Children’s Hospital Kepler University Hospital KUK, Linz (AT)

The existing children’s hospital wing on the medical campus of the KUK, built in 1956, no longer meets today’s requirements and is to be rebuilt. In addition, a company kitchen including a staff restaurant is planned, as well as the expansion of the central warehouse and waste centre. Our concept separates the different functions architecturally into a compact, rectangular hospital building and the polygonal kitchen and restaurant block, connected by a two-storey bridge at base level.

Children’s Hospital
The hospital building consists of a functional base and the bed wing built on top of it. The staggered cube-shaped volumes on the upper floor open up new visual relationships and avoid vis-à-vis situations in order to increase the well-being of the patients. The new building contours provide terraces and roof gardens with numerous recreation areas for parents and playgrounds for children.
Inside, a spacious two-storey reception area creates an inviting arrival hall for visitors and staff. The central spiral staircase serves as a hub and connects the various functional areas. A superordinate development axis ensures clear orientation and varied visual relationships.
The PICU and cardiology are located on the first floor, with the surgery area above. On the third to fifth floors, the patients’ rooms are surrounded by terraces and roof gardens. Light-flooded rooms and wide views of the countryside characterise the identity of the children’s hospital. The structure and organisation is clearly legible for visitors, the paths to the support points are short and lead around the inner courtyards, which provide the staff’s workplaces with daylight.

Company kitchen and restaurant
We have accommodated the company kitchen and restaurant in a block arranged at an angle to it. This wing is the heart of the campus area; all wards are supplied from here with food trolleys. Functionally separated lifts transport workers to the dining and preparation areas on the first floor. The two-storey dining hall with its spacious terrace offers an attractive view of the park opposite. Several levels invite communicative exchange between colleagues. The clinic management offices are located on the top floor, with attractive views of the atriums and gardens.

Client: Kepler Universitätsklinikum Linz
Architecture: Dietrich | Untertrifaller with Delta Podsedensek Architekten
Competition: 2022, recognition
Capacity: Patient and functional wing, company kitchen, staff restaurant, central warehouse, waste centre

Renderings: Dietrich | Untertrifaller