Pretty in pastels: Inside a candy-hued children’s hospital in Ahmedabad by TV Studio Designs

The pastel-hued interiors of Aroha Hospital, Ahmedabad are a sight scooped straight out of an ice cream parlour. Cast in buttery yellows and sage green, the 1,200 sq ft space houses an interactive play area in the reception, endless animal-inspired murals and amoeba-esque windows.

As we take in this concoction designed by TV Studio Designs, we can’t help but ask — why can’t all hospitals look like this? And more importantly, can fully-grown adults consult a paediatrician?

Making functionality fun 

Designing for children is no easy feat. As Principal Designer Vaibhavi Thakkar Desai puts it, “Children observe their surroundings very keenly and encounter different shapes every single day. They are highly visual learners and respond well to visual cues.”

What sets the space apart is its penchant for interactiveness. Abacus-inspired railings line a multilevel play area, nestling under a tree-like wooden structure with seats that resemble miniature mushrooms. Even the consultation room contains a small wooden slide for patients, a playful diversion for those who might feel anxious in such settings — as kids often do.

Silhouettes of animals line the walls and peek out of the furniture, a nod to children’s love for animals. As Vaibhavi emphasises, “Every form or shape is a part of the engagement process for toddlers.” The corners are soft, lines curving across the space’s expanse to prevent dust or bacteria from accumulating. A leitmotif that adds to the visual aesthetic, it hits two birds with one stone. 

Making the rounds 

A glass facade stretches across the entirety of the space on one side, maximising the flow of daylight within the interiors. Against the creamy pastels in the reception area, the effect is almost dazzling. 

The adjoining play area preludes the space’s cheerful design language. A clever amalgamation of primary shapes crafted from medium-density fiberboard, a structure dubbed the wishing tree towers over the space. A playful addition that offers ample shade, seating and cheer, it adds to the space’s whimsical wonderland-like confines. Nestling underneath the tree, yellow stairs lead up to a miniature treehouse supported mid-air by wooden posts. 

A corridor snakes through the space, leading to the doctor’s cabin. Seeking to redefine consultation spaces for children, the space offers playful diversions to stave off any lingering anxiety or fear. 

With a turquoise sofa nestling to the side, a desk affixed with a miniature yellow slide sits across the room. Geometric shapes line the wall, while blob-like windows with ribbed glass let the sun in. An adjoining orthopaedic office is an antithesis to the paediatrician’s, wherein the salmon pink walls give way to minty green.

At first glance, the animal silhouette jutting out of the headboards of the beds in the patient’s rooms may catch you off guard. But don’t let the horns and trunks distract you from the wooden legs that resemble stacked beads! Reminiscent of Budhni toys originating from the eponymous town in Madhya Pradesh, the lacquered beads in pastel hues are a nod toward the craft form’s illustrious yet waning heritage. 

Child’s play

Rome wasn’t built in a day — and neither were the hospital’s pastel-tinged interiors. As Vaibhavi states, “Colours can affect a child’s behaviour, mood and learning. Bright colours can be stimulating and energising, while softer colours are calming.” Even the wildlife-inspired murals have been positioned to ensure they are easily visible to children, which turned out to be Vaibhavi’s favourite part of the entire process. “We also studied live scale dimensions of different elements in respect to how toddlers would view them,” she reminisces.

Catering to a tiny audience prone to tantrums and a fear of needles requires innovation aplenty. The hospital is a testament to the power of thoughtful design, its effervescence a well-crafted ally to the boundless imagination of its patients.

Read more: 9 magical kids’ room ideas that will leave your inner child in awe!