Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Nordic Architecture Special – Denmark
New Forensic Psychiatry Sct. Hans Location: Roskilde, Denmark Competition win in 2013 – inauguration 2018 20,000 square metres RUBOW arkitekter in collaboration with KHR Arkitekter, Oluf Jørgensen A/S, Spangenberg & Madsen, WSP UK Ltd, Opland Landskabsarkitekter
Identifying the architectural potential RUBOW architects is a competition-winning practice with a strategy to exploit potential in the brief, in the context, in the group of users, and in the sustainable design – and the firm has the capacity to build it too. It counts 70 people working at a newly refurbished studio in the very heart of Copenhagen. By Nicolai Lisberg | Photos: RUBOW arkitekter
With a special focus on health, assisted living facilities, education and public housing, the core practice at RUBOW arkitekter is ‘Architecture in a (Danish) Welfare Society’ and has been for 30 years. The office is now looking to offer its field of expertise to the neighbouring Scandinavian market as well. Scan Magazine spoke to leading design architect and partner at RUBOW arkitekter, Susanne Hansen, about what drives the studio in a very competitive business. “It’s all about focusing on the lifeblood,” Hansen says without a second of a doubt, describing how she and her colleagues approach a project. “Our work is targeted to meet and exceed the expectations of our clients. In general, we identify the potential of a given project with a strong focus on sustainability and the human needs to create a viable environment,” says Hansen.
Complexity of the brief and the human angle Designing a Forensic Psychiatry Hospital implies a contradiction within the brief: 82 | Issue 93 | October 2016
natural materials, connects common facilities with strong architectural identity,” Hansen says and adds: “Instead of focusing on the entire building, we focus on the lifeblood of it. That’s where the quality comes from.”
patients are locked up during their stay, making it a place of both captivity and healing. “The terrain of the plot at Sct. Hans is magnificent, and it was obvious for us to work with nature’s healing effect. By using the descending terrain as a natural boundary in the disposition, the team made it possible for all bedrooms to overlook the surrounding landscape. In order for that to happen, we had to look at each bedroom individually. That was the lifeblood of this project,” Hansen explains. Designing welfare institutions is designing architecture that cares for people. RUBOW arkitekter won the competition to design a new hospital for the treatment of eating disorders with a basic design strategy for ‘Healing Architecture’. “To ensure the experience of a welcoming and attractive treatment environment, we proposed a strong, warm interior design to help inner flow and wayfinding. An architectural spine in close connection to the surrounding landscape, clad in warm
Architectonic wayfinding at the 5,600-squaremetre-large hospital for eating disorders, a competition win in 2014 with inauguration due autumn 2017. RUBOW arkitekter in collaboration with Wessberg A/S Rådgivende ingeniører and Bang og Linnet Landskab.
For more information, please visit: www.rubowarkitekter.dk