Hospital in Vienna
- Julia Liese
Back in 2008, the architects won the competition to restructure the “Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Spital”, which opened to patients in 1891. Originally a clearly structured, park-like compound, it had evolved into a hotch potch of buildings and residual spaces. Thus, the concept foresaw tearing down some of the existing structures and bringing the functions together in a large yet compact new building. Urbanistically, this new mother-and-child surgery centre picks up on the frontage and heights of the neighbouring buildings. The internal organisation is structured vertically: on the ground floor are the outpatient clinics; on the first floor, the surgery centre with 8 operating rooms on 3 levels; above it are the wards, with a total of 258 beds. Parts of these floors are stepped back, making room for roof terraces. A bright atmosphere was as important to the architects as transparent work sequences and opportunities for informal interaction. A central circulation route (with spacious stairway) cuts through the ground floor. While the offices for the hospital staff are arranged around six green courtyards, the patients’ rooms are oriented to the surroundings. The facade conveys openness, yet also provides patients privacy. The entire building is clad in glass; transparent windows alternate with enamelled glass. The outermost layer consists of glazed sliding elements; their surfaces have screen-printed dot patterns. The elements serve as solar and glare protection.
