[The Rikshospital under glass].

Area of Science:

• Medical Architecture
• Hospital Design
• Healthcare Facility Planning

Background:

• The development of the new national hospital, Rikshospitalet, in Oslo.
• The integration of humane architecture principles in healthcare facility design.
• The need for efficient functional arrangement in a large training hospital.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the architectural and functional design of the new Rikshospitalet.
• To highlight the innovative "street" concept and its role in hospital logistics.
• To outline the spatial organization promoting patient contact with surroundings.

Main Methods:

• Architectural conceptualization and functional planning.
• Zoning of hospital traffic and public services.
• Pavilion design for wards to ensure reasonable size and patient proximity to nature.

Main Results:

• A 120,000 square meter national hospital designed with a central "street" under a glass roof.
• Distinct zones for public services, outpatient reception, and hospital traffic.
• Pavilion-style wards projecting from the main building for patient comfort and environmental integration.

Conclusions:

• The Rikshospitalet design integrates humane architecture with functional efficiency.
• The "street" serves as a central hub, facilitating both public access and internal hospital logistics.
• The design aims to enhance patient experience through proximity to nature and appropriately sized ward units.