Haraldsplass Hospital, image courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

An innovative approach to hospital design

A whole new kind of hospital – that is how the jury described the winning proposal by C. F. Møller Architects for a new 10,000 m2 ward building for Haraldsplass Hospital in Bergen, Norway. Gone are the traditional hospital corridors, to be replaced by open common areas and efficient logistics.

Haraldsplass Hospital, image courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

Haraldsplass Hospital was built in 1986 and has approximately 184 beds. The new building will cover 10,000 m2 and give the hospital a further 108 beds on three storeys. There will also be new underground parking facilities for approximately 400 cars.

Haraldsplass Hospital, image courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

The new building will lie at the foot of the Ulriken mountain, with the river Møllendalselven in front.

The jury praised the proposal's innovative approach to hospital design:

Here the patient is placed in the centre, and given a place in a varied and beautiful land-scape. The drawings show attractive new experiences for staff and patients alike, while the needs of relatives are accommodated in a beautiful and well-nuanced arrivals area.

Haraldsplass Hospital, image courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

Beautiful and welcoming environment

In stark contrast to traditional hospital buildings, there are no long corridors. The wards are located around two large covered atria, which provide the setting for two different kinds of common areas: a public arrivals area with a reception, café, shop and seating area, and a more private space for patients and their guests only.

Haraldsplass Hospital - Site plan, drawing courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

The atria draw daylight into the building, where lush vegetation with bamboo plants in water pools and a bed of grass, flowers and creeping plants help to ensure a good indoor climate. All patients will have access to views of the valley and the city, as the new building follows the course of the Møllendalselven river, with an angled facade.

Haraldsplass Hospital - sketch, drawing courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

The project has also been highlighted as being very eco-friendly, amongst other reasons because the facade size is small relative to the gross area. By taking new approaches to ventilation and reusing waste heat from the existing hospital, the new ward can achieve 'passive house' standard.

C. F. Møller Architects won the competition in co-operation with Asplan Viak and Norconsult.

Four teams submitted proposals for the new Haraldsplass Hospital. The others were: Origo Arkitektgruppe in collaboration with Ratio Arkitekter, Link Arkitektur, and Narud Stokke Wiig Arkitekter og Planleggere.

Work on the project is expected to commence in 2014 and be completed in 2015.

+ Project facts

Client: Stiftelsen Bergen Diakonissehjem (SBD)
Architect:  C. F. Møller Architects
Size: 10000 m²/108 beds (10000 m² parking/400 parking spaces)
Address: Bergen, Norway
Year of competition: 2012
Construction period: From 2012-
Landscape: Asplan Viak
Energy consumption: Norconsul

+ All images and drawings courtesy C. F. Møller Architects

Turbine Bridge, image courtesy Adam Wiercinski + Borys Wrzeszcz

Turbine Bridge is the competition proposal entry designed by Adam Wiercinski, Borys Wrzeszcz – DWAWU architects for Amsterdam Iconic Pedestrian Bridge competition.

Turbine bridge is a connection between the traditional bridge and a hydroelectric power station. The rotating turbine is powered by river current and generates electricity. The bridge is self-sufficient and accumulates energy for additional needs.

Turbine Bridge, image courtesy Adam Wiercinski + Borys Wrzeszcz

Moving facade creates dynamic, living architecture between the historic area. Curved shape of the blades makes that water flows back to the river after emersion.

Turbine Bridge, image courtesy Adam Wiercinski + Borys Wrzeszcz

Turbine bridge is not only link between the two sides of the river. The idea was to create a multifunctional space on the Amstel River.

For this purpose, its shape is designed as a giant ship’s hull floating on the river.

Main level of the bridge is a public space with pedestrian and bicycle path. There is also cafe, bicycle repair and administration office. On the roofs of this functions there are leisure terraces with playground. Plant rooms, turbine engines and storage are located underneath the deck.

Turbine Bridge, image courtesy Adam Wiercinski + Borys Wrzeszcz

The characteristic shape of the bridge, referring to hourglass, is formed by the flow for a boat in the middle of the Amstel canal. In the centre of the bridge there is a meeting point for different decks and paths. A sustainable multi-functional watermill may reflect the ecological lifestyle of Amsterdam city.

Turbine Bridge - diagram, drawing courtesy Adam Wiercinski + Borys Wrzeszcz

Turbine Bridge, drawing courtesy Adam Wiercinski + Borys Wrzeszcz

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

Every year at Coverings – the premier tile and stone show in the U.S. – Ceramics of Italy hosts thousands of guests in a bustling 3,000 square foot exhibit in the heart of the Italian Pavilion. Since 1991, prominent architecture studios – from Bernard Tschumi and Arquitectonica to Aldo Rossi and Gaetano Pesce – have created a unique space that does not only inspire but also serves the very functional purposes of reception, info point, cafe and trattoria.

In a new twist this year, the Ceramics of Italy booth was transformed into a sculptural landscape of tile-cladded typography, as envisioned by e+i studio – a hot young architecture firm based in NYC led by husband and wife team Eva Perez de Vega and Ian Gordon – during Coverings in Orlando, Florida from April 17-20, 2012.

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

Based on the idea of an Italian piazza, Piazza Ceramica featured a large open gathering space for attendees to gather and dine on the show floor. Utilizing the edges of the pavilion to channel the flow of circulation in the booth, e+i created two tile-clad mounds in a gradient of colors that allowed for additional seating on one side and occupiable programming space on the other. It was constructed using a simple system of fabrication, precise digitally generated components and a cantilevered gridshell system to support the tile mounds.

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

From the floors and walls to the steps and countertops, nearly every surface in the booth was wrapped in Italian tile from manufactures including Atlas Concorde, Caesar Ceramiche, Emilceramica, Fioranese, Floorgres, Ceramiche Lea and Marazzi. The porcelain floor tiles, set on a raised flooring system, featured impressive water-jet cutting by Stratos to achieve a colorful topography-inspired floor. Grout, nosing and cleaning products were also donated by Mapei, Profilpas and Fila Industria Chimica.

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

Not only is Piazza Ceramica a beautiful example of exhibit design, it also has an interesting process story. Since the booth needed to have re-usable components, e+i designed it to be flat packed so it can be assembled and disassembled onsite like a 3D puzzle with the possibility of rebuilding the mounds into different piazza-like configurations.

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

With its multitude of configuration possibilities, its ingenious use of limited space, its interaction with visitors, and its overall aesthetic appeal and creativity, Piazza Ceramica represents a revolution in the architecture of event and gathering spaces. It seamlessly blends the classicism of the historic Italian piazza with modern techniques and materials of today to create an astounding piece of art and exhibit design.

+ Designer: e+i studio

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

Piazza Ceramica, image courtesy e+i studio

REBIRTH Table, image courtesy Meik Studio

Designed by Portuguese Meikstudio, REBIRTH Table is the new piece from 2012 exclusive collection.

Inspired by the desire of changing the human being, the changes that we submit, in happiness and sadness of these changes comes the new exclusive piece of meikstudio, a table inspired by the act of rebirth, the simplicity of the act of wanting to be different.

REBIRTH Table, image courtesy Meik Studio

Here’s what inspired us to create the REBIRTH table, a table that becomes what you want, a support table, a bedside table, a table with various functionalities, capable of adapting itself to reinterpret the space where it is . The grace with which rises from the ground brings us to the lightness and peace of mind that so often we would like to achieve.

REBIRTH Table, image courtesy Meik Studio

The elegance and dynamism that the foot transmits is inspired in roots, culminating in the rectangular geometric figure with ebony wood finished in high gloss acrylic varnish. This wood has strong and scored shaft, the final touch of class to this piece of special character. The foot in polish stainless steel transmits a sensation of cold that comes into opposition with the warm feel of the ebony wood in this drawer. A clear interpretation of reborn, reborn that we often dream so many times of being different and multifaceted.

REBIRTH Table, image courtesy Meik Studio

+ Project facts

Designer: Meik Studio (Portugal)
Material: aluminum and ebony wood
Dimension: 650x400x550mm
Site: www.meikstudio.com
Email: info@meikstudio.com

+ All images courtesy Meik Studio