CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, in conjunction with Park Associati and Politecnica Building for Humans, has presented an innovative design for the new Main Hospital and Children's Hospital of ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Italy. This winning proposal envisions a comprehensive healthcare campus that integrates medical treatment, research, natural landscapes, and communal areas, all guided by the 'One Health' philosophy.Transforming Healthcare: A Campus Blending Nature and Innovation
A Vision for Brescia's Future Healthcare Landscape
The team, spearheaded by CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, has unveiled its groundbreaking design for a major healthcare institution in Lombardy. This future-focused campus will feature expansive gardens, luminous glazed structures, and accessible public pathways, creating a seamless integration of medical facilities with the urban environment.
The Winning Collaborative Endeavor
Announced at Teatro Grande, the successful bid for the new Main and Children's Hospitals of ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia is the result of a powerful partnership. CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, Park Associati, and Politecnica Building for Humans joined forces with Openfabric, DOTDOTDOT, Eckersley O'Callaghan, and Studio Mattioli to secure this international design competition.
Integrating Health, Environment, and Community
This visionary project redefines the existing hospital grounds through the holistic lens of 'One Health.' It aims to forge profound connections between advanced medical care, cutting-edge research, the surrounding natural landscape, and the broader public sphere, emphasizing well-being on multiple levels.
Future Development and Capacity
Construction is anticipated to commence in 2028. Upon completion, the new facilities will centralize clinical and technological services within a vast 60,500 square meter complex, accommodating more than 745 patient beds, thereby significantly enhancing the region's healthcare capacity.
Harmonizing with Brescia's Architectural Heritage
The architectural blueprint gracefully builds upon the early twentieth-century masterplan by engineer Angelo Bordoni. Instead of erasing the historic hexagonal core and radial layout that define the Spedali Civili campus, the new design intelligently extends its foundational principles.
Main Hospital: Expanding Towards the City and Nature
The Main Hospital is conceived as three interconnected wings that gracefully extend outwards, embracing the city and offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains. At ground level, a transparent, fully glazed lobby opens onto a new public plaza, establishing a welcoming and prominent civic presence for the hospital.
Prioritizing Patient Well-being and Environmental Connection
Inside, the design places significant emphasis on abundant natural light, intuitive navigation, superior acoustic comfort, and captivating views of the Brescia Prealps. Patient rooms are meticulously planned to offer visual connections to the outdoor environment, while large, glazed winter gardens cap each wing, creating a serene transition between treatment areas and the natural world.
Innovative Facade for Optimal Comfort and Aesthetics
Developed in collaboration with Eckersley O'Callaghan, the building's facade is engineered to expertly manage solar gain and glare. This advanced design ensures optimal climate control while maintaining a visually open and inviting exterior, reflecting a commitment to both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
Children's Hospital: A Dedicated Healing Environment
The Children's Hospital emerges as a distinct and independent structure, characterized by gently rounded volumes of varying heights. Its design incorporates internal courtyards, terraces, and gardens, seamlessly bringing outdoor spaces into direct contact with different hospital departments.
Playful and Family-Centric Design Elements
The entrance atrium of the Children's Hospital is thoughtfully designed to include engaging play areas, dedicated consultation zones, and comfortable gathering spaces for families. This approach creates an environment that prioritizes the unique needs of young patients and their loved ones.
A Unique Identity Tailored for Children
The distinctive geometric form of the Children's Hospital provides it with a unique identity within the larger campus. Its spaces are intuitively designed to be easily understood and navigated from a child's perspective, fostering a sense of comfort and familiarity.
Introducing the CareRing: A Continuous Integrated Pathway
The proposal's most striking spatial innovation is the 'CareRing,' an uninterrupted pathway spanning over a kilometer around the campus. This ingenious system serves multiple functions, enhancing both operational efficiency and public engagement.
Optimizing Logistics and Services Below Ground
Beneath the surface, the CareRing efficiently organizes logistics, essential services, and technical flows, strategically separating them from the clinical circulation pathways. This subterranean network ensures smooth operations without disrupting the patient environment.
Transforming Ground Level into a Vibrant Public Space
At ground level, the CareRing transforms into a vibrant green network of squares, therapeutic gardens, and public pathways. Designed in collaboration with Openfabric, this system aims to seamlessly connect the hospital with the city, simultaneously enhancing biodiversity and improving the local microclimate.
Sustainable Construction with Timber and Steel
The new hospital structures will utilize a hybrid timber and steel construction, employing dry construction techniques. This sustainable approach significantly reduces embodied carbon, aligning with modern environmental goals.
Adaptable Design for Evolving Medical Technologies
The choice of a hybrid timber and steel structure not only offers environmental benefits but also provides inherent adaptability. This design allows the campus to evolve and accommodate future advancements in medical technologies, ensuring its long-term relevance and functionality.
Seamless Digital Integration for Enhanced Experience
A sophisticated digital layer, developed in partnership with DOTDOTDOT, will provide seamless support for wayfinding, flow management, and environmental monitoring. Crucially, this technology is integrated without overshadowing the architectural experience, maintaining a human-centric approach.
Prioritizing Movement, Light, and Landscape
While technical systems are integral, the design deliberately keeps the focus on the fundamental elements of human experience: intuitive movement, abundant natural light, captivating landscapes, and the overall clarity and legibility of the campus. This ensures a healing and welcoming environment for all.
