Alaskaan: A Community Center for Cancer Patients

Abstract

Maskaan (home), a community center for cancer patients explores the role of architecture in the process of healing and generating hope in a patient by creating the right environment. Many doctors have projected the idea that brain controls all the organs in a human body and the reaction of an illness or its activators can be controlled through therapeutic effect of built space that reduces anxiety and depression in patient as well as generate hope in them. This phenomenon is studied in terms of salutogenesis, and architects are exploring the applicability of it in healthcare architecture. Currently in Pakistan, 3 lac people are diagnosed with cancer each year and 1 lac are dying because of it. Moreover, Pakistan has the highest number of breast cancer patients in Asia which indicates the immediate need of highlighting the threats this disease is causing and educating the public about it. This typology was founded by Charles Jencks and his wife Maggie Jenks; Maggie was diagnosed with breast cancer and the doctors told her that she had 2-3 months to live. The hospital corridors and environment contributed to the overall sadness and grief she was feeling. It was the time when she decided that even if she is going down, she will go down fighting and the idea of this center helped Maggie live for 2 years more than what the doctors predicted. Currently 22 centers are operating around the globe. The existence of these buildings has ensured a longer life span for cancer patients and helped them cope with this disease both psychologically and physically. The sole idea for these buildings is to ensure that people do not lose the joy of life in the fear of dying. Hence, this cancer care center is also a step towards exploring the emotional dimensional that architecture has to offer and bring out hope and joy in the lives of people dealing with cancer. Major aim is to provide a better life quality to the patients and train their attendants in a way that they themselves can act as care givers to the patients around them. This will ensure decentralized hospital systems and will reduce the dependency on hospitals as well.