Daylight and Courtyards at the New OIL Hospital, Duliajan

Hospital design has long been judged on operational efficiency. Increasingly, it is also judged on how a building helps people recover. The New OIL Hospital in Duliajan, Assam, is planned around that idea, with the comfort, safety and peace of mind of patients guiding the main design decisions.

A clear journey through the building

The Hospital is a compact G+3 building with a modular plan. Outpatient, inpatient, emergency, diagnostic and critical care departments each have their own clear zone. The zones follow the order in which a patient usually moves through a Hospital, so walks are short and the way forward is easy to understand.

Public, staff, service and emergency routes are kept fully separate. This reduces cross-traffic and the risk of infection. For patients and visitors it means fewer wrong turns, less anxiety and easier transitions from one department to the next.

North light

Orientation was a key decision. The OPD and radiodiagnostic departments sit on the north side of the building, where they receive natural daylight without heat gain. They are bright, free of glare and thermally comfortable, which helps patients and staff stay calm and focused, and saves energy.

Gardens within reach

Around the clinical zones, the plan makes room for nature. Internal courtyards, tree-lined buffers and shaded outdoor spaces give patients and visitors somewhere to step out and rest. They are part of how the Hospital supports recovery, and they are placed so that they do not interrupt medical work.

Plant buildings, including the oxygen plant, are placed along the edge of the site, keeping noise and activity away from patient areas. Areas for future expansion are marked out so the Hospital can grow without disturbing care. Throughout, the design provides universal access, so that every visitor can move around the Campus with confidence and dignity.

From arrival to discharge, the Hospital is meant to feel calm and clear, with daylight from the north and a courtyard never far away.