To mark this year’s World Health Day theme — “Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures” — the UIA is highlighting architectural five projects and an article that supports maternal and newborn health. These examples show how architecture can play a vital role in care, dignity, and wellbeing from the very start of life.
Maternity Waiting Village, Malawi
The Maternity Waiting Village in Kasungu, Malawi, by MASS Design Group, is a pioneering architectural response to maternal mortality in underserved communities. Rooted in local culture and built with local materials, the project provides dignified, comfortable, and safe spaces for expectant mothers awaiting childbirth near a hospital.
Inspired by traditional Malawian village compounds, the design features small-scale housing units, each with four beds, ensuring privacy, ventilation, and comfort. Communal courtyards and facilities support both mothers and their companions with spaces for cooking, hygiene, rest, and shared learning. The project promotes a holistic approach to maternal health by centering community, empowerment, and culturally responsive design.
The success of this project has informed further initiatives in Kenya and beyond, highlighting how thoughtful architecture can play a transformative role in improving maternal and newborn health outcomes worldwide.
Read more here.
Mother & Baby Unit – Panzi Hospital, DR Congo
Designed by White Arkitekter, this project expands the Panzi Hospital in Bukavu, DRC, to better support maternal and newborn health. Created as a response to overburdened and outdated maternity facilities, the new unit aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality while enhancing birth experiences for thousands of women each year.
The design follows principles of healing architecture, emphasizing dignity, calm, and recovery. It includes a single-story intensive care block with a labour and neonatal ward, and seven two-story modular pavilions housing postnatal rooms and outpatient services. Natural light, privacy, access to green courtyards, and the use of local materials make the environment more human and restorative.
Serving a region deeply affected by conflict and trauma, the project reflects how architecture can offer safety, hope, and care at the most critical moments of life.
Read more here.
Snoezelen-Inspired Delivery Room – Denmark
This Danish study explores the impact of an alternatively designed delivery room on women’s birth experiences. The room, located in a regional hospital, was developed using principles of healing architecture and Snoezelen — a multi-sensory design approach often used in therapeutic environments.
Through interviews with 14 women who gave birth in the space, the research found that the room significantly enhanced feelings of safety, emotional support, and comfort. Features such as dimmable lighting, soft textures, calming colors, and a less clinical layout helped reduce stress and anxiety, while also supporting partner involvement and bonding.
The study concluded that the architectural design of birthing spaces deeply affects both physical and psychological well-being. A carefully crafted environment can promote patient-centered care, foster dignity, and positively shape the childbirth experience.
Read more here.
Hazel Glen Child and Family Centre – Victoria, Australia
Designed by Brand Architects, the Hazel Glen Child and Family Centre in Victoria, Australia, is a vibrant, inclusive community facility that supports maternal, child, and family health through integrated design. The centre combines maternal and child health consulting suites with early childhood development and care spaces, offering a holistic, multi-use environment for families.
The architecture emphasizes a welcoming and safe atmosphere with the use of warm, natural materials, accessible layouts, and bright, engaging colors. Flexible spaces accommodate both private consultations and community gatherings, reflecting a broader understanding of maternal and child wellbeing as something that thrives within supportive, socially connected environments.
This centre exemplifies how thoughtful architectural design can enhance early life care and promote long-term community health and development.
Read more here.
Inspira Health – Maternity Unit, New Jersey, USA
Designed by Array Architects, the maternity unit at Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill in New Jersey offers a patient-centered, family-focused environment that balances clinical excellence with emotional comfort. The design reflects a deep understanding of the maternity journey, incorporating insights from patients and care teams to shape a healing space.
Key features include spacious labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum (LDRP) rooms with natural light, calming finishes, and hotel-like amenities that reduce the stress of clinical settings. Wayfinding is intuitive, and family members are welcomed with designated lounge and overnight spaces, encouraging bonding and support throughout the birthing process.
The project exemplifies how architecture can prioritize dignity, safety, and connection — supporting not only medical outcomes but also the emotional and psychological experience of childbirth.
Read more here.