Phase II Block (Tower and Podium), Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy

Victoria Hospital Phase II Block comprises an 11-storey modernist tower supported on a two-storey podium over a basement, built between 1962 and 1967 under Chief Architect Eric D. Davidson as the principal element of the hospital's second post-war expansion phase. Constructed in situ from reinforced concrete and clad in pre-cast concrete panels faced in Mineralite, the building stands off Dunniker Road towards the centre of the hospital site. The tower is now used solely for administrative functions, with no inpatient facilities as of 2022.

Architectural Overview

The tower is T-shaped in plan with symmetrical arrangement. The south elevation has 32 bays, whilst single bays appear at the centre of the east and west elevations. The north elevation has 13 bays on either side of a central full-height return, which is blank except for a three-bay strip of glazed curtain walling to the east elevation. The tower base is recessed where it meets the podium. Windows are regularly spaced, aluminium-framed over black recessed panels.

The podium's main west elevation features glazed curtain walling with pre-cast concrete panels between floors. The remaining podium elevations are largely clad in buff brick. In 2007-8, a decorative paint coating was added to the external panels of both tower and podium.

Roofs and Plant

The roofs are flat. The tower roof has a solid parapet concealing rooftop plant. The podium roof is bounded by metal railings and displays various machinery and plant rooms, including a large raked structure (conference hall) and three curved ventilation drums, all clad in matching pre-cast concrete panels.

Interior

The interior was observed in 2019. Incremental changes have occurred to internal fabric, layout and function, including subdivision of some spaces.

The podium is laid out in courtyard style, containing a network of interlinking linear corridors, generally with rooms on either side or with views to one of three atria — two square-plan atria north of the tower and a larger rectangular atrium to the south. Various access points exist, including a linking walkway from the Phase I Block to the north and via the Phase III Block to the south. A mezzanine level between podium and tower contains a conference hall.

The tower block layout follows the double corridor/racetrack principle, with rooms arranged around services or service rooms at the centre of the plan. Lifts and the main stair are contained in the central projecting wing to the north, with service stairs at the east and west ends of the main block. Interior fixtures and fittings are standard for a hospital building of this date, with a mix of mid to later 20th century fabric. Some windows retain original openers. The main stair has been enclosed by a later timber glazed fire partition. Original ceiling and floor finishes have largely been replaced.

Historical Context

The Phase II Block formed part of Victoria Hospital's second development phase. 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. The first phase had been completed between 1956 and 1958.

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, with a Sanatorium added in 1908. 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 construction of a new nurses' home (Hayfield House), kitchens and a boiler house. The Phase I Block is first shown partially on the National Grid map of 1959. The remainder appears on the National Grid map of 1967, along with the Phase II buildings, including the tower and podium to the south.

In the early 1950s, a new general hospital was initially intended for the Fever Hospital at Cameron Bridge, Windygates, Fife, but this was later changed and Victoria Hospital was instead selected.

Initial plans for the second stage of expansion were laid out in the mid-1950s, but Phase II works were not built until 1962-67. With an estimated cost of £2.25 million, the works were initially due for completion in 1965 but construction was delayed by the discovery of coal mining shafts on the site. Combined with the first phase, these works 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.

In 1965 it was noted that the building employed extensive use of modern communications systems to reduce travel distances and improve speed and efficiency, particularly regarding 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 the southwest corner of the Phase I Block and was also linked to the south elevation by a glazed corridor. In 1967 it was noted 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. Modern maps and site evidence show that 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 II Block. In addition to the main Phase II Block, 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.

Some earlier hospital buildings from the 19th and early 20th century survived on the site until the Phase III redevelopment 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. The Whyteman's Brae development to the north of Hayfield Road was initially laid out as part of the 1950s masterplan with plans approved in 1973. Constructed between 1980-83, the complex was purpose-built for the care of the elderly and the mentally ill.

Legal Exclusions

All later additions and other buildings on the hospital site are excluded from the listing, except for the Phase I Block. The later additions to the Phase II Block include the linking corridors to the south and east elevations of the podium, which connect to the Phase III Block, and the abutting building to the northwest corner of the podium.