Description
The institute, a specialised hospital with state-of-the art medical equipment, integrates departments for neurosurgery, neuro radiosurgery, and neuro radiology. It is to become a global leader as a ”Centre of Excellence” for research and treatment of neurological diseases.
In order to represent medical competence and innovation the clients looked for a unique architectural concept with a great sense of identity. The result is a 38 m tall, nine-storey sculptural building modelled after a human head or cerebrum respectively.
The building forms part of the Hanover Medical Park in the northeast of the city and is located adjacent to the Medical College and further non-academic research facilities. The landscaping of the 27,000 m² site is split into four areas. A large open stair to the east provides access to the building. To the north, there is staff parking; to the south, parking for visitors is located. A generously laid out hospital park stretches towards the west.
In contrast to what one might expect when looking at the curved exterior, the interior of the institute is based on a clearly structured layout. At the centre of the elliptical plan is an oval glazed atrium around which all spaces are arranged on a strictly orthogonal grid. On the ground floor, the cafeteria and reception are situated, on the first floor the neuro radiological clinic, on the second to fourth floor the patients rooms, on the fifth floor the surgery area with intensive care unit, and on the sixth and seventh floor therapy and doctors areas. The layout and central vertical access provide optimal orientation.
The façade consists of three glazed layers. The inner layer is composed of a post-and-beam structure. The outer layer consists of alternating transparent, translucent, white, coloured, or screen-printed panels. Inclined glazed balustrades of the exterior maintenance walkways form the third layer. The different glazing finishes and the layered arrangement create a lively pattern of shadows, reflections, and distortion effects.
The printed glazing in front of the post-and-beam structure blurs the position of the storeys and symbolises the texture of the cerebrum. The cerebellum is visualised by a curved concrete wall with an aluminium curtain wall without openings that contrasts with the rest of the building.
Drawings
Originally published in: Hardo Braun, Dieter Grömling, Research and Technology Buildings: A Design Manual, Birkhäuser, 2005.