Maggie Centre Abu Dhabi

This project proposes a Maggie’s Centre that intentionally resists spectacle. Rather than designing a bold landmark, the aim is to craft a quiet, responsive architecture, one that dissolves gently into its site, listens before it speaks, and foregrounds the emotional and sensory experience of its users. Healing, in our view, is not always facilitated by dramatic interventions or architectural gestures. Often, it begins in the small moments: the hush of filtered light, the grain of a tactile surface, the sound of moving water, or the shadow of a tree that falls across a bench at the right time of day.

The starting point was fragmentation. Instead of a singular mass, the architecture is broken into distinct volumes that foster a range of experiences, some open and communal, others intimate and introspective. This approach allows for both spatial diversity and psychological nuance. Each volume responds to a specific emotional or functional need, creating a rhythm of spaces that support the complex journey of healing.

At the heart of the design is a courtyard, from which the building grows outward. This void acts as both an anchor and a threshold, a place to pause and reflect. The circulation wraps around it, transforming what could have been a transitional space into moments of encounter and stillness. The courtyard isn’t simply an organizing device; it is a symbol of openness, lightness, and connection to the earth.

Materiality was guided by the senses. Concrete was cast with bark textures to soften its presence and create tactile depth. Transparent fabrics, timber surfaces, and organic materials were chosen not for visual aesthetics alone but for their acoustic, olfactory, and thermal qualities. Every surface invites touch, every space holds sound differently. From the echo of footsteps in the multipurpose hall to the muffled quiet of the yoga room, the building becomes a responsive instrument rather than a static form.

The program supports autonomy and dignity. Spaces like the open kitchen are not just functional; they are symbolic. Here, the act of preparing food becomes an act of reclaiming control. For many individuals dealing with cancer, their autonomy is often diminished as caregivers and medical routines take over daily life. This kitchen is designed as a restorative space, where patients can regain a sense of self-determination through a simple, empowering ritual. Cooking becomes more than nourishment; it becomes therapy. A moment where control shifts back into their hands. Alongside this, creative rooms, meditation spaces, and lounges are dispersed across the building to reflect varied modes of healing, whether solitary, communal, active, or restful.

Nature is not an accessory; it is a collaborator. The landscape is designed to attract specific local species, utilizing native plants that engage all the senses: birdsong, fragrance, and rustling leaves. Architecture and ecology are in conversation, and the result is a building that feels less like an intervention and more like an extension of the place.

Sustainability was approached not as a checklist but as a logic embedded into form, material, and use. Modest in scale, the building remains low to the ground, reducing its visual and environmental impact. Passive cooling strategies, water-sensitive features, and native planting work in unison to reduce dependency on mechanical systems.

Ultimately, this project asks: What does it mean to create a space for healing? Our answer is rooted in subtlety. This is a building that doesn’t ask to be looked at; it asks to be felt. It shelters without enclosing, guides without directing, and supports without overwhelming.

Program
The center includes spaces for rest, reflection, conversation, and creative activity. These consist of a communal kitchen, therapy rooms, lounges, a yoga and meditation space, a multipurpose hall, and outdoor garden areas. The program supports varied modes of healing: solitary, social, active, and introspective.

Spatial Strategy
The architecture is fragmented into a series of smaller volumes to create spatial and emotional diversity. A central courtyard anchors the design, acting as a calm, open heart around which all spaces flow. Circulation is not treated as transition but as experience, offering moments of pause, view, and interaction.