not wasted any floor space. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace Pools of daylight and the warm laminated plywood wood create a welcoming and friendly environment with views of the landscape and the sky from every corner. Photo: arcspace Curving stairs lead from the library to the circular more intimate room above which has a skylight and one oversized window, shaded by a large timber overhang, looking out across the Tay estuary. Photo: arcspace Photo: arcspace It is a stimulating and uplifting "house" that brings to mind Gehry's early California houses. Sketch courtesy Frank O. Gehry Model photo: Whit Preston Maggie's Centre Completed: September 2003 Area: 200 square meters Client: Maggie Keswick Jencks Cancer Caring Centres Trust Architect: Frank O. Gehry Executive architect: James F Stephen Structural engineers: Arup Scotland Construction: HBG Architectural critic Charles Jencks, who was married to Maggie, plays a key role in commissioning the buildings. Photo: arcspace The first Maggie's Centre was Richard Murphy's conversion of an old stable block at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh which was followed by Page & Park's Centre at the Western Infirmary Glasgow. Frank Gehry's Dundee will be followed by: Zaha Hadid, Fife: Construction start November 2003 Page and Park, Highlands: Construction start August 2003 Hawkins and Brown Sheffield: Estimated construction start summer 2004 Richard Rogers, London: Estimated construction start end 2004 Daniel Libeskind, Cambridge: Site is being revised Maggie Keswick Jenck's book "View from the front line" is available from Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres The Stables Western General Hospital Crewe Road South Edinburgh EH4 2XU. Visits to the Maggie's Centres can be arranged by contacting Barbara Kidd, Communications Director Tel 0131 537 2457 Fax 0131 537 3130 email: barbara.maggies.centre@ed.ac.uk Several events at the Centrespace Visual Research Centre, Dundee Contemporary Arts, designed by Richard Murphy, will celebrate the opening of the Maggie's centre Dundee One of the highlights of this programme is an international symposium "Breathing Space - towards an aesthetic for cancer care" where Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, Charles Jencks, Richard Murphy & David Page will be speakers (amongst others). Friday September 26 Symposium Breathing Space: Towards an Aesthetic of Cancer Care This unique interdisciplinary symposium will examine the existing and proposed Maggie's Centres and aims to explore the relevance and contribution of each space towards an aesthetic of cancer care. September 27 - October 19 Exhibition Breathing Space Photo: arcspace Focusing on Gehry's unique working process, this exhibition charts the stages of Maggie's Centre Dundee from conception to completion, including Gehry's initial sketches, plans and architect models exhibited by DCA in 1999. "Breathing Space" also presents two films. The first a time-lapse film of the construction of the Maggie's Centre Dundee; the second, a specially commissioned film "Living Space" by artist Sarah Wood, exploring the relationship between architecture and illness. Visit the Image Library to download larger images. September 22, 2003 Frank Gehry arcspace features