Maggie's Centres

In 1993 Maggie Keswick Jencks, the wife and collaborator of Charles Jencks, is diagnosed with late-stage cancer. In the next two years until her death in 1995 she works intensively on the concept and creation of Maggie's Centres - patient-oriented, free of charge facilities providing mental and physical help as well as information to people with cancer and their families. The Maggie's Centres all over UK and recently in Hong Kong and Barcelona as well have been designed by prominent architects like Zaha Hadid, Richard Rogers, Kisho Kurokawa, Frank Gehry and many others, most of which are close friends of the couple. Keswick's amazing initiative continues to inspire and provide support for a growing number of people, proving that architecture can actively contribute to the healing process through a calm, nurturing and humane environment.