A hospital as an urban anchor
General Hospital Diest forms a contemporary, human addition to the city centre. Strategically located between the railway station, the historic city centre and the River Demer, the hospital is evolving into a new social heart of the city. Where healthcare functions were previously spread across two locations, all services are now brought together on a single central campus in a Community Hospital that naturally connects care, city and landscape.
The location makes the campus unique. Gardens, walking routes and riverside spaces form an integral part of the care environment.
Architecture that connects
The urban integration has been carefully considered, embedding the hospital within the city’s fabric. It forms an open link between the station and the city centre, shaped as a mineral axis that strengthens everyday urban life. The open arcade at ground level connects to Diest’s pedestrian network and creates space for encounter. The hospital is therefore not an isolated world, but part of the city.
Towards the River Demer, the building opens up to the water and surrounding landscape. Gardens and riverside spaces provide opportunities for rest and recovery. Sightlines from patient rooms and lounges extend across the surrounding greenery.
A bridge over the Demer connects the new building with the existing hospital and ensures continuity of care during the phased development of the campus. This connection enables efficient transfers and strengthens cohesion within the hospital.
Healthcare of the future
The campus is designed as a clear and efficient whole, with a central double-height entrance hall as its heart. This space connects functions such as the restaurant, auditorium and day hospital. From here, visitors and staff intuitively find their way. A staircase and internal void provide fast access to the surgical day hospital, while the inpatient wards are located in a quieter setting on the upper floors. On the top level, the geriatric and rehabilitation departments are connected through a continuous internal walking route, allowing patients to move safely and independently.
Functional architecture with urban refinement
Despite its scale, the building maintains a monolithic appearance. It consists of three L-shaped volumes with a layered façade composition of open arcades, curtain walls, masonry in varied bonds and claustral brickwork.
This materialisation makes the façade legible on multiple scale levels: from a distance to close-up, a rich layer of detail is revealed. The claustral brickwork serves a dual function: natural ventilation for technical spaces and solar shading along the central hall, contributing to a comfortable indoor climate.
Inside, short circulation routes, abundant daylight and views of the surrounding greenery provide orientation and calm. Open staircases and clear sightlines support a logical organisation of functions, ensuring the building remains intuitively legible.
Sustainability as a design principle
Sustainability is an integral part of the design. Geothermal heat pumps, thermal energy storage and photovoltaic panels significantly reduce operational CO₂ emissions. Green roofs and light-coloured façades reduce urban heat stress. The landscape design optimises water infiltration and retention, with controlled overflow towards the River Demer, allowing the building to actively contribute to urban water management.
Circularity is embedded in the design: felled trees are reused, the modular structural system allows for future adaptation, and materials such as brick, steel and aluminium are selected for durability and long service life.
The hospital forms the first phase of a larger masterplan and is designed with sufficient flexibility to accommodate future healthcare and technological developments.
