YAO : Herb Production Healthcare Center

City University Malaysia

Project idea

YAO is envisioned as a holistic healthcare facility that integrates Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) with modern wellness practices. The concept responds to the critical issues in today’s healthcare system such as overreliance on pharmaceuticals, limited access to care, and the loss of holistic approaches by offering an alternative grounded in heritage, nature, and balance. YAO’s mission is to treat not just symptoms but the root causes of illness, focusing on the well-being of the body, mind, and spirit. The project reflects a response to rising interest in natural remedies and the need to preserve cultural practices in a contemporary healthcare setting.

Project description

YAO Healthcare Center is a collaboration with the Ministry of Health Malaysia and the Perak State Health Department, aiming to offer professional TCM treatments for patients with chronic and concealed illnesses. The facility is structured around four core aspects: Healthcare, Accommodation, Leisure, and Cultivation each inspired by traditional Chinese principles and design metaphors.

At its heart is the Medicine Tower, known as LOW, a vertical space inspired by a Chinese steamer that stacks consultation rooms, treatment areas, calligraphy and chess rooms, and even a sunflower-inspired medical bathroom. Surrounding this are WEI FANG and FANG, circular and square-shaped accommodation units influenced by the Tulou form and traditional Chinese pontoons, fostering comfort and cultural familiarity.

The Leisure zone is located on the third floor, featuring ZOU LANG, a pathway of hope and opportunity that ends in the Room of Incense, a spiritual space framed in jade a material believed to bring protection and health. Lastly, the Cultivation zone includes YUAN, an educational herb garden with a steam water reuse system, and ZHONG, a cylindrical space combining rotating solar panels with vertical farming features. These areas encourage ecological learning and sustainability while honoring the medicinal value of herbs.

Technical information

YAO is designed as a multi-functional healthcare and cultural facility that incorporates sustainable technologies and spatial symbolism. The LOW Tower is structured in three vertical levels to mirror the layers of a Chinese steamer, organizing medical spaces in a logical and symbolic vertical sequence. The Medical Bathroom draws inspiration from sunflower geometry to create a healing ambiance through natural lighting and circular forms.

Accommodation blocks use traditional forms circular (Tulou-style) and pontoon-inspired square units with integrated water features and central herbal shrines to enhance serenity and cultural immersion. The Room of Incense uses jade-based structural frames, taking advantage of the mineral’s cooling, healing, and symbolic properties.

In the Cultivation sector, YUAN includes a steam water collector system for sustainable irrigation, while ZHONG is equipped with rotating solar panels that double as shading devices and renewable energy sources. These panels retract when batteries are fully charged, contributing to energy efficiency. The site also functions as a knowledge preservation center, ensuring that ancient herbal practices and Chinese medical philosophies are sustained and passed on to future generations.