Phase I Block, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy

The Phase I Block is a modular three-storey general hospital building with a basement and canopied roof terrace, built between 1956 and 1958. Designed by the Architect's Department of the South East Regional Hospital Board, it formed part of the first phase of the post-war expansion scheme for Victoria Hospital. The building is located in Kirkcaldy towards the north end of the hospital site, with its main north elevation set back from Hayfield Road. The wider hospital site is multi-phased, with the majority of buildings dating from the mid-20th century to the early 21st century.

The Phase I Block is T-shaped in plan, with a single-storey central L-plan wing projecting from the north elevation. The concrete-framed structure is faced in buff brick with large sections of metal-framed curtain walling to the two upper storeys. These curtain walls have been replaced on the south elevation of the east wing and renovated on the west elevation of the south wing, with blue panels below the windows. Parts of the lower floors are recessed, and the piers of the exposed concrete frame create colonnaded sections. A pair of intersecting square-plan blocks project from the end of the west wing, one of which has a rubblestone panel inset on its west elevation. The north wing has been infilled to the centre of the east elevation by a later extension that is excluded from the listing. Full-height brick infill panels have been added to the north ends of the east and west elevations of the south wing.

The roofs are flat with later steel railings to the perimeter. There are some plant-related structures and a pair of projecting blocks to the south of the west wing that break through the eaves. Photovoltaic panels have recently been added to the roof of the north wing. A thin concrete canopy spans the roof of the eastern wing, carried on slender concrete piers and curved walling to the east. Window openings throughout have thin concrete cills and plain surrounds. Large multi-paned full-height glazing lights the stairs, generally positioned at the end of each wing. The regularly spaced windows are largely metal-framed, with some late-20th century replacements, and door openings have cantilevered canopies. An external cantilevered concrete stair is located at the northeast corner with vertical metal railings.

The interior was seen in 2019. There have been incremental changes to the internal fabric and layout, including some subdivision of spaces. Accessed from the north elevation, the main entrance hall is located at the junction of the T-plan and provides access to each wing. The wings contain different departments and wards on each floor, laid out with rooms on either side of a central corridor. The end of each wing is terminated by a set of stairs. The entrance hall has exposed brick walls and a large cantilevered concrete stair with metal balusters. The interior fixtures and fittings are standard for a hospital building and are a mix of mid to later 20th century fabric. The original floor and ceiling finishes have been replaced and the balustrades of the main staircase have been sheeted over.

There are various late-20th and early 21st century additions, most of which are concentrated on the south elevations of the east and west wings, and to the south wing.

The history and phased development of the Victoria Hospital site were concurrent with national developments in the provision of healthcare in the 20th century. The Phase I Block formed part of the first phase in the major redevelopment and expansion of Victoria Hospital in the mid-20th century. The masterplan for the wider site was conceived and laid out in the early 1950s by the Architect's Department of the South East Regional Hospital Board, under Chief Architect John Holt and project architect Eric D. Davidson.

Prior to redevelopment, the southern part of the present site was occupied by an Infectious Diseases Hospital built in 1897 by Campbell, Douglas and Morrison. In 1908 a Sanatorium was added. These earlier buildings are shown on the Ordnance Survey map surveyed in 1943 and 1947.

The Phase I Block was part of a £675,000 development scheme that also included the construction of a new nurse's home known as Hayfield House, kitchens and a boiler house. The Phase I Block is first shown partially on the National Grid map of 1959, surveyed in 1958. The remainder is shown on the National Grid map of 1967, surveyed in 1966, along with the Phase II buildings, including the tower and podium to the south.

In the early 1950s, it was initially intended that a new general hospital was to be built at the Fever Hospital at Cameron Bridge, Windygates, Fife. However, this was later changed and Victoria Hospital was instead selected.

The initial plans for the second stage in the expansion of the site were laid out in the mid-1950s, but the Phase II works were not built until 1962 to 1967. With an estimated cost of £2.25 million, the works were initially due for completion in 1965 but the construction process was delayed by the discovery of coal mining shafts on the site. Combined with the first phase of works, they transformed Victoria Hospital into a District General Hospital for the whole of the East Fife region, and also provided central sterilising and laboratory services to serve the whole county.

It was noted in Hospital Planning, Management and Equipment in 1965 that the building employed the extensive use of modern communications systems, which served to reduce travel distances and improve speed and efficiency, particularly with regard to administration procedures. These features included a pneumatic tube system, high speed elevators, and central dictation and audio frequency staff location systems.

As shown on the National Grid map published in 1967, the Phase II Block abutted to the southwest corner of the Phase I Block and was also linked to the south elevation by the current glazed corridor. It was noted in 1967 in The Hospital and Health Services Review that the eastern side of the podium, where the accident and emergency department was then located, had a flyover approach ramp from the road providing emergency vehicular access. This flyover no longer exists and was removed by the early 21st century.

Throughout the later 20th century and early 21st century, various additions and extensions have been added to the exterior of the Phase I Block. These are all excluded from the listing.

In addition to the main Phase II Block, the other buildings in the Phase II works included a laboratory, incinerator house, laundry block and extended dining and administrative accommodation. Many of these buildings from the Phase I and Phase II works remain on site as of 2020, however they are excluded from the listing.

Some of the earlier hospital buildings from the 19th and early 20th century survived on the site up until the Phase III redevelopment of the site, which took place around 2010. Only one is now thought to survive as of 2020 to the south of the site but this has been substantially altered and extended and is excluded from the listing.

The Whyteman's Brae development to the north of Hayfield Road was initially laid out as part of the 1950s masterplan and the plans were approved in 1973. Constructed between 1980 and 1983, the complex was purpose-built for the care of the elderly and the mentally ill. Whyteman's Brae is excluded from the listing.