lkh klagenfurt

urban‑planning organisation
the new building forms the link for all hospital facilities on the site. (above‑ground connections to surgery, to the mother‑child centre. connection to the existing path system, connection to the underground distribution system.) the relatively elongated building layout along a west‑east axis enables the optimal horizontal organisation of the outpatient centre at the lobby with the immediately adjoining specialised facilities, examination and treatment rooms in the outpatient corridors. it defines the northern boundary of the hospital area to the recreation zone, the natural space at the glan. the location and articulation of the bed wing with a permeable ground floor zone emphasises the transition area to the green space at the glan, embeds the built structure and weaves it into the natural space. the bed wing is held as a low and floating building block, as a permeable transition from the natural space to the four‑storey function wing lying to the south. the higher density of the function wing corresponds in its height development to the existing pavilion structure and simultaneously to the concept of the flat‑spread functional building. the new building picks up all connection points from the existing rectangular street system of the lkh site, and at the same time enables routing north‑south, east‑west (underpass of the main wing for vehicles and cyclists), and pedestrian passage through the lobby, into the theme courts, via the artificial to the natural green area.

structure and orientation
articulation of the lkh klagenfurt new as a health centre with hotel character. clear, distinct separation of the patient wards from the functional areas. organisation of the bed areas as an accompanying, repeatedly linked building block to the condensed function wing. all patient rooms are oriented to the park without disturbance by mutual or external visibility. distribution, circulation via the central lobby that provides the outpatient centre. the comb‑like structure of the function wing enables largest possible expansion options to the south, or by vertical extensions. organisation of the building blocks under the requirement of daylight supply in all functional areas.

pavilion‑connected system
on a long‑stretched, function‑densified examination and treatment wing pavilion‑like the bed houses are connected. the care areas are directly connected to the function wing and at the same time shielded from the busy operational areas. the arrangement of the bed houses accompanying the function wing enables flexible, variable use of the wings for the continually changing centres. the bed houses are organised on levels 1 and 2, thus matching in their spatial height the levels of the function wing. areas requiring higher suspended ceilings such as the operating and intensive area lie above. the lobby with the outpatient centre takes on the central function of the new lkh. the functional area is architecturally structured into manageable units that correspond to the medical centres and possess the necessary flexibility.

lobby – outpatient centre
central distribution and point of contact is the three‑storey light‑flooded hall, the lobby. visitors and ambulatory patients move along the interface of the functional areas and the patient wings. both the outpatient centre and the wards are comprehensible for the patient and visitor. the architectural organisation and rhythm of the lobby form an overarching patient and visitor‑understandable wayfinding system. the central lobby offers a view of theme courts with different planting typologies, for example a bamboo garden, red tree and blossom garden, white lilac and rose garden. through the differing planting of the theme courts orientation and recognition of visitors and patients are unconsciously activated. the outdoor area shaped by natural and artificial water elements flows as a relaxation and regeneration element into the lobby. vegetated islands, gently flowing water indoors suspended above the ground offer those waiting before the outpatient clinics calm, recovery and distraction. open, clear information counters await the ambulatory patients. reading areas, physiotherapy baths, waiting zones to the core areas “float” in the three‑storey hall. cafes, kiosks, postal distribution and various “public facilities for visitors and patients” are located in the lobby.

spatial functional subdivision
is based on the organising principle of a refinement of the subdivision depth from the open patient and visitor lobby all the way to the workplace. it aims in an open spatial structure to create flexible spatial capacities and to provide variability for changes in area allocation.

green‑space design
relocation of the river bed within the possibilities for water design. provision of an expansive recreation area on the hospital grounds. the riverside vegetation forms a protective belt for the green zone before the bed wing. the natural green space flows through the bed wing, becomes the artificial green space in geometric arrangements of trees, meadow, stone and water elements. with distinctly varied colour and vegetation typologies.

parking deck
with 786 car spaces in construction phase 1 + 191 spaces
the level of the parking deck with only –1.5 m as the lowest level below terrain yields compelling advantages:
existing collectors remain untouched because they lie deeper (will be overbuilt), the parking deck is naturally lit and ventilated via a half‑storey opening on the south‑east and west side. additional ventilation, lighting and structuring through planted, generously open green islands.

patient flow and staff
decentralised entrances for emergency admission, staff, visitors, ambulatory and lying patients:
direct drive‑up for ambulance to the emergency admission in the west at the “head” of the function wing (separated from private‑car traffic and deliveries)
southern lying‑patient drop‑off for ambulance and private‑car‑ambulatory transport directly to the respective outpatient areas. for planned admissions to the wards is the immediate ambulance delivery via the “outpatient courts” to the lifts into the wards possible. for ambulatory patients able to walk, direct access from all areas of the hospital grounds to the outpatient level, the lobby. here the distribution over the spacious entrance hall to the registration counters of the respective outpatient clinics, or to the waiting zones in the lobby, occurs. visitors reach the wards directly via the hall. injured patients arriving by rescue helicopter to the hospital are brought from the helipad on the roof of the op tract via a “rescue elevator” to the accident outpatient clinic, the op groups, into the institute for radiology or into one of the intensive units. a second helipad exists on the old surgery wing, which likewise has direct connection to all function units needed for the emergency patient. staff enter the building via the main entrance, or come via the parking deck. the central staff cloakroom is on level –1 with free view, direct ventilation and lighting to the theme courts.

distributors and major circulation paths
horizontal major circulation paths guarantee the smooth, crossing‑free internal distribution of goods, lying and ambulatory patients.
goods distribution underground at the vertical arteries. integrates the tunnel system of the existing buildings and terminates at the logistics centre.
lying patients located on levels 1 and 2 (areas of low visitor frequency)
ambulatory patients and visitors – distribution in the central lobby.

energy centre, logistics centre
situated as a separate technical building on the west side of the building complex, with direct connections on all floors, thus also enabling e.g. a separate central sterilisation to be connected directly to the op (reverse dirty/clean sequence). the underground supply collectors are directly connected to the energy centre/logistics centre.

construction phases & development possibilities
starting with the logistics centre and energy centre in the west of the available area. due to the elevation of the parking deck the existing collectors with the technical infrastructure below remain untouched as they are overbuilt. the development steps of the construction phases proceed eastwards.

construction during operation
the new building is erected without significant contact points and entirely independently of the existing buildings. thereby the undisturbed operation of the existing hospital facility is guaranteed. only after completion of the new building does the relocation from the existing clinics take place. during construction no significant provisional measures or relocations are expected.

surgery east
after completion of phase 1 and commissioning of the op area in the extension, the existing building can be refurbished. via a bridge on the 1st upper floor the future surgery east will be directly connected to the hall of the extension. fundamentally it is intended to use the building primarily as a bed house, partly this is already the case in upper floors 4, 5 and 6. additionally two wards should be located on 2nd upper floor, on 1st upper floor/south another ward. since in this floor the connection to phase 1 takes place, generous open spaces and a café are planned as well as staff rooms and an administrative unit. a functional use of the ground‑floor areas can be considered as another ward. in total as stated above the 132 beds indicated by the client and additional 96 beds in the building should be realised.