Pokrita čakalnica ob Zaloški
Začasen, a glasen odgovor na pomanjkanje prostorov za paciente
When asked, patients at the outdoor areas of UMC Ljubljana expressed that they most need a waiting area. In a study conducted in 2022, patients highlighted the lack of a space where they could wait for their appointment or transportation home. Among the most pressing issues identified by the patients were obstacles on sidewalks and pedestrian paths in the area, as well as a lack of greenery.
The covered waiting area on Zaloška Street is a temporary but impactful response to the lack of spaces needed by patients in the UMC and Oncology Institute Ljubljana area. This demountable structure, made of metal and wood, can accommodate more than 12 visitors at once, providing shelter from rain and sun. It will stand on a small square along Zaloška Street from June to December. The square, which is shaded by large trees, was previously enclosed with planters, a chain, an advertising billboard, and was often blocked by parked cars, despite being the most important landmark in the area. The waiting area is located near a bus stop and a taxi stand, making it a potential meeting point for patients who need to visit the nearby clinics.
The large structure of the waiting area, with its oddly curved roof, is designed to be impossible to miss. After we renovated the pavilion in the park along the promenade of the main UKC building, it became clear that comfortable, covered spaces are urgently needed in the area. Since the renovation, the pavilion has been constantly filled with patients and healthcare workers seeking a respite from the stressful environment of the healthcare facility. The covered waiting area on Zaloška Street serves the same purpose, but it deliberately occupies space that, to the detriment of patients and others who need to move around the area on foot, was previously taken up by parked cars.
The open spaces in the densely built area of Ljubljana’s clinics are disconnected, full of obstacles, and subject to haphazard management. In addition to the dense construction, most of the open space is allocated to roads and parked vehicles. The covered waiting area does not solve the overall planning of the medical district but instead prompts us to consider who this valuable open space is intended for. We must decide whether it is meant for people or cars.
UKC, Ljubljana • Projekt podpira Evropski inštitut za inovacije (EIT), ki je del skupnosti Novi evropski Bauhaus • Izvajalci: Kovinarstvo Golob • Foto: Jana Jocif • 2024