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Architects in Jersey have formally objected to plans to build a new hospital at Overdale, saying the delivery process has led to a poor design with no regard for "Jersey’s unique sense of pride.”
The Association of Jersey Architects has officially commented on the planning application to build a £804m ‘health campus’ on Westmount.
That application will be reviewed by an independent planning inspector in March before the Environment Minister approves or rejects it.
Although conceding that their concern is “likely to be ignored”, AJA says it considers that Overdale alone is “the wrong choice of site”.
It writes: “While this project is an island imperative, we are concerned that that client and delivery process have adversely affected the project’s design quality and contribution to Jersey’s unique sense of pride.”
Specifically, the AJA say that the current proposals “do not respond collectively to the context and distinctiveness of the site”.
Pictured: The Association of Jersey Architects criticise the design of main building on Westmount.
It adds: “The south elevation as viewed from Elizabeth Castle is currently a 200m bland flat elevation with no attempt to create an intriguing façade or create an overlay that mitigates the impact of the over-scaled façade.
“There appears to be no clear, compelling concept design or architectural narrative. The design has changed hugely throughout the process.
“Is there a conceptual diagram that explains how the architecture, topography and landscape are integrated? As currently, this appears to be lacking.”
The AJA say it is difficult for the main building's "immense scale" to be demonstrated to the public so it suggests some kind of profile is erected so people can get an idea.
Other criticisms of the AJA include its belief that the two towers to the east of the main building "add to the proposal's jarring with the skyline in longer views” and should be removed.
It asks: “As the second bookend to St. Helier, how does the Our Hospital project relate and respond to Fort Regent?”
The original design for the hospital's main entrance was said to have been inspired by the shoreline, with the underside of the roof “mimicking” the ebb and flow of the tide. The original curved roof design was also intended to be a nod to Fort Regent.
However, that design was scrapped when the project team decided to reduce the size of the building by around 4,000sqm. They said this was in line with public feedback and would ensure that the project comes in on-time, and on budget.
Pictured: The original design featured a curved roof as a nod to Jersey's tidal range and Fort Regent.
Addressing climate change, the AJA also asked how the buildings and parking provision align with the Government’s Carbon Neutral Roadmap.
The Association signs off by asking the Minister to reject the application.
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What is the point of placing a high public access building at the top of a steep hill, thus ensuring that most people will be obliged to drive there?
Having contrived this excessive reliance on private transport, the designers laid on a number of surface car parks and a multi-storey car park. Plus, being Jersey's ONLY hospital, it was made significantly large, in order to cater for a growing population.
Next, public opinion cut in, demanding that the size of the hospital be reduced, together with the amount of car parking provision. Who are these bonkers members of the public, suddenly deemed competent to direct architectural detail, urban planning and traffic issues? Was it an infamous "citizens jury" where members are both anonymous and unelected?
First, eliminate the roadway and car park issues by reducing use of the new building to InPatients - I have already suggested that underground car parking is the least obtrusive approach and worth the extra expense.
Retain the existing General Hospital and after a comprehensive redesign and refit, continue to use it for Accident and Emergency, plus OutPatients. The General is just off the Ring Road and adjacent to the Esplanade for A&E access. Many OutPatients in and around St Helier can easily WALK to the Hospital and there is a multi-storey car park next door, not to forget convenient buses.
The current grossly expensive exercise must be stopped in its tracks to allow some common sense to prevail.
Retain Gloucester Street and now that Andium aren’t going to develop Gas Place, use it for some of the hospital units. Overdale could then be sold off for development, that should recoup a large amount of the money already spent.
The GoJ should buy Normans building, as they own most of the street. Electricity is already in situ, sewage is easily disposable with drainage I believe accessible.
Update the car park at Pier Road. Fort Regent should also be updated to allow all hospital clinics to be situated in one area.
The New Hospital can be built all along the harbour with great views overlooking the castle to assist well-being and recovery. Where the building faces the granite wall all storage areas could be positioned here.
Underground ambulance station would be positioned below ground, especially as the harbour is deep enough to support this.
Bus station opposite and taxis freely available.
Need I say more to consider this as an appropriate site???
The AJA has let itself down badly, in not speaking up earlier, especially as they are not just concerned with the merit or otherwise of the proposed buildings.
The site has been chosen. period.
Now lets get on with actually building a large hospital that will help ALL the people of Jersey and not like the scaled down hospital proposed by the Jersey model