Vincent Callebaut Hospital Campus in Belgium
Vincent Callebaut We designed a biophilic HOSPIWOOD hospital campus of Belgium The aim is to enhance sustainability and patient experience and recovery. The project will consolidate the local hospital network into a 14-hectare campus designed to prioritize sustainability and provide quality healthcare. HOSPIWOOD is positioned to accommodate different functions within the urban landscape and serves as a link between the Busset and Longtain hubs, contributing to the overall vitality of the city. At its core, HOSPIWOOD is committed to environmental responsibility and community well-being. The project’s master plan incorporates features such as solar-powered parking, rainwater harvesting systems, and green space to promote efficient resource management, reduce environmental impacts, and strengthen local ecosystems. Masu.
All images by Vincent Callebaut
Patient-friendly modern hospital infrastructure
architects With the introduction of various structures such as Building K, Ponte Vecchio, Vertical Forest and Medical Logipole, we aim to break away from traditional hospital design and aim for a more integrated and environmentally conscious approach. Building K is connected to the tripod core of Tivoli Hospital, whose construction is currently underway. The Ponte Vecchio serves as an inhabited bridge connecting the amphitheater with various medical staff facilities, including restaurants, meeting rooms, and administrative offices. Straddling Max Bussetto Street, it directly connects the K Building to the new Longtain Hospital and features a dynamic spiral architecture symbolizing the hospital’s partnership. Vertical Forest embodies the new Longtain Hospital, which features his 600 rooms on 66,500 square meters in a medium-rise building. Its soft curves create a biophilic atmosphere that promotes health and tranquility. The circular base has technological platforms arranged around a large patio, atrium and garden.
A biophilic hospital campus that promotes sustainability and patient-centered care
On the first floor, a flower-shaped atrium integrates the reception hall and store, with various medical services distributed across the four petals of the circular plan. The ground floor houses intensive care, intervention platforms and other specialized units, following a similar layout. The logistics basement is accessed via a surrounding circular moat, facilitating seamless flow management while minimizing visual and auditory disturbances. Medical Logipole serves the logistics needs of the La Louvière site and other network locations. Located north of the roundabout on the Boulevard Urbain de l’Est, it is directly accessible from the road and connected by a glass pedestrian bridge to Longtain Hospital. The campus integrates complementary features such as intergenerational housing, retirement housing, and recreational facilities within a master plan that promotes urban diversity and integration.
Promoting design that incorporates nature
Green infrastructure and sustainable solutions
Hospiwood aims to develop a true eco-neighborhood where residents can enjoy living, working and receiving medical care. The project focuses on efficient and balanced management of resources and flows, maximizing site assets while protecting the environment. The project integrates elements of the ecological and solidarity transition, such as urban greening, the use of renewable energy and sustainable transport. The master plan employs a radial and concentric layout, directing flow toward a central atrium that serves as a public urban hub. The architecture is in harmony with the landscape and incorporates features such as wind turbines and recycled mine residue. Landscape protection includes combating soil anthropogenicity by transforming the Longtain site into a lush urban forest. This includes planting native trees, fostering native biodiversity and installing rainwater harvesting systems. A notable feature is the tree-lined ravine along the New Boulevard Urban de l’Est, which acts as a rainwater filtration pond and provides residents with a tranquil environment. This holistic approach pays homage to the region’s industrial, cultural and natural heritage and enriches the community’s identity.
An environment-friendly city where you can live, work, and enjoy medical care
A solar car park with a solar powered canopy is designated for staff, patients, visitors and logistics. These parking lots are strategically located in concentric bands near the hospital, surrounded by large hedges, and 50% of the parking spaces are grassed to promote soil drainage. . The trees on the site are planted along this concentric hedge. The vertical landscape is also remarkable. A rooftop garden, including a medicinal garden, adorns the eco-district and provides a shared space for caregivers and patients. These gardens are protected by shade canopies and generate electricity and hot water for patient rooms. Geothermal exploration will ensure year-round comfort with an additional solar canopy covering the logipole, totaling 7,350 square meters of solar roof for Longtain Hospital. More than 2.5 kilometers of planters line the windows of the care units, providing a soothing green environment for hospitalized patients. Connect these planters with rain chains to channel rainwater from the rooftop garden. This vertical forest is home to more than 20,000 plants and absorbs up to 120 tons of CO2 per year, promoting bioclimatization and lowering temperatures by 3 to 5 degrees for patient comfort. This comprehensive approach reflects a commitment to citizen welfare and environmental stewardship.
