Health Development in Denmark, Europe

GENTOFTE HOSPITAL EXTENSION INAUGURATED Thursday 22 October marks the inauguration of Gentofte Hospital's new facilities, the first phase of C. F. Møller Architects' vision plan for the hospital. The new top-modern treatment wings ensure the future functionality and flexibility of Gentofte's unique historically and urbanistically integrated hospital complex. The new buildings are a total of 14.000 m2, and house 24 new high-tech operation theatres, 16 intensive care units, 30 post-operation units, a new main entrance, a new café, several clinical facilities and out-patient departments as well as a new highly automated central sterile supply department. With the inauguration, Gentofte Hospital holds the regions largest operations capacity. photos : Gentofte Hospital The new layout extends and transforms the urban hospital by inserting a new, modern core in the courtyards of the original figure-eight shaped complex, in the form of two atrium-buildings connected to the original buildings by enclosed walkways. To retain the clear character of the 1920's brick buildings of the complex, the new additions are light and transparent, with satinated glass facades. Healing Architecture Working with the principles of Healing Architecture, based on studies of the influence of the built environment on the hospital's users and patients, has resulted in ample use of daylight everywhere, well proportioned spaces and use of natural materials, as well as new qualities in the outdoor spaces. C. F. Møller Architects has also designed the landscape architecture of the green courtyards, now turned into car-free oases closely related to the indoor spaces. Partner and Architect Klavs Hyttel explains: "By placing the new buildings as the logistical heart in the middle of the figure-eight layout, Gentofte Hospital is transformed from a labyrinthine structure into a welcoming and intelligible architecture, where the green courtyards' including and interesting interplay between indoor and outdoor guides you through to your destination." The hospital's director Eva Zeuthen Bentsen is proud to bid the patients welcome in the new wings: "I am certain that patients will feel welcome, when entering the new and beautiful building. The 12 metre tall foyer alone clearly signals that this is an extraordinary design, where the patients well-being has been the main focus." Apart from housing the visible new facilities, the buildings also improve the underlying processes and routines of the hospital operation. The new raised walkway connections for instance help tie the entire complex more closely together, creating shortcuts and improved transport logistics between the various departments. C. F. Møller Architects won the competition for the Gentofte Hospital in 2005, in cooperation with the contractor Hoffman a/s, and engineers Moe & Brødsgaard, Søren Jensen og Spangenberg & Madsen. The construction started in December 2006, and is completed as scheduled in October 2009. The buildings have thus been delivered on time and within the budget. Gentofte Hospital Building images / information from C. F. Møller Architects