Carlos Martinez Architekten

An operating casket – For functional reasons, the preservation-listed, Biedermeier-style main building required an extension on its south side to include an operating theatre, as well as a preparatory and a sterilising room. This building task led the implementation team to create two volumes that resemble a jewellery box and accommodate various uses, while contrasting in terms of their materialisation and height.

The main volume accommodates the operating theatre. Its outward formulation is orientated towards the historical façades of the existing building. The contemporary architectural language is articulated in the thematic reinterpretation of the wooden panelling, with its friezes and in-fills. Square basic modules on the walls and roof combine freely with scaled rectangles. The concrete elements are precisely composed around the corners, while staggered module depths give the volumes additional sculptural qualities.

The coarsely plastered exterior of the recessed connecting section contrasts with the smooth surfaces of the concrete elements. Also in light grey, this section has a very reserved appearance. The simplicity is continued indoors. Only occasional interruptions in blue tones accentuate the otherwise reserved white interior spaces. The cool colour accents are appropriate for clinic rooms since they are conducive to recovery.

The Alpine motif of the mural photo-montage by the artist Liliane Eberle in the operating theatre refers directly to the region.