Previously split between two locations, the new Maas and Kempen Hospital has been built on a single site on the west side of Maaseik. An important point of departure for the design was to make the green environment in the hospital visible. Wherever patients, visitors and employees can be located, there will be a view of the surroundings, a design feature that promotes orientation, as well as rest and recuperation. A second important element of the design was to divide the programme into five separate buildings, interconnected with corridors and air bridges. This concept reinforces the small scale of the building.

A healing environment was created by orienting the individual buildings to both nature and sunlight. According to architect Maurits Algra, the limited building height of the hospital also contributes to a pleasant climate. 

He explained: “Although the project is 33,250 sqm, the building never exceeds three layers. The limited number of building layers and cutting up the program in 5 separate buildings ensures a pleasant environment for both patients and employees.”

Real estate model
The distribution of loose buildings stems from adopting a real estate vision as part of the design approach. Each building type has been optimised in respect of methodology, installation technique and dimension. The loose building model provides lower total construction costs and flexibility, with each building capable of being expanded or reduced in size.

The hospital functions are divided into five components as follows:

• entrance, visitor restaurant, and registrations in the ‘entrance building’;
• nursing departments in the ‘hotel building’;
• clinics, administration and management in the ‘office building’;
• surgery critical care, radiology and other medical-technology services in the ‘hot floor’; and
• facility functions from cleaning to laboratory in the ‘factory’.

The entrance building is described as the spatial heart of the complex, connecting all other building blocks. The main feature of the entrance and connecting corridors is transparency. The hotel building is characterised by a soft and sloping façade, with its horizontal tiers emphasising the view of the surrounding land. 

The office building has a bright facade with wooden accents. Narrow vertical strips highlight the small scale of the consulting rooms and offices. The structure has a high degree of flexibility thanks to the column structure and the light partition walls.

The ‘hot floor’ is the technical highlight of the hospital. It contains all medical-technical functions, such as surgery, radiology and intensive care. The facade features metal plating in different colours and technical grids, highly detailed. The central facilities are on the top floor of this building.

The ‘factory’ is the facilitating building, featuring warehouses, pharmacy, laboratories, and a staff office. The facade has simple white plating with small wooden accents.

The design of the hospital was delivered in collaboration with Arte and Stabo. The construction consortium comprised STRABAG Belgium SA, Houben, NV, Cordeel and BAM Contractors.