Inside The Cancer Vet, India’s first veterinary cancer hospital in Mumbai by Gautam Shewa Architects

A quick perusal of The Cancer Vet’s Instagram is certain to leave one more than misty-eyed. Stories of dogs and cats who’ve braved the big ‘C-word’ at the country’s first cancer veterinary hospital peek out of the gridlines. To assuage anxious pet parents, the page features informational carousels and reels on detecting early signs and treatment options. It is this very spirit of compassion that tucks itself behind every corner of the Mumbai hospital, designed by Gautam Shewa Architects. 

Underlying every whimsical graphic on the walls aimed at lifting spirits or the barrage of light pouring in, is a message of hope. “Drawing inspiration from the emotional journey that pet owners face during treatment, we wanted to design a space that fosters hope, healing, and calmness, transforming the typical veterinary experience,” affirms Gautam. The hospital is a labour of love envisioned by its founder Dr. Noopur Desai, a celebrated practitioner dedicated to spotlighting pet cancer awareness. 

Crafting a safe haven 

It takes a village to fight a diagnosis, and the hospital makes room for it all. Before a space that understood the needs of its patients could be born, understanding the space’s needs itself was paramount. As an additional challenge, it had to be constructed within a pre-existing structure. A month-long trip to NC State University helped clarify the day-to-day demands of a veterinary hospital. In tandem, the property’s layout was redesigned to accommodate both functionality and aid healing. 

With fluid curves, floor-to-ceiling windows that let the light in and an understated yet warm colour palette, the space sheds the traditional starkness of a hospital. “We wanted to create a soothing and supportive experience for both pets and their owners, focusing on the journey of healing,” stresses Gautam.

Lending a helpful paw 

How does one balance the functional needs of a hospital whilst creating a comforting environment? In lieu of colours, the outdoor waiting area opts for playful shapes and patterns in varying shades of grey to add visual interest — a beaming example of the space’s intentional design language. Enlivening the sombre colour palette, painted faces of a dog and a cat peep from the facade, drawn in thick black strokes against the stone grey cladding. 

The layout emphasises accessibility for key areas and cordons safe spaces for patients to relax at once — a delicate balancing act of paramount importance, especially within a high-stress zone. A circular dome-like skylight floods the reception with natural light, “symbolising a ray of hope that illuminates the entire space,” avers Gautam.

The area splits into separate waiting areas for small and large dog breeds and cats. Acting as the space’s nexus, a central corridor branches into a chemo infusion room, naturally lit OPDs and the Operating Theatre. Whilst all-white spaces can feel impersonal, rounded corners and arches soften the interiors — a strategic intervention undertaken by the architects that adds further warmth. 

A case study in compassionate design, The Cancer Vet innovates with the built form to put both pet owners and its furry-pawed patients at ease. Despite the functional and aesthetic constraints of bringing a veterinary hospital to life, the architects prove that when there’s a will, there’s a way. 

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