Specialised in healthcare architecture, ENERO Arquitectura entered the exclusive competition to design the Bellinzona Regional Hospital (Switzerland), a new, state-of-the-art facility able to meet the ever-changing demands of the future.
CONNECTION THROUGH NATURE
The centre has a strategic location on the banks of the Ticino River, in a large open area of the city. The project connects the northern and southern parts of the city through a large park, which is pivotal for the hospital’s relationship with the city. This park enables green spaces to be incorporated not only into the interior areas but also into the roofs of the foundational structure.
A HEALTHCARE FACILITY DESIGNED TO BE BUILT IN TWO DIFFERENT PHASES
The tender documents for the approximately 150,000 m2 hospital presented the challenge of construction in two phases. In the first phase, all the functional units of the hospital would be built, and the second phase would be extending the surface area of most of them. Making the second phase of construction possible while maintaining healthcare activities was very complex, a major constraint of the project.
The competition also had certain special features, such as the incorporation of a protected emergency hospital and a public and military shelter in the building, all with access above the flood line, four metres above ground level.
THE CENTRE’S STRATEGIC LOCATION ENABLES ITS FULL INTEGRATION WITH THE LANDSCAPE
The plot is located next to the Ticino River, where snowmelt and rainwater from the Alps drain into, causing floods that reach heights of several metres. Because of this, a platform, or “vasca bianca” was planned to prevent water from entering the building, as well as to house some of the functional units of the centre and safe access during floods.
This impermeable platform, which forms part of a foundation-like volume, determines the volumetric composition of the building. This foundation houses the short-stay care areas (emergency, radiology, consulting rooms, surgical block, etc.) in a single piece of concrete. Above this solid foundation, the hospitalisation area is designed as a lighter building with a timber structure. The competition promoted sustainability through the “Green Hospital” concept, and this healthcare model prioritises environmental, construction, energy, and administrative aspects as a method of achieving a high quality of life.
The superior location and orientation of the centre allows all rooms to have the best views of the mountains and the best orientation–east and west only–avoiding the strong, northerly Alpine winds. Light and a natural ventilation system through courtyards makes it possible to humanise the hospital’s interior spaces without sacrificing sustainability. The façades incorporate solar control elements to regulate sunlight in the hottest months without losing views and natural ventilation.
The new Bellinzona Regional Hospital is an example of how architecture can become a tool for care, and at the same time serves as a connection to the landscape and nature.
