New Gols Hospital

Good hospital planning is rarely recognized in a single detail.
It becomes evident when daily operations do not obstruct themselves.
Handover points, circulation routes, and interfaces are organized to ensure operational reliability, even under pressure.

For this reason, ATP did not conceive its competition entry for Klinik Gols as a formal gesture.
The design was developed as an operational framework.
Functional sequences, circulation, and the separation of flows shaped the layout — and, in turn, the architecture.

The site calls for restraint – operations call for clarity
The new hospital is set within a landscape that requires no dominance.
The building follows the topography.
It runs north–south, not across the gently sloping terrain.
It is set back from the road to avoid a gate-like situation.

The volume remains at two main storeys.
It integrates quietly into the natural setting.
Only towards the south, facing the service yard, does the slope create a partial additional level.

This restraint is not only urbanistic.
It is operationally consistent.
Compactness minimizes the footprint and supports orientation.
The floor plan structure enables future adaptations and extensions with clarity.

Arrival is the first decisive moment
In ATP’s design for Gols, organization begins at the threshold.
The two-storey entrance hall forms the spatial and operational core.
It welcomes patients and visitors with light and generosity.
Its true performance lies in clarity.

The information point and central reception are positioned directly at the main entrance.
They form one shared point of contact.
Functional areas are legible for external users.

Vertical circulation creates two parallel systems.
Two open staircases and lifts lead patients and visitors upstairs.
Separate internal lifts within the functional zones serve beds and logistics.
Operations are not only guided.
They are spatially decoupled.

The hall opens southwards towards the landscape.
The view extends to the lake.
This gesture invites pause.
It is not decorative.
It acts as a spatial anchor of calm in a tense moment.

Decongestion begins before the door
Many operational conflicts arise at the edges.
Delivery, emergency access, staff entry, visitor flows.
The ATP design team therefore separated the external circulation.

Visitors and self-admitting patients use the first access road.
Emergency vehicles and patient transport arrive centrally at the emergency department and dialysis/oncology.
Staff and deliveries use a separate access in the lower site area.
The heliport is located there as well.

Acute Care as an Integrated Network
On the ground floor, acute care is not arranged side by side. It is conceived as an integrated network. Central emergency care, outpatient clinics and radiology form a compact functional cluster. This proximity strengthens collaboration in daily operations. The layout is organized around two courtyards. Separate circulation routes for patients and staff prevent overlap and reduce friction. Dialysis and day oncology are located in the quieter southern zone. Both have direct external access for patient transport. Circulation remains clear even under unpredictable conditions.

Two Volumes, Two Levels of Installation
The economic core of the project lies in differentiation, not reduction. Compactness and clarity achieve a GFA/NFA ratio of 1.92. The division into two volumes enables structural and technical optimization for each functional zone. The western building houses highly serviced areas such as operating theatres, radiology and emergency care. Its two-storey configuration shortens vertical supply routes. The central ventilation plant sits beneath the hall. The main rooftop plant is located directly above radiology and surgery. The eastern volume concentrates all inpatient wards on the upper floor. A tighter structural grid reflects the lower level of technical installation. The design follows a modular grid throughout. This allows prefabrication and efficient construction processes. Repetitive façade elements support dismantling and long-term adaptability. Sustainability addresses construction, operation and future deconstruction. Lifecycle performance strengthens overall economic resilience.

Energy as Operational Discipline
In healthcare architecture, energy defines reliability. The energy concept for Gols is designed for local resource use and operational redundancy. Heat generation operates as a network. It integrates district heating, heat pumps using internal waste heat, deep geothermal probes and wastewater heat recovery. District heating also serves as backup and peak-load coverage. Low-temperature heat pumps operate in cascade and connect heating and cooling storage systems. Simultaneous heating and cooling becomes possible. Load peaks are balanced. System stability increases even if individual components fail.

Ventilation is treated as an efficiency driver. High-performance heat recovery is standard. Patient rooms use enthalpy exchangers. A preconditioned fresh-air collector interacts passively with geothermal energy. This reduces heating and cooling loads of central units. The system responds to future climate scenarios. A fully utilized photovoltaic array covers a significant share of electricity demand. It supplies heat pumps, ventilation and control systems. The share of renewable energy increases substantially.

Healing as Spatial Organization
All patient rooms face the open landscape. Direct views between rooms are avoided. A protected rooftop terrace opens eastward. Designed outdoor areas connect directly to adjacent functions. These include the kindergarten and geriatric ward in the east. The staff dining terrace lies to the south. The main entrance features a generous forecourt. It connects to a café terrace within a landscaped setting. The surrounding open space extends seamlessly into the natural environment.