Bromley-by-Bow Centre - Health Centre
This £ 2.0m project was extraordinary in that it was commissioned by the Bromley-by-Bow Centre as a capital project which they then leased back to the Health Service. There are currently 6 GPs and several district nurses operating out of the building, serving a community of 6,000 patients. As a result, the project was not subject to the rigors of NHS procurement and regulation. The clients and users remain proud of the freindly openness of the building, the lack of signage and of branding. The simple materials have stood the test of time.
The entry arch, designed by Wm Kent, originally came from the Strand. It was moved to Bromley-by-Bow after the war as a safe location, and had been propped up against the back wall of the URC church. A local superstore, Tescos, were persuaded to pay for its reinstatement as the entrance to the new Health Centre.
The surgery waiting room. The windows look out onto the enclosed courtyard.
The surgery waiting room
The GP’s consulting rooms look out over the park. A shallow ditch has been sculpted around the curved perimeter of the building to increase the privacy of those inside.
The staff areas lead on to a covered balcony on the first floor, seen on the right of this picture, overlooking the public park.
The staff areas
The entrance courtyard, seen through the repositioned Wm Kent Arch. The entrance to the Health Centre is to the left, the Church, creché and Community Arts Centre to the right.
The entrance courtyard
The entrance courtyard