Dietger Wissounig Architekten
Josefhof healthcare facility
Description
The Josefhof Healthcare Facility in Graz, owned by an Austrian insurance
company, is a centre of excellence for in-patient care, the promotion of health
and disease prevention. Three narrow, elongated structures are set into the
arena-like topography in such a way that the buildings sometimes appear to
hover over, at others to be embedded into the terrain. Views of the surrounding
landscape influenced the spatial concept for the building: the entrance area,
dining rooms and bar offer views both towards the south and north. The
structures below are staggered in such a way that the planted roofs are at
parapet height of the level above. All 120 rooms have a clear view of the
cultural landscape. In addition to the views, the seminar area and the busy
primary care clinic also offer unobstructed ground level access to the natural
evironment. The bathing and sauna area is located in the southern structure
directly at the topographical base of the area with a clear view of the
woodchip track and the pond area. All areas are barrier-free and quickly
accessible. The load-bearing structure of the building has been reduced to an
economical and highly cost-efficient way of building, which allows for a very
high degree of prefabrication. The timber structure is situated above the
floors built into the slope which are made of reinforced concrete. One of the
architects’ key aims was to highlight the natural quality and visibility of the
materials and the construction.