The goal of the 2030 Hospital Area Vision for the Helsinki Metropolitan Area is to divide the operations of Helsinki City Hospital equally between Malmi and Laakso hospitals. The new Malmi hospital will have around 450 beds for basic healthcare. The project is part of a larger service construction initiative in Malmi, which also includes a family center, a health and wellness center, and a school campus.<\/p>\n
In the architectural competition for the design of the new Malmi hospital, our proposal “Puutarhat” (Gardens) won first place. The concept of a nature-centered hospital has been the guiding principle of the design, with a lush courtyard at the heart of the building. Rehabilitation will be present throughout the building\u2014not only in designated spaces. The future hospital will also serve as a new public building in the heart of the developing Malmi area. The building\u2019s rooms, their lobbies and corridors, and the landscaping have been designed to be humane and healing. Natural light and materials are utilized based on the latest research, with the aim of encouraging patients to leave their rooms and engage in physical activity.<\/p>\n
The new Malmi hospital will blend into the surrounding urban environment with its brick-and-wood facades, lush greenery, and high-quality entrance plazas. The nearby Malmi brick church and its surrounding park have also been considered, with the new building designed to gently slope toward them.<\/p>\n
The hospital\u2019s extensive functional program is organized into a clear and accessible whole based on a rational and flexible modular structure. This large building is divided into smaller parts, creating a scale that is approachable and easy to navigate for patients, staff, and visitors alike.<\/p>\n
The design maximizes daylight and incorporates nature through atrium courtyards visible from the interior. Lobby areas provide a pleasant environment for recovery and work, minimizing long corridors. Art is integrated as part of the rehabilitation process and also aids in orientation within the building. The main lobby and surrounding areas serve as public spaces, hosting teaching and rehabilitation services. Events for both patients and the public can be organized here, making the hospital a natural extension of the surrounding urban space.<\/p>\n
In our “Puutarhat” proposal, the new hospital encompasses 63,000 gross square meters. The ventilation rooms are creatively designed as “greenhouses” to aid in heat recovery, giving the building its unique visual identity. The building layout and technical systems are designed to accommodate hospital robots in the future. Construction materials are selected to be as low-carbon as possible, with energy efficiency enhanced by deep facade structures that reduce direct sunlight passively.<\/p>\n
These and many other elements form a cohesive whole, where humanity, functional and technical needs, and the natural and built environments are seamlessly integrated. We hope that the new Malmi hospital will become an exemplary model for future buildings.<\/p>\n
The competition team included a wide, multidisciplinary team:<\/p>\n
Consortium of Arhitects Harris Kjisik – Arkkitehtiryhm\u00e4 Reino Koivula Ltd.<\/strong><\/p>\n AUTHORS<\/p>\n Trevor Harris, Professor, Architect SAFA Sasu H\u00e4likk\u00e4, Architect SAFA EXPERTS<\/p>\n Main Design<\/strong>
\nHannu Louna, Architect SAFA
\nAino Raatikka, Architect SAFA
\nMikko Sinervo, Architect SAFA<\/p>\n
\nJanne Kivel\u00e4, Architect SAFA
\nHennu Kjisik, DSc (Tech), Professor, Architect SAFA
\nMarkus Kuusela, Architect SAFA
\nJoseph Mulcahy, Architect SAFA
\nSusanna Kalkkinen, Architect SAFA (participated only in the first phase of the competition)<\/p>\n
\nArk-House Ltd.<\/u>
\nPentti Kareoja, Professor, Architect SAFA<\/p>\n