doernbecher

when i'm not running around or hanging out, i'm at OHSU, earning a living

i'm a diet aide on weekends and i'm responsible for dropping off and picking up menus at doernbecher children's hostpital. i trek over there, at a minimum, three times a day and hike up three flights to visit all of the rooms in five units.

the stairwell is what started my fascination with the building. it is enclosed, of course, but has windwows all along the East wall and therefore, even in the winter, it is a warm space. this originally gave me the idea to use a stairwell as a solar chimney. The windows face an interior courtyard with a well crafted childrens structure.

I am impressed with every detail of Doernbecher's design and on the walks, I find some new ingenious design that I hadn't previously appreciated.

the color selection of the tiles and the patterns that flow down the halls . . .

the interior windows of patient rooms . . .

the views west of the marquam forest . . .

the playrooms . . .

the list can go on and on and last week I decided to find out a little bit more about how doernbecher came to be.

more importantly about who designed such a well thought out facility and it happens to be none other than local architect firm Zimmer Gunsul Frasca; they may be local but they have an impressive international portfolio definitely worth checking out!

enjoy