Designing the mobile health clinic of the future

A new mobile health clinic, designed for Doctors of the World is currently on display at the Wellcome Collection before being deployed in emergency situations around the world

Global Clinic installation under construction at the Wellcome Centre. Image: BHE
The Mobile Health Clinic has been unveiled as a ‘live build’ exhibit at the Wellcome Collection’s exhibition about architecture, society and health. Image: BHE
Global Clinic installation at the Wellcome Centre. Image: BHE
This innovative mobile health clinic has been developed to provide effective, adaptable healthcare in emergency situations and remote locations. Image: BHE

Visitors will have the opportunity to see the first complete version of the Global Clinic in the gallery, until April 2019 when it will be immediately dispatched to an area of need. The innovative, easy to construct structure demonstrates how architecture and engineering can come together to respond to an issue facing many relief organisations. It forms part of a wider exhibition titled ‘Living with Buildings: Health and Architecture’ and curated by Emily Sargent to explore the relationship between architecture and health.

This is an amazing project. We are working hand-in-hand with Doctors of the World to develop a high performing, low cost, simple to erect shelter which can be sent around the world city-to-city by email.
Jon Shanks, associate director, Buro Happold

Sketches taken from the structural design process showing the construction challenges. Image: Buro Happold.

Independent humanitarian charity Doctors of the World worked with architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) and Buro Happold with ChapmanBDSP to find an innovative solution. Together the team have produced a clinic building made from plywood, constructed using a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, which is both adaptable and strong. Easy to transport and build, the structure holds the potential to become the de facto temporary health clinic of the future.

Timelapse footage showing part of the construction process. 

We love this innovative Global Clinic, which can be quickly deployed anywhere to provide the safe, sanitary and private space in which our doctors can discuss health concerns and, most importantly, give psychosocial support for mental health, exacerbated by the trauma they have experienced.
Ellen Waters, director of development, Doctors of the World UK.

Costing less than £4,000 and taking around a day to erect, the prototype clinic has been developed to meet the urgent need to provide flexible, robust structures for delivering healthcare in emergency situations and remote locations all over the world, where tents prove too flimsy and shipping containers too difficult to transport. Yet still weights just 400KG, making it relatively easy to transport to challenging locations.

Sketches taken from the structural design process shipping packaging ideas. Image: Buro Happold,

Find out more about our work on this innovative project here.