From the outset, the brief for the new hospital building in Helsinki’s Meilahti district was far from straightforward. Intended to replace the no longer fit for purpose Töölö Hospital and cancer centre, it was to house an accident and emergency department, surgical and intensive care unit, phlebotomy and other sample collection facilities, department, outpatient clinic rooms and wards as well as teaching and lecture rooms, a restaurant, cafe and pharmacy. The new hospital would also need to link in with the Tower Hospital and Triangle Hospital buildings next door along with the existing cancer centre facilities scheduled for retention.The site allocated for the project was a misshapen piece of land sandwiched between the existing buildings and streets. In financial terms, at almost €300 million, it would be the largest investment so far the Helsinki and Uusimaa Hospital District.

The client commissioned an invitation-only architectural competition to design the new hospital in 2015. AW2 Architects, B&M Architects, Harris-Kjisik Architects and Brunet Saunier Architecture joined forces to submit a joint bid, ultimately securing first place. Bridge Hospital derives its name from the skybridge that connects the two halves of the building.There are very precise technical and functional specifications that govern the design of clinical areas. When it comes to the patient experience, it’s important that corridors and foyers are comfortable and easy to navigate, and natural light is hugely significant. Outdoor areas matter too. The site was quite constrained, so outdoor terraces were added where patients and their families can come and get some fresh air and look at the horizon.

Another way that patient needs have been met is by ensuring that it is the staff that travel to see the patient, not the other way around. The clinic rooms are built to a back office style layout which means that clinicians can exit them to a shared office space where they can do their admin and talk to colleagues. This feature was added to the floor plan after the competition had finished.

Source: Essi Oikarinen’s review and interview of architects Matti Anttila, Jussi Murole & Hannu Louna in Finnish Architectural Review 2/2023