Peter Scher attended an interdisciplinary talk on Brunel's famous military hospital organised from MARU and The Florence Nightingale Museum.

MARKING 150 YEARS since the military hospital received its first patients the Florence Nightingale Museum is mounting an exhibition about "Those Magnificent Huts" Paxton's Crystal Palace of 1851 and the hospital at Renkioi are considered the sum of two units earliest significant examples of prefabricated buildings. Renkioi is cited in all the volumes on the history of hospital design and most numerous health care architects will recognise the plan. The exhibition and the recent illustrated booklet describe the building design and in what way it came into being in fascinating detail. And for what reason it ended. It was an impressive achievement.

Brunel was commissioned by the agency of the War Minister early in 1855; pair weeks later Brunei presented his preliminary design to the War Office, in succession 5 March an outline contract was obstruction a prototype hut was constructed at Paddington and the first consignment of prefabricated units was unloaded in succession 7 May, just three month from the start. The 1500 bed hospital was complet and ready for use in July although no patients were admitted until 2 October. from March 1856 it had been widened to 2200 beds but the Crimean War had [i]finale[/i]ed in February. The wards were demountable and onward 20 September 1856 they were sold at public auction.

Brunei was a brilliant designer, devising not barely the structure and finishes nevertheless the ventilation, water supply and drainage orders as well. An integrated design, rapidly prefabricated in England was then shipped and set uped 1000 miles away. Contemporary accounts are all highly positive; the magnificent hovels "worked" as a clean, safe, efficient and pleasant hospital -exactly as intended.

Alex Attewell, director of the Florence Nightingale Museum explained the conference and stressed the relevance of Renkioi to the present programme of hospital development and our matters about planning, design and infection dominion government Phil Astley of MARU jumped that ideas from the gathering of dexterous delegates in the afternoon session would launch a stream of research. Eric Kentley then related the fascinating history of Brunei's shoot forward based on well researched and well understood historical evidence.

The interview was also much impressed at two other presentations. The architect, Peter Clegg gave a lucid demonstration of sustainable building design in answer to the impending crisis from global warming. Unlike wars and the necessity of military hospitals, climate change not past nor futures a completely new challenge for civilisation and the design of sustainable buildings, especially health care facilities, ought to be our remarkably highest priority. Peter Clegg showed what is already achievable and built.

Kate Harmond's presentation onward nursing practice and modernisation may not have sprung directly from considerations of Renkioi. Her exposition of in what manner our aspirations for health care relate to, and are changing, the practice and policies of the NH was illuminating. Kate's application of shrewd experience and practical solutions however resonated with Brunei's acknowledge comment on his design -"Just a sober application of for the use of all sense." This may be a fresh concept for the visionaries at the NHS

Whether there are any useful and practical instructions for today to be learned from Renkioi will be revealed when MARU write up the flows of the workshop. In addition to rediscovering the value of sober customary sense, the other secret of Brunei's succes we learned, was that Sidney Herbert, the Minister for War, who gave him the commission for the hospital, was Brunei's brother-in-law.

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