Rochford Hospital Johnson Isolation Block

Rochford Hospital Johnson Isolation Block is a hospital isolation block designed by F W Smith between 1933 and 1934 and opened by 1939. It is constructed of brick in English bond with flat roofs that have parapet coping. The building is two storeys tall and features an unusual arrow-shaped plan that points south, culminating in a full-height semi-circular bay with floor-to-ceiling metal windows. This bay is topped by a deep projecting cornice to reduce mid-day glare.

The terrace and first-floor balcony have a glass and metal parapet that matches the profile of the bay and includes a short angled return to the main block. The long returns of the building step back in a sawtooth fashion, featuring three full-height square bays with generous metal windows, while the corners are open except for slender wood uprights. The rear of the building has a cross-shaped plan with rectangular projections resembling transepts. Most of the original glazing remains intact throughout the structure. The design reflects strong influences from the International Modern Style and is a nearly unique example of an isolation block intended for patients who developed infectious diseases during their hospital stay.