Sustainable clinic next to a coal mine

Tete province in Mozambique is believed to be home to the largest coal reserve in the world. The mining company that owns and runs the Moatize mine is responsible for the extraction of around 11 million tones of coal every year. It has imposed a strict set of guidelines and principles for the sustainable development action of its projects and operations, articulated with social, economic, and environmental responsibility. 

As part of its social responsibilities the company wanted to provide a medical clinic for its staff and their families. In particular the clinic was commissioned to ensure good lung health and hearing, which are two of the health issues most often associated with working on open-air mines. The clinic also needed to have an emergency area to respond to accidents. This area needed to have the ability to stabilise the patient before evacuation to a main hospital. An area for the maintenance of the protection masks was also included as part of the clinic development. Areas within the clinic needed to include administration, pulmonology, otorhinolaryngology, general practice, emergencies, occupational hygiene, mask maintenance, and technical services. The clinic is designed to cater for 3,000 people, at the final size of the mine, so there was no requirement to cater for future expansion. 

As a means of passive climate control the clinic has been partially dug into the embankment. A gabion wall made of local stone closes all the covered outer spaces. Within this space, six buildings create four patios and the internal crossshaped circulation.