internal medicine graz

architectural concept
the orientation of all patient rooms toward the park in the southeast of the site is not possible given the plot’s predetermined length. through a gentle undulation of the park-facing façade, its overall length is extended to accommodate all patient rooms. this undulation structures the building into two areas of the wards clearly legible from both inside and outside and clearly defines the main entrance. vertically, the building is divided into a ground floor zone with outpatient areas in the north wing, and public areas such as a café and third-party uses in the south wing. the upper floors cantilever over the ground floor to create a covered entrance, café outdoor space, and weather-protected forecourt. the third floor of the geriatrics ward is set back to provide terraces in front of patient rooms, day rooms, and lounges. the curve of the southeast façade widens the ward where operational space is most needed: in the central area of the nursing support point, establishing a central point important for patient orientation. additionally, the corridor areas are rhythmically articulated with open (or glazed) day rooms and lounges.

functional areas are located on the side opposite the patient rooms, oriented toward the e-wing and service yard, ensuring short routes. the layout of the two inpatient wards favors a single-corridor system. disadvantages of a double-corridor system—dark, unlit zones, duplicated circulation areas, and long travel distances—are avoided in favor of higher staff efficiency, clarity, and spatial quality in the patient floors. administration, intensive care, and endoscopy areas are planned on the first floor due to functional adjacency. for such heterogeneous functions, a double-corridor system is proposed on this level, supporting flexible uses and simple area separation. the ground floor offers high future expansion potential for additional outpatient services and third-party uses, through extensions of the south wing or partial utilization of the cantilevered areas. canopies, horizontal sunshades, and cantilevered building elements provide efficient shading and prevent summer overheating in southeast-facing rooms while maintaining unobstructed park views. northwest-facing functional rooms are shaded by external sun protection. in the two upper patient floors, the ward center is further highlighted by daylight from above. patients look out onto a gently modeled park; wooded mounds and valleys define zones of varying sizes and functions: a geriatric garden, walking parcours, relaxation areas, learning paths, and training loops.

this park is treated as part of the overall site, with planting and terrain modeling subtly densifying the space. supply and disposal occur in the northwest, away from patient rooms. the building is set back sufficiently from existing structures so that no underpinning is needed, allowing for a generous delivery zone. technical rooms are located directly in the service yard. the delivery and replacement of machines, equipment, and furnishings is straightforward. the structural system relies on columns and a few reinforced concrete shear walls required for bracing and cantilevering. the chosen structural concept allows both the double-corridor system on the first floor and the single-corridor system of the patient floors to be constructed quickly and flexibly used.

structural concept
the elongated southeast-curved extension to the LSF graz has a symmetrical load-bearing structure, with the symmetry plane running through the central circulation zone. the extension is designed as a multi-story building with in-situ concrete flat slabs supported by concrete columns and load-bearing as well as bracing concrete walls, plus parapet beams along the façades. the standard module for columns and walls is 5.87 m; in the ward support points, spans open to ≥ 9.00 m, where additional beams are provided as load-bearing elements. using flat slabs allows easy routing of building services, and the module enables economical sizing of floor slabs. this construction type permits both single- and double-hall arrangements on each floor. the southeast cantilever of the upper floors over the ground floor, approximately 3–4 m, as well as the shorter northeast cantilever, is resolved structurally with shear walls on the first floor arranged perpendicular to the cantilever, transferring loads to the recessed ground floor columns. the building is founded on a reinforced concrete slab, which, together with walls and the basement ceiling, forms a stiff, settlement-resistant base. lateral bracing is provided by the regularly distributed reinforced concrete shear walls or cores, safely transferring horizontal forces to the basement and into the ground.

fire protection and escape route concept
escape stairwells at the ends of the building allow a very simple escape route layout, with escape distances in both directions under 40 m, as per oib standards. the main vertical circulation in the center of the building is converted into a protected escape route in case of fire via automatically closing fire doors or curtains. fire and smoke development is restricted by a2-class surfaces. fire spread is controlled via fire and smoke compartments and code-compliant smoke ventilation. all technical rooms are designated as separate fire compartments. statutory fire protection requirements are met at a minimum.