This design concept for a rehabilitation centre in Asheville, North Carolina, responds to two primary constraints: a challenging site and the specific clinical needs of its patients. With the flatter, more accessible areas of the site already developed, the facility was designed to occupy a narrow, curved ridge on a steep, forested slope.
Responding to Site and Program
The building’s elongated, segmented form is a direct response to this topography. This shape, reminiscent of vertebrae, serves a dual purpose. Externally, it follows the natural contours of the land. Internally, it facilitates efficient staff supervision. Nursing stations are located at the junctions between segments. Their placement is strategic: the two stations on each floor work together to provide complete visual supervision of all patient corridors.
An Architecture for Recovery
For patients undergoing cognitive rehabilitation, simple navigation is essential. The design avoids complex layouts in favor of a single primary corridor on each of the two main floors, minimizing potential confusion. This is further supported by a system of color-coded doorways to provide clear visual markers.
The building’s narrow profile is a deliberate choice to maximize natural light. This decision is grounded in clinical studies showing that exposure to natural light can support circadian rhythms and may lead to shorter recovery times. To apply this principle, all patient suites are oriented to the east to capture morning sun, while afternoon and evening rehabilitation activities take place in west-facing spaces. Skylights and large openings between the building’s segments ensure that daylight penetrates deep into the central circulation spaces.
This conceptual work was completed as part of a Master of Architecture studio under the guidance of Professor Stephen Verderber. His specialization in design therapeutics and architecture for health informed the project’s core focus on evidence-based solutions.
Project Documentation
Floor Plans
