By MVSA Architects

One of the largets hospitals in the Netherlands

Haga Hospital, The Hague

The basic philosophy behind the construction of the new Haga Hospital or 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.

Haga Hospital

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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.

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.

BREAAM-NL Excellent

From the very outset, design work took account of the hospital’s long-term maintenance requirements. Durable materials and smart systems have been used throughout that operate based on natural processes. This culminated in the recent award of BREEAM-NL certification with an ‘Excellent’ rating.