The building is situated in an urban setting, anchored between the surrounding buildings and the waterways of the Maas and Haringvliet, which limits parking and expansion possibilities.
Within this limited space, various growth scenarios have been explored, leading to a structural design where certain parts of the building will be renovated in a phased manner, and certain parts will be demolished for new construction. All construction and development activities will take place on the current location or within the existing building shells.
Havenziekenhuis functions as a hypermodern shell model developed for the new Dutch core hospital. In this model, the treatment building serves as the small core of the hospital around which the ‘shells’ of nursing departments and outpatient clinics are located. The nursing departments are designed like hotels, outpatient clinics like offices, and laboratories like businesses. This allows for exchange of functionality with hotels, offices, or businesses in the area during expansion or downsizing of hospital functions. Additionally, in case of divestment of hospital functions, there is a residual value as a hotel or office.
In early 2015, the appearance of the hospital underwent a major change. The large revolving door that had been the entrance to the hospital since the 1990s was replaced by a glass, spacious, and contemporary senior-friendly entrance with a connection to the roof of the Emergency Department.
Theme ‘harbor’ central
In Havenziekenhuis in Rotterdam, the theme ‘harbor’ takes center stage, with a boat and container realized in the waiting area. This is a visually well-developed theme that offers a myriad of uses. From playing, discovering, and calmly reading a book to watching a film and playing computer games. When developing these themes, their functionality is also taken into consideration. It is of great importance that child safety, as well as the facility maintenance of the design, align with the hospital’s specified requirements.
