Ronald McDonald House in Glasgow has been conceived as a ‘home from home’, to provide shelter and comfort to the families of children being treated at the adjacent Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Calming, light filled spaces flow throughout the building, articulating the function whilst gently uplifting the domestic forms within.
Wienerberger’s Marziale brick was selected for the project, aiding in creating an architecture that embodied the surrounding character of the ship building urban context, whilst also addressing the sensitivities associated with the final use of the building, when visitors will be seeking comfort and reassurance.
The result of the project is a series of white brick forms interconnected by green roofed, white concrete porticos, in turn creating an industrial silhouette fronting Govan Road – shielding the house from the noise of nearby traffic.
Comprising of a series of semi-enclosed courtyards, the building provides both visual and physical amenity space to the residents. These enclosures, in conjunction with the materiality of the brick, bring domesticity and human scale to the building; whilst offering an urban oasis of vibrant trees, shrubs and plants, contrasting with the otherwise institutional context of the South Glasgow Hospital Campus.
Dark, projecting windows are prominent from the contrasting white brick forms, which provide indoor space to sit, relax or read.
The design and selection of products provides a contrast between the rustic white brick and the smooth dark aluminium, where the heaviness of the brick and beautiful white textured tones plays off the lightweight, smooth, dark toned, aluminium counterpart.
The facing brick was chosen with great care and is fundamental in achieving an uplifting yet traditional feel; bringing a comforting emotional connection to the guests as a place of respite.
The whites and subtle buff tones of the Marziale facing brick brings a rich softness and warmth to the exterior, demonstrating how brick can play an important role in creating the overall ambiance of a building.