Matrix
Maternity Center
Senegal
Collaborated with Frederic Lam, Jack Tam, Zesen Zhang
2024
The proposed maternity centre in southern Senegal’s rural areas aims to provide essential support to local women and newborns through a functional, integrated design. The layout emphasises efficiency, privacy, hygiene, and a connection with nature. The east side, near the entrance, hosts public functions with a formal expression, while the private west side faces a backyard for areas requiring greater safety. This configuration creates solid and open volumes, forming inner courtyards to the west and more open, welcoming gestures to the east. A central corridor links the different areas, while courtyards enhance natural ventilation and privacy. Solid walls and louvre panels along the corridor improve airflow and visual permeability.
The façade’s simple design regulates light and heat, with fold-up louvre windows providing ventilation and privacy. The elevated corrugated roof improves airflow, with varying ceiling heights enhancing daylight and spatial experience while preventing water accumulation during the rainy season. A central roof opening above the courtyard frames a native tree, integrating nature into the structure. Translucent fabric softens the space, and inclined roof panels reduce the visual impact of solid walls.
The centre’s clear, functional organisation fosters trust and smooth interactions among staff, mothers, newborns, and visitors, addressing immediate needs while supporting long-term community well-being.