Go Medic — Architecture Competition by UNI.xyz

2022 ‘Go Medic’ — Architecture Design Competition Launched by UNI to Mobile medication facility design challenge

4 min readApr 20, 2022

*Fig: 1 — Villages in rural areas are set far from cities in difficult terrain. (Credits:* *Nepali Times*)

REGIONAL ATTRIBUTES

Developing nations consist of rural and urban areas that have distinguished attributes. Metropolises are massive infrastructural investments that elevate the urban living of the citizens, whereas the rural areas are more primitive and function on smaller scales. Due to smaller investments in rural villages, the infrastructure and basic facilities are often lacking. People in these areas suffer in terms of their standard of living.

Health and well-being are some of the basic rights of people anywhere in the world. While the blame is always on the infrastructure deficit, many services can be made available to the public in other ways. The usual way of fixing the situation is a plan that is complex, expensive, and time-taking. This infrastructure is static and access to it differs for people.

Can we find new ways to serve the public?

*Fig: 2 — Hospitals built in rural areas are overcrowded with people having to travel long distances for it. (Credits:* *Nepali Times*)

ISSUE: ACCESS TO MEDICAL FACILITIES

In poor countries and rural areas, the deficiency in the number of institutes creates an inconvenience for many people. Access to medical facilities is a major issue. The travel time and costs are high leading to eventual loss of life. At the same time, poverty-stricken regions have more medical cases and health problems. To resolve this dilemma, extensive funds, materials, and time is poured into building new infrastructure in remote regions, but the benefit is limited. Projects might get halted midway, due to labor or fund politics.

If the construction is completed as planned, the operation and management of staff, working away from the urban centers, is a difficult and lengthy process. Piling up infrastructure all over the country is not the most sustainable solution to this issue. These projects are highly resourced intensive while their effectiveness is limited. The current climate enables delivery and medical services too could be made more flexible and dynamic. Essential services can be made to reach the vulnerable and isolated population in a rural areas, in a more efficient way.

*Fig: 3 — In emergency cases, hospital services are delivered by visiting medical staff in open and unsafe areas. (Credits: Peter Bregg for National Post)*

PORTABLE MEDICATION

Brief: The challenge is to design a medication facility that can be transportable operating on an emergency case basis.

The health unit is to give prompt and reliable medical attention to patients who cannot access a hospital or clinic in time. The layout must be flexible and expandable in certain cases, and the facility must be self-sufficient. There is no need for the provision of waiting or support staff areas. The services must be embedded in a way that is easy to use for medical staff in emergency cases. Any medical or healthcare facility battles the dilemma of creating a spatial design that is organized, clinical and safe for its visitors, at the same time radiating a non-institutional vibe through its spaces. This mobile clinic will treat patients for routine examinations, preventative medication, acute medical treatment and monitor chronic diseases. Efficiency and functionality must not be hampered due to the compactness of space.

OBJECTIVES

Compact: The concept is to fit general clinic services in a movable vehicle with minimal space wastage and maximum services.
Safe: A protective environment for treating sick or injured patients.
Modular: The design must use modular fixtures and furniture for smooth operation and avoid the overloading of the vehicle.
Expandable: Can be used on a wider basis in the event of any man-made or natural disaster.

SCALE

The scale of the clinic is 5m x 2.6m. The clinic will be built on a vehicle. The expandable services can extend outside the given vehicle area.

In Mobile State: The maximum permissible covered area should be 13 sq. mt with a minimum corresponding volume, excluding the operational area required for moving it.
In Static State: The total covered area used for stretchability/expandability should not exceed 50% of 13 sq. mt.

Find all the competition brief, terms, and other registration guidelines on this

page: Go Medic | Low Cost Design Competition on UNI | About

Originally published at https://uni.xyz.