American firm Cannon Design has largely avoided right angles while designing this medical facility near San Diego, resulting in a building defined by curvilinear forms and surfaces. 

The Jacobs Medical Center is located on the University of California San Diego campus in the seaside town of La Jolla. The 245-bed hospital contains speciality centres for cancer care, advanced surgical care, and high-risk obstetrics and neonatal care.

"The health centre blurs the boundaries between research and healthcare delivery while elevating patient care experiences through creative technology integration, access to nature and beautiful interior and exterior spaces," said Mehrdad Yazdani, design principal at Cannon Design, which in total has 19 offices in the US and abroad.
The 10-storey building is composed of irregularly shaped floor plates that are arranged in a way that creates cantilevers and setbacks. The building's curvilinear form was driven by the placement of patient units, according to the firm.
"The geometry creates a subtle continuous flowing curve of the exterior ? a dynamic form that changes as one passes around the building's perimeter," the team said.

Advanced computer modelling enabled to the team to minimise solar heat gain and glare while also bringing natural light into the facility. Fritted glass also helps reduce solar penetration.
Encompassing 509,500 square feet (47,334 square metres), the hospital features a fluid layout and curved surfac...