Gasthuisberg Outpatient Care Centre

The new outpatient centre on the Gasthuisberg campus of UZ Leuven is a striking example of functional hospital architecture that meets both aesthetic and urban planning requirements. The five-storey new building integrates seamlessly into the urban concept of a densely organised hospital structure, which is being developed as a ‘city on a hill’ within clearly defined boundaries.

The clear, compact building form follows this idea of a compact hospital landscape and emphasises the transition between the city and the clinic with an elevated forecourt accessed via ramps and stairs.

The central architectural elements are three storey-high light channels inside, which visually break up the massive building volume and allow natural light to penetrate deep into the building. These vertical glass façades not only provide light, but also serve a functional purpose: while medical staff access the rooms via open galleries along the light channels, patients reach the treatment rooms via separate corridors. This spatial concept enables smooth processes while maintaining discretion.

The glass façades of the light channels create bright, pleasant rooms – contributing to a healing environment that goes far beyond pure functionality. Here, architecture becomes part of the healing process.