”Healing architecture built on daylight, natural materials and spaces that create a calming, homelike atmosphere, reducing the stress that a hospital stay can bring. Timber was chosen for its tactility and warmth,” says Alexander Wærsten, lead architect at Nordic Arch.
Visitors and patients are greeted by a carefully considered palette of materials. Externally, the building is clad in iron sulphate-treated heartwood pine. Inside, white-oiled oak dominates – a choice that contributes to a bright, welcoming feel.
Timber features throughout, from the parquet flooring in the restaurant and exercise rooms to corridors and partition walls. In the communal areas, reception desks are built from solid wood to withstand wear and convey a sense of quality, while wall claddings and slats are primarily fire-retardant lacquered, veneered MDF.
A complex challenge
Designing a hospital is a complex challenge. It is a building type that demands high-tech infrastructure and strict regulations go hand in hand with human needs. At the same time, the core of the project has been an awareness of patients’ vulnerability.
”You have to consider that patients and visitors in a hospital find themselves in a vulnerable situation, and create environments that address this,” says Alexander Wærsten.
Text: Anna Strömberg Photo: Nordic Arch
