Bagchi Karunashraya, meaning “Abode of Compassion”, is a hospice care facility located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, dedicated to providing free and quality palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients. The center stands as a compassionate response to end-of-life care—deeply rooted in the philosophy, “Where there is no cure, there is care.” It is a place where architecture, nature, and human dignity converge to create a healing environment.
This Hospice Care Facility Is Dedicated To Providing Quality Palliative Care | Mindspace
The natural terrain is marked by depressions and a gentle slope. It is respectfully embraced within a 20-acre site shaped by past laterite quarrying. These depressions have been reimagined as rainwater harvesting ponds, reflecting a harmonious integration of landscape and architecture.
The architects dispersed spaces such as the Outpatient Department, Administrative Block, Inpatient Wards, Nurses’ Housing, Learning Center, Auditorium, and Staff Residences according to function, privacy requirements, and topography. A central landscaped plaza, accessed via a path with a subtly shifted axis, serves as a contemplative spine connecting core facilities. The architecture, understated and earthy, slowly unfolds through an interplay of built and unbuilt spaces.
At the heart of the hospice lie 6 L-shaped in-patient wards, each accommodating 16 beds. They arranged these around a serene water body, transforming the quarry’s edge into a calm, reflective focal point. Corner nurse stations ensure full visibility of patients, while wide verandas act as transitional zones for counseling, family meetings, or quiet solitude.
Nursing accommodations are located in close proximity to the wards for immediate access, yet feature their own courtyards and recreational areas to offer personal space and respite. The Learning Center and 500-seater Auditorium, placed at the campus edge, feature low-rise structures grouped around courtyards to promote focused, peaceful learning. The auditorium’s blank sculptural façade contrasts the porous quality of other structures, with a forecourt plaza serving as a social gathering space.
Bagchi Karunashraya’s material palette is intimately tied to its context. Externally, buildings are clad in laterite stone—a direct nod to the land’s geological and cultural history. This stone, once quarried from the site, now forms its architectural skin, grounding the facility in both place and memory.
Through thoughtful design, contextual materiality, and sustainable practices, it re-imagines the hospice care facility as a deeply humane and healing experience—where architecture becomes a vessel for dignity, care, and peace.
Patachitra paintings, placed in alcoves along corridors and courtyards, narrate stories of healing and tradition. Sculptures created from scrap metal by local artisans bring in themes of compassion, grief, and resilience, resonating with the human experience of the hospice.
Rainwater Harvesting: Quarry pits have been transformed into water-retaining ponds, enabling complete retention of surface runoff and groundwater recharge. Solar Power: Photovoltaic panels located in the rear zones generate clean energy, reducing dependency on the grid. Wastewater Management: An energy-efficient anaerobic Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) ensures eco-conscious wastewater processing with minimal carbon impact. Passive Cooling: Evaporative cooling in nurse accommodations reduces the need for mechanical air conditioning, addressing Bhubaneswar’s tropical climate with minimal energy use.
Fact File
Designed by: Mindspace
Project Type: Healthcare Architecture Design
Project Name: Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Center
Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Year Built: 2024
Built-up Area: 130000 sqft
Principal Architects: P N Medappa
Team Design Credits: Sahana M & Shweta Chandran
Photograph Courtesy: Shamanth Patil
Manufacturers: Century, Delianate Facade system, Featherlite Furniture, Hattich, Havells, Hindware, Jaquar, Listo Paints, MYK, Merino, Somany Tile, welspun
Lead Team: Febin Frederick
Engineering & Consulting > Structural: Rays Consulting Engineers
MEP > Engineering & Consulting: Sampathkumar Associates
Electrical > Engineering & Consulting: Akash Electro consultants
Acoustic > Engineering & Consulting: ihD Technology Consultant Pvt Ltd
Landscape Architecture: Design Milieu
Engineering & Consulting > Mechanical: Skanda Consultants
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Mindspace
Firm’s Instagram Link: Mindspace
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