Competition win in Lausanne

New construction of children’s hospital at Lausanne University Hospital The design by architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners, with JB Ferrari, for a new children’s hospital at the Lausanne University Hospital has won first prize in an international competition. The hospital is to provide 85 beds and an accident and emergency unit for children, and is provisionally scheduled to open in 2019. The design concept includes light-flooded open areas with much greenery, which are intended to make a hospital stay as agreeable as possible for patients and their relatives. Today, the entry will be presented to the public in Lausanne. The future children’s hospital will be located in the centre of the University Hospital on a 180 meter long site on the corner of Rue du Bugnon and Esplanade, which is a prominent location from the urban design point of view. Esplanade is the main address of the hospital. The building has been designed with six storeys, with the main entrance from Esplanade leading in to the children’s hospital, the accident and emergency unit and the care wards. The underground station in that locality will be included in the overall concept by being built over. The part of the building to the east of the Esplanade will be lower, so that the view from the gynaecological unit would not be obstructed. The main access avenue between this lower building and the gynaecological unit will serve as internal access. The generous, bright two-storey building will accommodate waiting and play areas, with the examination and treatment areas branching off in a comb-like layout. On the roof of the lower building is the cafeteria, and a public planted terrace offers facilities for play and recreation. Thanks to the topography of the location, the terrace can be accessed both at ground level and via natural ramps; in addition, generous steps will lead from the Esplanade along the facade to the terrace. The care wards in the six-storey western part of the building will feature a terraced inner courtyard with conservatory, which is intended as a protected outside play area. The location offers fantastic views of Lausanne, Lake Geneva and the Alps.