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Bagchi Karunashraya, the "Abode of Compassion," is a hospice care facility dedicated to offering free, quality palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients. Embracing the philosophy, “Where there is no cure, there is care,” it provides a dignified, peaceful environment for end-of-life care. The architecture harmonizes with nature to create serene spaces that promote comfort and reflection. Each area is thoughtfully designed to bring patients closer to nature, light, and open skies—offering emotional and spiritual solace. It is a sanctuary where compassion, nature, and healing come together.
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Set within a 20-acre site shaped by past laterite quarrying, the natural terrain marked by depressions and a gentle slope has been respectfully embraced. These depressions have been reimagined as rainwater harvesting ponds, reflecting a harmonious integration of landscape and architecture. Spaces such as the Outpatient Department, Administrative Block, In-patient Wards, Nurses' Housing, Learning Center, Auditorium, and Staff Residences are dispersed according to function, privacy requirements, and topography.
Sustainability at Bagchi Karunashraya is not an add-on, but a deeply integrated ethos: Rainwater Harvesting: Quarry pits have been transformed into water-retaining ponds, enabling complete retention of surface runoff and groundwater recharge. Solar Power: Photovoltaic panels located in the rear zones generate clean energy, reducing dependency on the grid. Wastewater Management: An energy-efficient anaerobic Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) ensures eco-conscious wastewater processing with minimal carbon impact. Passive Cooling: Evaporative cooling in nurse accommodations reduces the need for mechanical air conditioning, addressing Bhubaneswar’s tropical climate with minimal energy use.
A central landscaped plaza, accessed via a path with a subtly shifted axis, serves as a contemplative spine connecting core facilities. The architecture, understated and earthy, slowly unfolds through an interplay of built and unbuilt spaces. At the heart of the hospice lie six L-shaped in-patient wards, each with 16 beds, arranged around a tranquil waterbody that transforms the quarry’s edge into a calm, reflective focal point. Corner nurse stations allow full visibility of patients, while wide verandas serve as transitional zones for counseling, family meetings, or quiet reflection. Courtyards, shaded paths, and visual porosity allow natural light, airflow, and a deep connection to nature essential for comfort and dignity.Nursing accommodations are located near wards for easy access but also include their own courtyards and lounges to provide personal space and rest. At the campus edge, the Learning Center is arranged as low-rise buildings around serene courtyards to promote focused learning. The 500 seater auditorium’s solid sculptural form has a forecourt plaza and amphitheater for community interaction. Buildings are clad in laterite stone once quarried on site honoring the land’s history. Around the wards and waterbody, textured concrete surfaces complement the stone. Local art, including Patachitra paintings in created niches and scrap-metal sculptures by regional artisans, evoke healing, memory, and resilience, reflecting the human spirit at the core of the hospice.
Words from the client - Bangalore Hospice Trust, has launched the 110-bed Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre in Bhubaneswar. Spread over 20 acres, it includes adult and pediatric wards, nurse hostels, staff housing, and a research wing. Designed by Ms Mindspace, led by P N Medappa, the center exceeds expectations with locally sourced laterite, flowing water, scrap-metal sculptures, and murals by regional artists—creating an atmosphere of dignity, beauty, and peace for those in need.
Medappa P N, graduated from Malnad college of engineering, has 35 years of experience. He has briefly worked with Sri.Sharad Padalkar before joining Chandavarkar and Thacker where he worked for about 11 years. He was inducted as a partner in the prestigious firm Mindspace in 2008.
Medappa believes in human-centric, climate responsive, sustainable design. His constant search for spacial experience, poetics of light, integrating nature into the built is aimed at engaging emotive senses and spawn tranquil feeling.He believes that design is a language binding creativity and context.
He has won several awards including:
a+d spectrum award for Institutional architecture award 2006
JK AYA commendation award 2008 under Public Building category.
JK AYA commendation award 2010 under Group Housing category.
NDTV Design and Architectural award 2014 in the Institutional category.
Winner in the Jury of the 32nd JK Architect of the year awards.
