Project Name: Midea Heyou International Hospital

Location: Shunde District, Foshan, China

Design Team: BAIDI

Area: 580,000 m²

Completion Year: 2024

Photographer: Archi-Translator

Feature：

Project - In a groundbreaking fusion of healthcare and biophilic design, the Midea Heyou International Hospital in Foshan, China, emerges as a paradigm-shifting medical facility that challenges traditional hospital architecture. Completed in 2024 by BAIDI architects, this 580,000-square-meter complex represents a radical departure from conventional medical institutions, embodying a "garden hospital" concept that prioritizes healing through nature.

Set against the historical backdrop of Shunde's waterway-rich landscape, the hospital's most striking feature is its sinuous façade that appears to rise organically from the southern waterfront. The building's form, as explained by lead architect Bai Yu, draws direct inspiration from the intricate network of canals that characterize the Lingnan water towns, creating a visual narrative that connects the region's cultural heritage with contemporary healthcare needs.

The architectural innovation extends beyond mere aesthetics, employing a sophisticated dia-grid structure shell system that serves both functional and artistic purposes. This high-tech approach manifests in a transparent, technologically advanced exterior that creates a distinctive silhouette while maximizing natural light penetration. The integration of parametric design with energy-efficient solutions showcases the project's commitment to sustainability, featuring low-transmission double-glazing combined with adjustable tensile membranes and rooftop photosensors that optimize interior comfort while minimizing energy consumption.

Perhaps most revolutionary is the hospital's capacity - accommodating 1,500 inpatient beds and handling up to 6,500 outpatients daily - while maintaining the ambiance of a healing garden. The design transcends the traditional "treatment-centered" approach to embrace a "health-centered" philosophy, creating spaces that function as therapeutic environments. Interior spaces reveal carefully detailed structural nodes that double as nighttime illumination features, while the roof integrates photovoltaic systems with the curtain wall, exemplifying the harmony between technological advancement and natural elements.

This ambitious project sets a new benchmark for healthcare architecture, demonstrating how medical facilities can serve as urban wellness sanctuaries that promote healing through the fundamental connection between nature, architecture, and human well-being.

Design Team - BAI Design International (BAIDI), established in 2009 in London as a RIBA Chartered Practice, has emerged as a leading force in contemporary architectural design, particularly recognized for its innovative approach to healthcare architecture and sustainable urban development. Under the leadership of Kevin Yu Bai, ARB registered architect and RIBA chartered member, alongside an international team of partners including Laura Zurbano Amo, Fabio Canni, and Massimiliano Della Fognia, the firm has garnered significant acclaim, evidenced by their impressive portfolio of international awards.

BAIDI's design philosophy interweaves cultural narrative with technological innovation, exemplified by their award-winning Midea Heyou International Hospital project, which received the 2023 Fortune Best Designs and multiple international accolades. The practice specializes in Transit Oriented Development (TOD), healthcare architecture, cultural facilities, and large-scale urban planning, with notable projects including the Sanxingdui Archaeological Museum and Beijing S1 Line Maglev Rail Station.

The firm's multicultural team combines British, Italian, Spanish, and Chinese expertise, bringing together registered architects from multiple jurisdictions. This diversity is reflected in their integrated approach to architecture, where local cultural contexts meet contemporary sustainable solutions. Their portfolio has been recognized by prestigious institutions, securing awards from the Architecture MasterPrize, WAF, WAN, and ICONIC Awards, positioning BAIDI as a significant contributor to the evolution of contemporary architectural practice, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.