More insight on cross-shaped Mayo Hospital

In my previous blog post i wrote about the cross-shaped Mayo hospital in the country of Pakistan. At the time of writing i did not knew why hospitals were built in the shape of a cross despite some research. Off course i am assuming that this was not some World Domination conspiracy by British or Christians... Anyway i did more research on architectural principles behind cross shaped building design and found some new things.


Before i tell you what i found i want to give you another example about a cross shaped hospital.

One more example of cross-shaped hospital:

The University of California has a hospital named Moffitt Hospital which is also cross-shaped. Though you have to look closely on google maps to spot the cross and in writing i could only find one proof in which it is mentioned that the hospital is in cross-shape. Source

In both maps cross can be clearly seen. Google Maps
Source

The architect of University of California's architecture program is John Howard.

He declared in late 18th century that cross-shaped hospital to be the dominant form of hospital construction. Source

Why are hospitals built in the shape of a cross?
One explanation i found was:

In 15th century Italy, the principle of efficiency led to the cross-shaped open ward, with chapel at the crossing and four halls in which four times as many patients could see and hear the Mass. Source

 There are two questions here:

1. What was the priciple of efficiency?
2. What is mass?

I will answer the second question first:

What is Mass?
It is a Eucharistic celebration of roman catholic church. What does those words mean? In easier language it is a memorial action in which, by eating bread and drinking wine (or, for some Protestants, grape juice or water), the church recalls what Jesus Christ was, said, and did night before his Crucifixion. Source

What is the Principle of efficiency?
Patients should be able to see or at least hear mass, and with the cross-shaped design four times more patients could see and listen to mass taking place if the chapel was built in the center of four wards. Source

Still more research is needed...
There is no chapel or church in Mayo Hospital Lahore. The purpose for which this design is used has no use in a Hospital present in a Muslim country. Anyway i still may be missing something here and have to dig deeper...

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