Hospital of Charleroi

Art & Build were chosen for this project following a call for tenders and put together a multi-discipline team consisting of specialists in hospital architecture and renowned designers. The architects were involved in developing this 550 bed general hospital with six poles and three care units. The final design resulted from continuous dialogue with the client. One of the requirements was a specific consultation area located at the centre of the building, but in contact on each floor with the various accommodation services that are located in the wings of the building. Architecturally, this consultation area has an expression that sets it apart from the accommodation laid out in the H-plan wings, defined by the large areas of red brick. A central street permits easy circulation throughout the complex. Benefiting from the relief, the structure is erected on a black brick pedestal that houses the main medical and technical services: operating theatres, emergency services, intensive care, radiology and so forth. By using an appropriate language to distinguish between the different building components, the architecture creates a functional and signal legibility that is apparent immediately on entering the building.