Psychiatric hospital in Slagelse
The new psychiatric hospital in Slagelse is the largest and most ambitious psychiatry construction in Denmark in more than 100 years.
The project is a result of a 2-phase competition, won by Karlsson Architects / VLA, and was completed in September 2015. With the total area of 44,000 m2 it consists of general psychiatric, forensic and high security wards, outpatient clinic, emergency reception, training facilities and a center for research and education. The overall capacity includes 194 hospitalized patients and 200-300 daily consultations in the outpatient clinic.
The bearing ideas of the project include the principles of recovery and healing architecture, transparency and proximity between people and functions, universality, flexibility and hierarchy of space and stimuli.
The building is organized and designed in an informal and open way, around eventful unity of spaces and inner courtyard gardens. The separate sections of the hospital are assembled together through common facilities for treatments, activities, training, cooking and outdoor spaces, supporting the innovative organization of the future psychiatrics. The synergy and knowledge sharing between the staff is accommodated through open activity based work spaces designed for the specialists working across treatment, research and education.
For majority of the psychiatric patients, a substantial part of the treatment consists of maintaining social competences and basic skills. Sports and other physical activities are included in the therapy to increase their engagement and activity levels, helping them to adjust better. Patients can access facilities, such as two sports halls, swimming pool and outdoor training areas. Furthermore, more than 40 courtyards and gardens that differ in size and character give a variety of options for outdoor activities for both patients and staff. The inventory and planting supports the notion of changing seasons and supplements with stimulating observations of weather, birds etc.
