COANIQUEM: Safe Niños: Co-creating Innovative Healing Environments for Children

Helen Huang and Veilinda Rusli

The existing six-acre empty space is visualized as a village where COANIQUEM staff, patients and families will seamlessly intermingle with residents in the nearby senior facility through shared communal spaces.

Physically central in the masterplan is the church, representing the spiritual hub for the COANIQUEM village. Directly across from the church is a “Nest” structure, in the center of a commons area with nearby covered gardens, play spaces, pathways and a café, as well as other strategic green spaces that can be enjoyed by all ages.

To create a more walkable, car-free environment, the access roads and parking lots are imagined on the property’s outer edges to offer more unencumbered interior spaces.

Parking areas and engaging pathways lead patients and families to COANIQUEM’s main treatment facility; children can play in outdoor structures before entering the building. When staying in the casabierta overnight housing, children and teens can also take advantage of nearby soccer fields.

Nikki Kentor, Kristie Poon

To connect with the main Healing Tree storyline and the familiar characters of Santi, Lucas and Camilla, new narratives for each location were created to incorporate and celebrate local culture and community as well as regional geography and wildlife.

Storylines reflect the gentle tone and magical elements of the main Healing Tree tale, but will be effective as standalone narratives. Employing the dramatic beats in Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey,” storylines describe to children the difficulties they may encounter on their own healing journey at COANIQUEM, but offer empowering messages of hope and resiliency.

The Healing Treasure: Antofagasta Campus
On this adventure, Camilla and Lucas search for magical gems which, when brought home, will nurture the soil and waters for the Healing Tree. The story incorporates the region’s historic culture of mining as well as the pure, dark skies prized by astronomers.

Lucas wants to show Camilla the night sky, but gets lost walking further into the dark. They meet a friendly viscache — a chinchilla — who tells them he’s heard of the 12 gems. Camilla and Lucas then create a map of where the gems could be hidden.

The two encounter the mystical saber-toothed Anto, the long-living ancient relative of their friend, Santi the Cat. As mentor and guide, Anto accompanies them as they take two separate paths through hidden caverns, archeological sites, underground mines and more. In the end, the duo is happily reunited and Anto gives them a fallen star to take home — a gem that does indeed nourish the Healing Tree.

This story will be told to young patients via a map which the children will each receive as a keepsake. Unfolding the map, children can trace the dotted lines and be introduced to animal characters they will see in COANIQUEM treatment rooms, hallways and outdoor spaces. These recognizable characters will become familiar friends to the young patients who can bring the map with them during treatments. Stickers can be added each time a child undergoes a treatment.

Healing Narratives: The Healing Springs, Puerto Montt
On this adventure, Camilla and Lucas must cross the ocean to find magical fresh water to enhance the Healing Tree. On this island-hopping journey, they find a vessel and, with the guidance of a friendly tonina (dolphin), they encounter storms, a damaged boat, an erupting volcano, a fallen Moai statue, rockslides and an icy spring. Numerous animals help them along the way and, at the end, the children ride home on top of a whale.

The story incorporates the region’s numerous coastal islands and will, for the sake of consistency, utilize the various animal characters found in the Antofagasta narrative.

The narrative will be told via story cards, which patients will receive at each treatment session. One side of the card tells the story, the other features colorful graphics. Layering the images together, the cards show an illusion of the islands (aka treatment rooms) that children will encounter on their journey. Children will collect the keepsake cards and will have the opportunity to affix animal stickers to them at each appointment.

Hyejin Kim, Lily Lin

To magically bring the stories to life, graphics and spatial elements of characters and environments will be incorporated in various locations throughout the campus; in treatment rooms, walkways and also the outdoor surroundings. The campus itself can be considered a physical manifestation of an enchanted and immersive chapter in the Healing Tree storybook.

Wayfinding signs, 3D elements, color and illustrations will reflect story moments as well as local environmental landscapes. Imagery depicts characters in properly scaled environments, whether they’re outside under dark skies with twinkling stars, climbing among huge boulders in expansive underground caverns, or experiencing the grandeur of the seaside. Designs need to be economical and appeal to all ages, as well as be pleasing for the staff to see on a daily basis.

Special attention is paid to create graphics at a child’s eye level so young patients will first connect the space with the storyline and not necessary the medical equipment or procedure.

The character designs of Lucas and Camilla are updated to present the siblings in a more relatable interpretation of their personalities and reinforce them as burn survivors. The more outgoing Camilla has messy hair and wears a compression garment on her arm from her injury. Wearing glasses, the shyer Lucas has a leg injury.

The character design of Anto reflects her connection to Santi the Cat, but also is inspired by the ancient Chilean’s mythology of the goddess of Earth, Pachamama.

Spatial Storytelling at Puerto Montt
To integrate this temporary two-level facility of therapy and treatment into the COANIQUEM family, high design values were overlaid with practical, economical needs. Using mural and collaging styles, colorful illustrations brighten the long narrow hallways on both levels for magical interactive moments. A careful use of graphics and spatial storytelling allow for empty “breathable space” so as not to overwhelm the surroundings.

Arriving patients and families at the reception desk in the lobby are welcomed by a large ship graphic that “invites” them on a journey, reflecting the Healing Springs narrative. The ship’s rotating portholes allow children to engage with fun imagery.

Puerto Montt’s hallways reflect the “island hopping” theme with lush colors, spatial and interactive illustrations featuring Healing Springs story card illustrations, animal characters, and the seaside environment. Graphics extend from the wall onto the floor; ocean waves and footprints are also placed underfoot at specific locations.

Wayfinding signage is presented as animal characters peer through portholes. Portholes are placed at a toddler’s level; driftwood plaques are placed higher on the wall so staff, adults and parents can easily identify directions. Additionally, since the signage is temporary, a system of easily replaceable graphic illustrations is created for the circular portholes.

Treatment rooms will receive appropriate illustrations. Because patients spend a long time in the hydrotherapy room, numerous colorful graphics fill the walls and ceiling to help “distract” and entertain children.

Irina Chou and Hasan Zaidi

To capture the beauty of the mountains, help reduce anxiety in patients and family and foreshadow a sense of magic to come, this non-directed outdoor play space encourages children to use their imagination to embark on a mountain journey ending at a waterfall.

Using the Andes as inspiration, mountain-like cutouts frame the pathway that leads families and patients from parking lot to the main COANIQUEM facility/reception entrance. Imagery of Healing Treasure characters — including a welcoming wave from Anto, the saber-toothed cat — are featured on bridge-like ramps. Alternative pathways will be augmented for those in wheelchairs.

The pathway leads to a play area just outside the main entrance. Healing Treasure characters — rabbit, dog and hummingbird — encourage children to engage in structures that resemble mountains in form and color. Some play structures incorporate sensory interactions while others are designed for pure physicality. Benches and table are strategically positioned.

Crossing the entrance courtyard, families open the door to the inside lobby, which incorporates a waterfall-like component near the reception desk. While adults check in, children can “mimic” the check-in process at a work space crafted for their size. At a nearby magnetic wall, kids can move pieces around a fantastical world with Healing Treasure characters.

The waiting room is separated into two sections — younger children on one side, and teens on the other. Soft upholstered wraparound furniture in distinct shapes can be rearranged to create new configurations. Under seats are hidden drawers that contain toys, books, etc. Kid-sized stools also have a second function; opening the top reveals arts and crafts supplies. Furniture will be covered with durable easy-to-clean and hypoallergenic material.

Senior citizen residents and COANIQUEM guests of all ages can wander through healing and playful green spaces that provide opportunities for engaging intergenerational activities. These sustainable outdoor spaces are designed to be enjoyed and accessed by people of all physical conditions and ages.

Located directly across from the church, a large tree-like structure, the Nest, will serve as a central point of the outdoor areas. This open seating space will be covered with a multilayer fabric shading system to create a cool, welcoming environment. In the middle, colorful bougainvillea vines grow out of a metal tree-like structure. The floor is a labyrinth pattern which can be used for silent meditation before or after worship services. At night, a kaleidoscope display of colorful lighting and projected images on the shade system can, depending on activities, create whimsical or reflective moods.

Connecting the outdoor spaces and to protect visitors from the hot sun, the main pathway will be covered with a woven-like shading structure inspired by local crafts.

Near the Nest, a juice bar serves light healthy refreshments including regional fruits.

The center green zone welcomes children for self-directed play; they can climb into a Gem Cave, a hill-like structure with tunnels. Elsewhere, all ages can enjoy getting “lost” in a garden maze.

Wayfinding signage and spatial statuary incorporate Healing Treasure creatures such as hummingbirds, pudus, rabbits and viscachas.

The plant palette of these green spaces will employ drought-tolerant and native herbs, flowers, trees, bushes, grasses, succulents and edibles.

A multilevel gardening system features raised plant beds, ramps, seating, railing, slopes and stairs. The open design, easily accessed by those using wheelchairs or walkers and by young toddlers, creates opportunities for intergenerational connections to enjoy the plants and/or perform gardening activities side-by-side.

Other shared engagements in the green spaces can include arts and crafts, cooking, playing games and storytelling.

To provide energy for the outdoor lighting, solar panels (installed to mimic woven patterns) will be used on the shading structure, in the shared courtyard and on the main pathway. Other sustainable aspects include a gray water system and a fog-collecting mesh to provide, in the middle of the desert, an efficient watering system for the community gardens and other plant life.

Cosme Cruz

Rabbit-like healing buddies are dolls that every young child will receive as a patient of COANIQUEM. Through therapeutic play, children will be more comfortable with therapies they will encounter. These soft, huggable creatures act as emotional support and educational tools; they empower children to care for them, mimicking the ways adults are caring for them.

Additionally, the dolls provide opportunities for children recovering from hand burns — one of the most common types of burns in children — to mix play with occupational therapy. Children will practice finger dexterity and become re-acquainted with texture sensitivities. Each doll comes with its own compression garments for head, hands and feet that can be added or removed.

Dolls are fashioned with hypoallergenic poly filling. Upcycled materials gathered at COANIQUEM’s thrift store can provide the base for creating these one-of-a-kind dolls.

Juan Roman

A bound photo book documents the students’ travels, the people they encountered and the beautiful Chilean landscapes. The volume also describes their design journey and important milestones in their ideation, with imagery of prototypes and official presentations.

David Herrera

A collection of on-location short films capture the excitement of the students’ experience in Chile. Interviews with COANIQUEM staff, patients and family members explain the philosophy and community of care that is experienced daily at the facilities. The students’ bonding experience — to one another, the studio challenge, as well as to the natural landscape and cultural traditions they encountered — is also captured.