Speirs + Major were invited by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to design the interior and exterior lighting for the London Maggie’s Centre at Charing Cross Hospital.

Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres, run on a charitable basis, offer information, counselling and support for cancer sufferers and their families. The brief was to support the architects in creating a home-like sanctuary for people learning to live with cancer.

The aim of the low budget lighting scheme was simplicity – a lot of the work is carried out by volunteers so complicated controls were avoided – and to create a comfortable, domestic-style ambience. High-quality Louis Poulsen fittings were used throughout, with additional linear up/downlighting in the first-floor administration areas providing both task lighting and a glow to the elegant floating roof. The building is very sustainable with extensive use of natural daylight and low energy sources.

The cancer support centre in west London was commissioned by Charles Jencks, whose wife Maggie died of the disease. Other Maggie’s Centres in the UK include designs by Frank Gehry (Dundee) and Zaha Hadid (Fife).

‘Maggie’s is particularly special to us given the role of the charity and the support they provide. It is an exquisite building and we are proud to have worked on it,’ said Mark Major. ‘We hope that, through creating the right atmosphere and image after dark, the lighting has made some contribution to the overall success of the project and to the enjoyment of those who use the building.’

The London Maggie’s Centre was awarded the Stirling Prize, for RIBA Building of the Year in October 2009.