„Lay your eyes on the beautiful nature and soothe your soul.“
This quote by Ludwig van Beethoven, chosen by the Medical Director of the clinic on the occasion of the inauguration of the center, describes the conceptual idea of the project: a beautiful place in a green envorinment to support the recovery of mentally ill. This motto represents the ensemble of old and new for working with the existing, for the preservation and care of the existing, for the continuity of the place.
„Lay your eyes on the beautiful nature and soothe your soul.“
With this quote from Ludwig van Beethoven, Dr. Barbara Richter, the Medical Director of the Saxon Hospital Altscherbitz, concluded her speech at the inauguration of the new Social Psychiatric Psychotherapeutic Treatment Center, loosely translated as the Center for Mental Health. Unfortunately, the healing of mental illnesses is not as simple as Beethoven suggests. However, the quote accurately describes the architectural concept of the ensemble, aiming to support the recovery of the patients through a beautiful place in the greenery.
In 1876, the Provincial Insane Asylum was founded and built in the pavilion style near the Altscherbitz manor in Leipzig. Standalone houses in the greenery were designed to enable therapy for small groups based on the autonomous actions of the chief physicians and professors. In the subsequent years, the institution gained international renown through successful innovative treatment methods. During the era of National Socialism, the clinic was involved in the „Aktion T4,“ the mass murders of more than 70,000 disabled individuals. In the GDR era and since the reunification of Germany, the facility has continued to operate as a psychiatric hospital, facing constant pressures for renovation and modernization, like any other medical institution.
Around 1880, mirror-image Houses 19 and 21 were constructed as the men‘s and women‘s sections of the „Siechenasyl,“ with intervening House 20 serving as the corresponding „official residence.“ Numerous alterations and years of vacancy argue against preserving the buildings. Additionally, there is a functional necessity to connect the houses for a new purpose. The competition announcement suggests a multi-story new building between the old structures with a subordinate use. However, to maintain the significance of the existing structures, provide better orientation, and preserve the image of the old buildings, we have opted for a single-story block, 175 meters long, placed between the existing houses.
The hallways of the new building seamlessly connect to the old structures, while the rooms provide views of the beautiful nature. The height variation follows the topography, and the form responds to the projections of the old buildings. Both the old and new buildings have brick facades, with distinct colors and details that differentiate them. The old buildings have been carefully adapted to the new use while preserving their substance. The energy concept and choice of building materials meet public construction standards. By forgoing the basement in the new building, the construction‘s CO2 emissions have been significantly reduced. The key contribution of this project to sustainable construction lies in the excellent functional integration of the old and new structures. This ensures that the existing substance maintains its equal significance to the new construction, a crucial prerequisite for its preservation and meaningful continued use.
