Butaro Residence, Butaro Rwanda – MASS Group
Global health pioneer Partners In Health (PIH) partnered with the Rwandan Ministry of Health in 2005 to extend health care access throughout rural Rwanda—particularly to the Burera District’s population of 340,000 who had limited access to care. Recognizing an opportunity to leverage design for improved health outcomes, PIH partnered with MASS Design Group (MASS) in 2008 to build the Butaro District Hospital. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, including immersive learning alongside the doctors, nurses, staff, and community, the project cultivated new ideas about how to design for better health. Yet it also uncovered a pivotal challenge in health delivery: the new facilities would only be sustainable if they can continue to attract and retain the best staff over the long term. MASS, PIH, and their partners, led by the Daniel E. Ponton Fund at the Boston-based Brigham and Women’s Hospital, launched a multi-phase housing initiative to help attract and retain the best medical expertise in this rural region. By providing a space of respite and recovery, this housing provides a key service in the provision of the best level of care to the community.
Further Viewing: Butaro Hospital
