The approach behind the extension for the palliative care unit at the State Hospital Deutschlandsberg, Austria, goes beyond mere construction tasks; it's about sculpting an environment that embodies compassion, dignity, and healing. Through a mixture of innovative design and thoughtful architectural interventions, we aspire to redefine the palliative care experience, offering solace and sanctuary to patients and their families alike.
Adding a new floor to the existing hospital infrastructure opens new perspectives for the palliative care unit. The extension appears as a floating white steel band perforated with fractal patterns that offers not only sun-protective function but also serves as a conduit to the natural world, fostering a sense of tranquility and connection. The science-based design of the perforated patterns, developed in collaboration with Dr. Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon and 13&9 Design, integrates the stress-reductive qualities of fractals based on Dr. Taylor's research and offers the perforation of the daylight. This dynamic fractal interplay of light and shadow movement is like the light simmering in natural fractal environments such as woods. Beyond, it reflects and extends this dynamic shadow also in the interior of the rooms, creating even more connectivity between insight and outside.
Each room is a sanctuary of peace, marked by a distinct entrance area adorned with soothing colors and inviting seating arrangements. By embracing warm hues and natural materials like wood, we gain an atmosphere that feels more like home than a clinical setting. Also, on the walls, the fractal patterns, scientifically proven to reduce stress, adorn the walls, while the inclusion of guest amenities like sleeper sofas allows family members to stay close. Each room has its own terrace accessible also with the sickbed.
Our approach to bathroom design harmonizes functionality and well-being with comfortable aesthetics. Utilizing a blend of light ceramics and darker natural stones, we create visually contrasting spaces that are both appealing and accessible to patients with impaired vision, thereby enhancing their sense of independence and comfort.
At the heart of the station lies the "Little Spa", featuring a state-of-the-art, height- and position-adjustable bathtub with an opening side wall for easier entry. This innovative amenity caters to the unique needs of patients, allowing them access and to bathe in their most comforting position.
The communal area, affectionately dubbed the "Living Room", serves as a focal point for social interaction and emotional support. As a widely open space with a lot of natural light and lush greenery, comfortable seating, and fractal patterns that can be visually parted in smaller areas by shelves, this space embraces a sense of belonging and togetherness, transcending the confines of a medical facility.
This architectural endeavor isn't just about constructing physical spaces; it's about crafting environments that comfort the human spirit, body, and soul. As one of the senior doctors stated, "Patients want to stay here longer". This sentiment encapsulates our mission: to create a palliative care unit where compassion, well-being, and dignity are not just aspirations but fundamental realities.
