Waldkliniken Eisenberg
Architect: Matteo Thun & Partners
Location: Eisenberg, Germany
Type: Hospital
Year: 2021
Photographs: Gionata Xerra
The largest orthopedic center in Germany
The following description is courtesy of the architects. Waldkliniken Eisenberg is the largest Orthopaedic Center in Germany with an internationally known professorship for Orthopedics at the University of Jena, in the middle of the Saale-Holzland district in the Thuringian Forest. Architecture and interior of the new hospital building convinced the Ministry of Thuringia as the most ecological, sustainable and economical concept. The aim of the design of the new building is to positively influence the relationship between physical space and human well-being.
Hotel standard for a municipal hospital
The circular building, with its facade made of local wood and with 128 patient rooms and 246 beds, will accommodate orthopedic patients after their operations in a building that consciously puts its temporary
residents at the center. Our architecture for hospitals corresponds the concept of ‘Hospitecture’: the design language combines the aesthetics of hospitality projects with the one of the healthcare sector. The focus is the guest (lat: hospes). Architecture and interior are intended to promote the healing.
‘The patient is the guest!’, Matteo Thun
Healthy Living
Surrounded by forest and with 55 newly planted trees in the direct outdoor area the wooden circular structure of the building puts the material wood at the center. Lots of green for the interior and exterior, natural materials, an interplay of inside and outside, a well-considered use of artificial and daylight and color compositions from flora and fauna. The interior concept offers patients the opportunity to withdraw and enjoy their privacy in the Z-shaped two-bed rooms. Spacious verandas connect the rooms, all of which face the surrounding nature. Rooms, boarding areas, a unit care concept: the interior design ensures transparency – not only to nature outside, but also to the staff inside.
Healthy Food
Four different culinary locations, take on four different tasks: The lobby bar welcomes guests and visitors with snacks and drinks. With a view of the green inner courtyard, the daylight-flooded restaurant ‘La Piazza’ with 100 seats for the patients forms the focal point of the building: The kitchen: fresh and healthy with local products. Employees come to the ‘Bistro’ for a culinary break in a recreational atmosphere and a fine dining serves the private patient area, but can be reserved by other guests. The restaurant also offers kosher food.
Efficiency, functionality and user-friendliness
Hospital expert HDR GmbH supported Matteo Thun and his team in planning and implementing efficiency, functionality and user-friendliness of the new building. In order to outline according to the real needs of the orthopedic patient, to optimally design the personnel routes and rooms, the architects planned in close dialogue with the medical professionals and the nursing staff at the Waldkliniken.
A 3 Zeros project
The new building was planned according to the 3 Zeros concept: Zero kilometers: Immediate proximity to building materials and use of local skills. Zero CO2: energy management and lower emissions. Zero waste: life cycle management in the construction process and reuse of construction materials.
Brand Image
Matteo Thun & Partners also elaborated the CI and the CI-Design for Waldkliniken conveying the approach of architecture and interior.
Project Details
- Architecture, interior design, lighting design, styling, CI design: Matteo Thun & Partners
- Chronology: 2013 – 9.2020
- Area: 16,500 square meters, 66,500 m3 cubic meters of converted space
