HAGA Hospital

The basic philosophy behind the construction of the new HagaZiekenhuis building in The Hague was the Planetree model for patient healthcare, which aims to create an environment in which everyone feels at home – patients, visitors and medical staff alike. We took the key elements of this philosophy and – together with all the parties concerned – applied them to designing and building a transparent, light and airy, patient-centred environment. The new hospital building operates as a public-private partnership (PPP), which has been put out to tender by HagaZiekenhuis for the next twenty years as a DBM project (Design, Build & Maintain). Single Site The HagaZiekenhuis is one of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands. The hospital's outlying regional departments have now been consolidated at a single site. Covering an area of 34,500 m², the new section now accommodates anaesthesiology, oncology, haematology and a day-patient clinic (AOHD), as well as operating theatres, the Juliana Kinderziekenhuis (JKZ) and the Mother & Child Centre. Planetree The task put before the VolkerWesselsHaga building consortium was clear. Create a healing environment that enables HagaZiekenhuis to implement its Planetree healthcare philosophy – an approach that aims to provide as many benefits as possible to its patients, visitors and medical staff. For patients, the benefits include faster recovery times, reduced anxiety and stress, and a greater sense of well-being. For staff, the benefits include a more pleasant and efficient working environment aimed at reducing absenteeism and boosting motivation. In other words, a major impetus for the organization as a whole. Separate Flows We studied the Planetree approach carefully and as a result opted to focus on the hospital's logistics as the architectural basis for the design. This entailed separating the building's various flows. The new building is built in a figure of eight with two landscaped atria on two scales – one for children and one for adults. Walking distances have been kept to an absolute minimum throughout the entire building. Light & Transparency We responded to the logistical challenge of streamlining patient, visitor, staff and delivery flows as efficiently and effectively as possible by creating as much light and transparency as possible in central communal areas. The design is such that wherever you are in the building you can always look outside – either directly or indirectly through another space or room. Both atria have glass roofs. Elevated Walkway The landscaped atria are connected by an elevated walkway. It not only connects in a literal sense, but also figuratively insofar that people from every hospital department can meet and mingle here. Single Rooms MVSA designed the hospital wards with almost exclusively single rooms to aid and speed recovery. Adult patients always have an outside view and children can always see out into the corridor from their rooms. This helps satisfy their curiosity and allows them to stay in touch with their surroundings. If able, they may always go to the communal play area off ward. So instead of isolation, children are encouraged to meet and play. Equipment, medicine and nursing care simply go with them. Less Stress Studies have shown that a child-friendly environment that distracts sick children from their predicament can help reduce stress, anxiety and the perception of pain. This helps them recover more quickly and contributes towards creating a more positive hospital experience. We specifically designed children's wards to help reduce stress and anxiety levels. MVSA invited experience design agency Tinker Imagineers to create a 'moving' storyline for the Juliana Kinderziekenhuis. Five cuddly characters – Hugg, Happy, Fold, C-bot and Fizzle – come to life all around the children in unique, animated wall projections. They accompany children on their 'adventure', making them laugh and distracting them from their situation.