Golden A' Design Award Winner 2022
Lieh-Wei Liu's healthcare interior operates as sophisticated spatial communication, where every formal decision encodes meanings related to care, trust, innovation, and holistic wellness, the dominant white sculptural volumes functioning as primary signifiers of purity, cleanliness, and medical hygiene while their organic flowing geometries simultaneously communicate approachability, comfort, and human-centered care, departing from the sterile rectilinear conventions of traditional clinical environments that encode efficiency and standardization at potential psychological cost to patient comfort, here the biomorphic forms suggest natural growth patterns, protective enclosure, and maternal embrace, archetypal spatial configurations that activate deep psychological associations with safety and nurture, the seamless surface continuity eliminating visible joints or seams reinforces perceptions of quality, precision, and technological advancement, suggesting fabrication excellence that may translate in patient perception to clinical excellence and trustworthiness. The integration of living botanical elements within geometric ceiling apertures creates symbolic synthesis between nature and technology, organic vitality and clinical precision, suggesting holistic care philosophies that address whole-person wellness rather than merely treating isolated symptoms, these planted apertures function as contemporary reimaginings of the temenos or sacred grove, bringing elements of the natural world into controlled interior sanctuary, the circular aperture geometry itself carrying associations with wholeness, completion, and the mandala as cosmic symbol, while the verdant green introduces color semiotics of growth, renewal, hope, and vitality, chromatic associations that counter the potential coldness of the achromatic white-gray-black palette dominating the architectural surfaces. The dark flooring grounds the composition both literally and symbolically, providing stable foundation and earthly connection beneath the floating sculptural white forms, this tonal contrast between light above and dark below echoing archetypal cosmological structures that position lightness, spirit, and aspiration overhead while materiality, stability, and grounding reside below, the smooth matte surfaces throughout suggest refinement, luxury, and attention to detail, material qualities that communicate institutional seriousness and professional competence while the soft rounded edges and flowing curves simultaneously soften these associations toward accessibility and warmth, the elimination of sharp corners and hard edges carrying both practical safety benefits and symbolic communication of gentleness and care. The cylindrical and ovoid volumes reference fundamental geometric archetypes, the circle representing unity, completion, and protection, forms without beginning or end suggesting eternal care and continuous attention, while the nested spatial arrangement with smaller cylindrical elements positioned before larger curved reception structures creates hierarchical progression from initial encounter toward deeper engagement, a spatial narrative of welcome, reception, and treatment that unfolds through architectural experience, the concealed lighting creating soft ambient glow without harsh shadows reinforces atmosphere of comfort and reduces anxiety-inducing stark illumination, while the integration of small white bird elements within planted apertures introduces whimsical detail that humanizes the space and suggests freedom, lightness, and flight, archetypal associations with spirit and transcendence that may offer psychological uplift within medical contexts often associated with fear or discomfort, the flowing ceiling ribbons that appear to move through space suggest dynamic energy, innovation, and forward momentum, countering static institutional associations with qualities of vitality and progressive thinking, the overall compositional harmony achieved through repetition of curved geometries, consistent material palette, and balanced spatial organization communicates order, control, and mastery, institutional qualities essential for medical trust, while the evident aesthetic ambition signals that patient experience merits thoughtful design investment, communicating respect and care for those seeking treatment within this carefully crafted therapeutic sanctuary.
Space is created like a nest, an egg shell, or a fruit kernel; It is like stable environments that can well cover and protect, like a mother's warm womb or like a plant's pod. All of them are endowed with the intention to place life in the safe and relaxing space to receive treatment. With regard to space planning, they have, on one hand, retained the important professional movement and function of medical equipment, while also trying to challenge and obtain the very subtle commonality between rational logic and sensual imagination.