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At first glance, Matteo Thun & Partners’ new wooden architecture in Eisenberg might very well look like the last of their hotels or spas. The famous JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa, the thermal baths of Merano or the Residence La Pergola – also in Merano – are just a few of the new construction projects with which Thun has made a name for itself during its more than twenty years. years in the industry.
In reality, the Waldkliniken of Eisenberg, in the heart of the Thuringian forests, is an extension of a hospital, precisely the largest specialized orthopedic center in Germany. Recently, Matteo Thun and his Milanese firm have reoriented their research towards the application of models and quality standards usually reserved for hotels – and proven with success throughout the world – to the field of “medical hospitality”. The common root of the terms “hospital” and “hospitality” – both from the Latin hospes, guest – highlights a simple truth, namely the relationship between health and accommodation.
An idea that has always been overlooked in the public sphere, it was the subject of a lecture at the Venice Biennale titled “Hospitecture” – but even years before it had inspired Thun to enter the competition to design the new one. wing of a public hospital, the Eisenberg Orthopedic Center. The new building, adjoining the operating room, was dedicated to the rooms of pre- and post-hospital patients requiring medical treatment.
Against all expectations and despite their lack of experience in this specific field, the design submitted by Matteo Thun & Partners was selected and recommended by the Ministry of Thuringia because the concept was the most ecological, sustainable and affordable option submitted. As such, people noticed not only Thun’s ability to develop high quality hospitality solutions, but not “luxury” – as he himself often describes in his interviews – for the benefit of patients, but also for the overall sustainability of the project. Indeed, the new building was designed according to the principle of “three zeros”: zero kilometers, that is to say by using building materials of local origin and local expert workers; Zero CO2, i.e. limiting energy consumption and reducing emissions; and finally Zero Waste, that is to say the management of the life cycle in the construction process and the reuse of materials.
Drink – a material widely used by the company, not only because of its associations with a warm environment and how it ages, but also because it is a renewable resource – covers the facades of a circular building in which the use of reinforced concrete has been limited to the load-bearing structure only, as required for protection against fire. Inside, there are 128 hospital rooms with a total of 246 beds and a range of guest services inspired by the world of hospitality. Locally sourced larch has been arranged as a solar shading along the side surface of the entire building to provide room shade, alternating with floating glass sections that serve as fireplaces for light and air, creating atmospheric differences between the two parts. This visual rhythm follows the organization of the floor plans that revolve around the design of the patient rooms. Standard rooms accommodate two patients, with a private space for each of them, and share a “veranda” with a second room with a mirrored layout. Matching the floating glass panels on the facade, this light and airy space – ventilated by opening windows – was designed to be a shared yet private space, in that it can be separated from private spaces by curtains. The architect’s thinking about this focused on the fact that, during treatment in the hospital, the patient’s discomfort is partly due to the lack of space for private conversations with doctors or relatives, during their visits. With this in mind, the bedroom has a Z plan, integrating the bathroom and the veranda, and can thus offer each guest a visual relationship with the outside world and its natural environment. By finding a balance between the available space and the psychological needs identified, Thun has succeeded in creating a reception area that serves as a filter, suitable for four patients to share. In addition to the 13 VIP rooms that have been provided for those lucky enough to have private health insurance, this solution has been applied on a large scale to all floors of the building.
According to Thun, his interest in the hospitality industry is rooted in the fact that hotels are environments in which every aspect must be coordinated with a cohesive design, from visual identity to architectural shell to custom furniture. This kind of attention to detail is the same that can be seen in a project such as the Waldkliniken Hospital, where a large number of elements that would usually not be coordinated have been carefully designed as a whole, the everything to serve the general sense of well-being of patients. This is the case with the design of the reception and the four restaurants, which in terms of materials, finishes and concept are no less sumptuous than those one could enjoy on vacation, as well as the paths taken by patients during their stay in hospital. To this end, the firm worked with Hospitalexpert HDR GmbH and had in-depth discussions with doctors and nurses in order to understand the real needs of hospitalized patients and to facilitate movement and orientation within the hospital.
Finally, the green roof and the tree-lined interior courtyard not only reduce direct sunlight, thus maintaining a more comfortable indoor microclimate, but also integrate nature into the building as a beneficial presence in the treatment process. . The circularity of the floor plan stems from a desire to make the view from the inside to the natural environment as vast and varied as possible. Ten years of development for a project that transforms the historic concept of the hospital as an assembly line for care and a ‘box’ for the sick on his head, soon enriched with a second project in the form of orthopedic rehabilitation center, also designed by Thun. With the help of pioneering architects, several healthcare establishments are experimenting with this approach. Floornature recently presented several examples of these projects, in particular The Nova Hospital of JKMM in Jyväskylä, the Santa Fe Foundation of El Equipo de Mazzanti in Bogotá and the Alzheimer Center of Martina Davanzo in Castelfranco Veneto, Italy.
Mara Corradi
Architects: Matteo Thun & Partners https://www.matteothun.com/
Chronology: 2013 – 9.2020
Location: Eisenberg (DE)
Client: Waldkrankenhaus-Eisenberg
Building area: 15,000 m²
Photos by: Gionata Xerra
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