Zaha Hadid's first built project in UK is unveiled

The design is Zaha's response to a brief set by Maggie's, which challenged her to create a relaxed and aesthetically uplifting environment. It is located on the edge of a hollow adjacent to the hospital. The hollow has a dramatic topography, which in combination with the natural foliage and trees creates a very distinctive protected environment in stark contrast to the other facilities of Victoria Hospital. The centre has been designed as a transition between the two different types of spaces - the natural landscape and the hospital. Externally the form of the Centre derives from a folding surface and a connecting ground slab. The folding surface articulates a directional emphasis of moving the visitor into a different space from the rest of the hospital grounds. By cladding the visible roof and two opposing walls with the same material and making the remaining elevations a mix of translucent and clear glass, the directional nature of this form is reinforced. The opening of the Fife centre brings the number of Maggie's Centre to five, other architects who have given their services for free include Richard Murphy, Page & Park and Frank Gehry. Currently under construction is Richard Rogers Maggie's Centre in London, which is due to complete in October 2007. Further project designs from architects for other Maggie's Centres nationally include Reiach & Hall, Richard MacCormac, Wilkinson Eyre, Daniel Libeskind, Piers Gough and Kisho Kurokawa.