As a minority, navigating foreign medicine/healthcare can be
daunting, especially if the user is a non-English speaker. As
humans, getting the proper care for our bodies should be an
intrinsic right, yet many problems pose barriers for groups of
people across the U.S. This project sought not to fix the current
healthcare issues, but to improve the local communities with what
we know as architects. This project was also a joint effort
between the architects and industrial designers who took charge of
human interactions, the flow of space, and engagement with
technology.
The site sits on South Archer Avenue, a prominent street that
connects the rest of Chicago to the heart of Chinatown. Across
from the existing building lies a predominantly Asian neighborhood
with an average age of 46. Most of the said population speak
little to no English. The nearest pharmacy in this area is
approximately three miles away, making it hard for elders to
retrieve their medicine. The project sought to invite users into
the space and break the traditional stereotype of what a
pharmaceutical space may be. Fifty percent of the building is
reserved for healthcare while the other fifty engages with the
community whether that’d be an artifact gallery or a teahouse.
Spaces were also designed in mind with the ability to give back to
the community; with multiple flex spaces throughout the proposal
to host events.
