Finsbury Health Center represented the most important achievement of the modern architecture in England during the early 20th C (Allan, 2018, n.p). Therefore, the realisation of humanitarians for the deprived society in types of the building as summarised by the ideals of social, technical, and aesthetic with political and architectural conviction. This was equaled by the work of Finsbury since it anticipated the foundation of the health center by ten years. Concerning the architecture, the client created a welcoming feeling that can overcome the typical intimidations that are associated with the environment of traditional hospitals. According to Lubetkin, the façade curving, as well as the outstretched arms of Finsbury Health Center, was meant to introduce a smile in machines (Finsbury Health Centre, 2013, n.p). Hence, such smiles have been reciprocated. As a result, the centre part of the hospital is deeply loved by the staff and patients despite the inadequate maintenance periods. So, it has remained an indispensable health centre for the local community. The essay discusses the new things concerning the Finsbury Health Centre. Lastly, the paper analyses the relationship between the five principles of Le Corbusier of the new Architecture and the Finsbury Health Centre.
The current issues about the Finsbury Health Centre
Design
In 1938, Grade I listed the health centre as a revolutionary building by architect Lubetkin (Finsbury Health Centre, 2018, n.p). The Status of Grade I is represented below:
Source: (Welch, 2011, n.p)
The building captured the politics of post-war before creating the NHS which was the model of the Finsbury Health Centre. Finsbury Health Centre has never been a usual obscure and unsung piece of design. Even though the health centre looked faded and hidden behind overbearing vegetation as shown below, it still looks special. In contrast, Finsbury Health Centre was famously daring in terms of vision and design. That is its comprehensive, unified and free care for all in the bold architectural fulfillment was its ideal.
In the present design, patients and other visitors are informed by the murals to remain outside. They are also meant to supply fresh air during the day and night. Consequently, the murals inspire people towards their health past the expectations of the health centre to ventilate the rooms. Previously, the poor tenements and occupant of Finsbury would block the fireplaces by using rags to prevent drafts. The fire could not be used. Instead, it blocks the free flow of air.
Source: Google.com
Architectural ideals
The health centre has been in operation since its opening by Lord Horder. Since then it has been providing several health services to the people of Finsbury. However, it has been designed to adapt to new health requirements due to the developing and changing healthcare. Recently, the preservation trust was formed to work towards restoring Finsbury Health Centre. This has been a major architectural achievement of the modern movement in England since it brings together the first municipal building to architectural ideals. Consequently, the new building has been acclaimed as a model of coordinated public health service provision in a type of radical structure structures. Due to such changes, the building is listed Grade 1.
The Finsbury Health Centre was designed to adapt the healthcare changes so that it can remain an excellent building. For that reason, abandoning it can betray the great architect as well as the noble architectural ideals. The new designs have indicated that there are prevailing medicine ideas. For example, there were light relaxing properties to make good use glass bricks. Thereby, opening the planned interiors.
Services
The services in the booklets indicates that the health centre has been a priority while providing the whole building with light for a descent appearance. World War II aimed to stop the realisation of Lubetskin's dream. There was no bombing that took place in Finsbury Health Centre. However, due to numerous threats, the building was surrounded with sandbags after its completion. The heavy weight of sandbags cracked the glasses. The bombing plans on the building stopped and it later became a clinic, and a conveyor of knowledge that encouraged an interactive connection between the health providers and patients. The intelligent cooperation of people in Finsbury were needed for the success of the health policies. This made the Finsbury region to be turned into a place where civilian casualties can be bandaged and treated.
The guiding principles
The plumbing were moved inside the building. Thus, changing one of the Lub’s guiding principles. Additionally, the beautiful murals were whitewashed away when the centre was serving as a first aid station. The events of the World War I made Lub to regret making the masterpiece changes on the building.
Due to anger, Lub failed to visit the Finsbury Health Centre for over four decades for changing the design without consultation over the refurbishment. The Finsbury Health Centre became a symbol of modern progress in health sector. For instance, it had a poster showing the rising of modern post-war from ashes to post-war slums.
Model
Finsbury provides a good centre for health facilities due to its green lawns and flower beds. Also, represents a well-ventilated building where patients now meet physicians in waiting rooms with flowers on the table. Moreover, patients in Finsbury Health Centre are shown their doctors. Such physicians are not overworked because they have clerical officers who look into their records. Again, Finsbury has been the model in the delivery of public health care particularly after introducing the National Health Services (NHS).
However, after World War I, there were financial problems. Hence, the plans of Finsbury Health Centre were not realized.
Ways in which the Finsbury Health Center Building demonstrated the five principles of Le Corbusier of the new Architecture
The five principles of Le Corbusier that were formulated in the 1920s are the Pilotis, which involves elevation of the mass off the ground. Secondly, the free plan. This can be achieved through the separation of the load-bearing column from the walls that sub-divides the space. Thirdly, the free façade, which is the corollary of the free plan in the vertical plane. Fourthly, the horizontal sliding window, and finally, the roof garden that restores the ground covered by the house.
The plan of the building holds itself in a sensational essence (Corbusier, 1927, p. 3). Regarding free plan, the building of Finsbury Health Centre is designed in the form of letter H with a reception, theatre. The core services are centrally based on flexible clinical accommodation in its two wings. Moreover, the form of the building creates an entrance garden with ramped access to the major entrance. The floor also extends to the ground and first floors. However, the lower ground floor is partially accessed separately from the rear entrance through a vehicular courtyard. The parking spaces of the hospital are arranged along the footage of the Pine Street. The structure of the building is composed a reinforced concrete frame with glass block and curtain walls that are tilled.
On pilotis, the entire floor plate of the building extends over the ground floor and first floors. However, the ground is partially accessed independently from the courtyard. The building is elevated above the ground with strong frames that surround the asphalt roof.
Concerning the free façade, the Finsbury Health Centre has universal free access. Therefore, this suits the needs of its patients rather than the employees of the hospital. Additionally, the socialite ideal of Finsbury Hospital as fused with the Tecton’s design is politically and architecturally progressive. In 1994, the first systematic project for restoring the Finsbury Health Centre was commissioned under the instructions of the Avanti Architecture (Welch, 2011, n.p). The works include concrete repair, re-roofing, repair, and replacement of the window. Others were renovation of the walls as well as retiling of one wing. The original colours were to be restored at the entrance sign. The building provides the model of a full refurbishment of its envelope.
On the horizontal sliding window and the roof garden of the Finsbury Health Centre, the building has a low-lying structure with tiles and glass-brick façade, a light lobby that is easily navigable due to the navigable layout that acts a good feature beacon. There are horizontal murals inside the building that persuades people to adopt healthy living lives and to enjoy the fresh air. The interior parts of the window were bright and marked with the surrounding slums. It implies that the health centre was part of Finsbury's strategy to have a public health centre in the entire borough. In contrast, the health centre was the only building awaiting completion. Both World War II and inadequate funds were the major problems to the complete refurbishment of the health centre. However, it is still in use with dilapidates exteriors after periods of inadequate maintenance.
Conclusion
It is clear that there was a close association with the building on account of the earlier restoration project of Avanti in the mid-1990s. While marking the 50th
anniversary of the health centre and its relationship with architect, Lubetkin, Finsbury Health Centre have viable and important characteristics that are needed by modern projects to the uniqueness of the building. This is because it has championed an iconic status after completion. Therefore, it is still widely accepted and admired.
References
Allan, J. (2018). 1938: Finsbury Health Centre, London — The Twentieth Century Society. [Online] C20society.org.uk. Available at: https://c20society.org.uk/100-buildings/1938-finsbury-health-centre-london/ [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
Corbusier, L. (1927). Towards a new Architecture: 13th ed. New York: Dover Publications, Inc., pp.1-381.
Finsbury Health Centre, London. (2018). Manchesterhistory.net. [Online] Available at: http://manchesterhistory.net/architecture/1930/finsburyhealth.html [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
Finsbury Health Centre: ‘Nothing is too good for ordinary people’. (2013). Municipal Dreams. [Online] Available at: https://municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/finsbury-health-centre-nothing-is-too-good-for-ordinary-people/ [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
Welch, A. (2011). Finsbury Health Centre, London - e-architect. [Online] e-architect. Available at: https://www.e-architect.co.uk/london/finsbury-health-centre [Accessed 20 Feb. 2018].
