It looks like a swank hotel or the lobby of condo building, alas, dear readers, I have to apologize for the lack of constant posts and admit that I've been Nurse Good-heart for my mother that has undergone knee surgery at St. Joseph's Hospital in Orange County, California. The hospital is amazing and the reflection on California modernism in the architecture and design is graceful and relaxing. The wonderful thing is that my sister and I were born in this hospital as well as my nephew. I hope to also, one day when I'm there, give birth at this same hospital. The other odd detail is the my Canadian fiance was born in a St. Joseph's hospital in Toronto. That has to mean we're soul mates, right? LOL!
The lobby, as photographed above, and the other waiting areas in the hospital are enabled with free Wifi, easy to access charging stations for computer use, and desks at the end of every couch. Most of the people waiting around were in fact on laptops and mostly watching movies.
The design of the hospital is based on caring for the whole person-body, mind and spirit.
More amazing design notes from the McCarthy Building Company. In keeping with the values of the Sister’s of St. Joseph -- caring
for the whole person–body, mind and spirit, the hospital’s interior
design evokes a sense of healing and inspires patient confidence.
Extensive natural daylighting, wood paneling and flooring as well as
the use of soft paint and fabric colors promote a pleasant environment
for patient and staff. Light panels above patient beds and on the walls
feature nature scenes, and a healing garden on the second floor of the
hospital offers a serene place for respite and quiet meditation for
patients and family members.
St. Joseph's Hospital is Green
The new patient care center incorporates several “green” facility
solutions in support of St. Joseph Health System’s Sustainable Design
Standards for their new facilities. Some of these environmentally
conscious elements include exterior lighting that reduces outdoor light
pollution; energy efficient Solarban 80 windows; recycled aluminum
curtainwall; Lutron lighting controls with special sensors; low
emitting flooring and carpets; PVC free wainscoting in janitor’s
closets, utility rooms and clean sterile rooms; and an energy efficient
PVC roofing system."
In 1945...
Here are some photos that I've captured from spending a week at the hospital with my mother. I wanted to start with a photograph taken in 1945 that reflects the beautiful missions of California.
Here is the hospital as of 2008. This photo is only about two weeks old. As you can see, the walls are etched in the original handwriting of the founder of the hospital, Mother Bernard. The construction company that worked on fabricating this aspect of the building had this to include:
In 2008...
“McCarthy had never conducted a project with such large-scale graphics on a building’s exterior,” said Peterson. “One
of the most challenging aspects of building this project was to ensure
that the etchings on 247 glass panels varying in size from 2-by-5 feet
to 9-by-5 feet were aligned correctly so that the design matched up
perfectly from one panel to the next.”
The chiseled scripts, quotes, and mottoes are inspiring and beautiful. As you might expect in the OC, valet parking at the front door, only $3 bucks! For any girl that has lived in the city, most of the time you can't even park your car for a hour. St. Joseph has every major entrance set-up with valet parking. A nice perk, particularly if you're going in for something major or minor. In my mother's case, she was having a knee replacement. Here are more pictures of the entrance. I love the next shot because the old mission bell towers can be seen. There is a nice visual reference between the old and the new.
Since I started this post with the inspiring super-mod shots of the lobby, I'm going to cut to a typical hallway found inside the hospital. I really love the hip use of vertical lights to create length in the corridor.
This next shot is for all the nurses in training! Don't you love the sight of the next generation of hospital gadgets. I know that one of those gizmos holds the morphine, no joke!
My mother had a private room (note: If you want something as swanky as this, you better lie and say you snore. People who snore or have apnea, never end up in a two-person room). The image that follows is the lovely chaise/daybed that allows loved one to relax in total comfort. I loved the scale of the bed. It was great to sit in or to lay down in and read. The fabric is also well chosen. It reflects the bright orange colors of the lobby and weaves continuity throughout the hospital. God is in the details!
The entrance to the room is the open door against the room, the second door is the entrance to a large bathroom and shower. The television operating system needs major work but once we got it figured out, we had all the major channels, cable, music, and movies on demand. At the nurses station, there is an image of the entire staff, with the most drop dead gorgeous staff I've ever seen in my life! My mother even asked her doctor is the staff had to be handsome in order to work at St. Joe's. The nurse station also proudly displays their well-earned award for being one of the top 10 hospitals in America, as listed by US News & World Report in 2007. This hospital was a fantastic experience for my mother and my family. I have to thank the nurses, doctors, and physical therapists for their happy attitudes and up-beat work ethic. The aura of the team that worked on my Mother was nothing short of magical.
Back to the lobby, this image is out of focus but it is a wonderful water sculpture reflecting the values of the hospital. It is a calming experience to watch water trickle down the soft smoked glass. The
Remind yourself everyday when you wake up that Prayers Work and Miracles Happen.
(Blooming Magnolia flower outside St. Joseph's Hospital)
1. What inspires your sensibility as an artist? 
