Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s New Aalborg University Hospital is Designed to Heal Through the Environment

Denmark’s <a href="http://shl.dk/eng/#/home/about-architecture/new-aalborg-university-hospital/description">New Aalborg University Hospital </a>in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Jutland">Northern Jutland </a>is a new health care facility that was master-planned as part of the government’s health reform. Designed by <a href="http://shl.dk/">Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects</a>, this 330,000 square-meter master plan includes 134,500 square-meters of hospital buildings and 17,000 square-meters of space for the Faculty of Health Science of <a href="http://www.en.aau.dk/">Aalborg University</a>. The design incorporates a host of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/sustainable-building/">green building</a> strategies, and it will be constructed over 17 years starting in 2013.

The overall architectural approach of the building is focused around individuals. The mission of the hospital was to create an environment that exuded comfort and security for those being cared for in their facilities.

Vertical circulation helps to connect all functions to the inner streets of the whole facility. This inner street network is the main artery of the hospital and helps to create an interdisciplinary circulation network that helps to share the clinical work.

The interior reflects a poetic diversity of materials and spaces that makes the institution less formal and more personal. Beautiful views and <a href="http://inhabitat.com/berkeleys-leed-gold-designed-energy-bioscience-building-leads-by-example/">natural daylight </a>help to create this warm and inviting space.

Special attention was paid to the size and scale of the new buildings in order to create an environment that reflects an urban structure of varied streets, paths, and courtyards to invite the public into the facility.

The team engaged the existing Aalborg University planning in order to smoothly transition the new hospital master plan into the adjacent landscape.

The design team of the New Aalborg University Hospital created a beautiful new facility that helps to heal patients not only by medical care but also through <a href="http://inhabitat.com/perkinswills-kenya-women-and-childrens-wellness-center-takes-national-healthcare-award-for-2012/">connectivity to nature</a>.