From ashes to life: a skin cloning laboratory and rehabilitation centre for burn victims in South Africa.

Abstract

Fire is part of our everyday life. As the relationship between man and fire grows, so does the danger of using it. In South Africa, the power of fire is unfortunately and commonly underestimated, resulting in more victims falling prey to the fire fiend. Facilities that provide specialized treatment for burn victims are limited. This includes treatment of the burn wound (cloned skin) and latent rehabilitation using physical and psychological therapy. The design of a building specialized for the needs of burn victims has been proposed. The facility will be mixed use and multi-functional: it will be a 2-part building consisting of a Skin Cloning Laboratory and a Rehabilitation Centre in Johannesburg. The site selected is located behind the Charlotte Maxeke Hospital (Joburg Gen). The site was chosen for its views, hospital connection and relationship to the Wits University Medical Faculty. The organic design was derived from the concept of “skin and the landscape”. The facade depicts the “element of water” and grows out of the excavated rock face wall.