Vendsyssel Hospital

C.F. Møller has won the competition for the extension and refurbishment of the Vendsyssel Hospital in Hjørring (Denmark). Our design proposals seek to enhance the overarching architectonic identity of the hospital and to integrate buildings and landscapes in various ways. The design includes a children's oasis on the roof. The task includes full-service consultancy in connection with construction of a new treatment facility (covering about 14,000 m2), a mother and child unit and overall planning of the extension and refurbishment of the Sygehus Vendsyssel site in Hjørring. The new buildings will be low-energy class 2020 and are expected to be certified in accordance with Green Building Council Denmark's DGNB-DK Silver. The design proposal creates an enclosed form surrounding large, well-lit courtyards. The structure is transparent; A circulation loop connects the individual treatment areas and allows for flexibility and overlaps between neighbouring functions. The result is a logical, self-explanatory structure. There are efficient and highly functional links making it easy to find your way around the building. The individual and distinctive architecture features sterling materials, in combination with a strong emphasis on landscape, including a series of outdoor spaces with integrated planting, paving and stormwater handling, successfully exploiting every opportunity to create healing architecture. One special characteristic of the building is the layout of the third-floor paediatric unit, which includes an enclosed and protected playground, resembling a green oasis, on the roof. The panel of judges wrote: "The overall ethos (of these design proposals) was best of all those received. The courtyards, both the internal ones and those that form connections between the buildings, are ideal. The secluded outdoor areas on the third floor, which have excellent views and plenty of natural sunlight, are convincing features which underpin the desire for the architecture to become part of the healing aspect of patients' treatment. (...) The choice of dark bricks on both lower floors and the elegant design of the third floor / roof garden with airy glass façades and an espalier made of metal profiles creates an elegant interplay of proportions and materials, coordinating perfectly with the Medical Unit and other buildings. The design proposals set a convincing tone and character for the future development of new and existing buildings alike." The new hospital buildings are expected to be completed early in 2019. The client is The North Denmark Region. In addition to C.F Møller, the design team comprises C.F. Møller Landscape (landscape architects) and MOE (consulting engineers).