The project is the new building of the Interbalkan Medical Center in Thessaloniki, Greece. The new building is going to serve as the Oncology Centre of the hospital.

The client wanted us to create a contemporary space that would redefine cancer patient care.

Designing the overall geometry of the new building was an exciting process, as the existing hospital comprises of different volumes and complicated geometries.

We opted for a design that would not antagonize the existing but at the same time would be contemporary, fluid and have the minimum environmental impact possible. The new building relates to the main curve of the old one in plan and provides a bright and friendly environment for the patients.

What we are most proud of was also the biggest challenge we faced. The question was how to design the cancer treatment areas in a way that would minimize the discomfort the patients feel. We created a new approach to these spaces by removing the ‘hospital curtains’ and the ‘hospital fear’ and replacing them with warm, friendly spaces with hotel aesthetics. We separated the patients from each other with two rows of wooden louvers which are high enough to ensure privacy but not ceiling high, to avoid feelings of isolation and enclosure. This resulted
in cozy cocoons with warm colours and soft curves.