Maggie’s St Bartholomew’s, London

The building site is in the centre of London, adjacent to the large courtyard of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. Founded in Smithfield in the 12th century, the hospital is the oldest in London and was started at the same time as the St. Bartholomew the Great Church. Layers of history characterize this unique site, connecting deeply to the Medieval culture of London. 

While most all of the realized Maggie’s Centres have been horizontal buildings, the centre at St Bartholomew's is more vertical, sitting on the historically charged site. It replaces a pragmatic 1960s brick structure adjacent to a 17th century stone structure by James Gibbs, holding the “Great Hall” and the famous Hogarth staircase.

The building tops out in a public roof garden with flowering trees open to a large room for yoga, Tai Chi, meetings etc. The interior character of this building will be shaped by colored light washing the floors and walls, changing by the time of day and season. Interior lighting is organized to allow the colored lenses together with the translucent white glass of the facade to present a new, joyful, glowing presence on this corner of the great square of St. Barts Hospital.

For further information please see the website of Steven Holl Architects