Rosenthal Health Centre Merges Care Facilities Under One Roof
Swiss architecture firm kit designs integrated healthcare village
1Integrated Healthcare Concept
The Rosenthal Health Centre brings together care, healthcare, and assisted living facilities previously scattered across multiple locations. Designed by Swiss firm kit, the 15,833 m² complex creates a cohesive environment for the Drei Tannen Foundation. The project translates traditional village spatial qualities into a modern healthcare setting, completed in 2021. This integration improves service coordination while maintaining a human-scale environment.
2Architectural Team
Andreas Schelling and Thomas Hüttl led the design team, with Gianet Traxler and Roman Loretan contributing. Technical aspects were handled by Lisa Meissner, Christian Neumair, and Janina Wagner. Multiple engineering consultancies collaborated on specialized systems including civil (AFRY), electrical (Maneth Stiefel), and mechanical (Basler & Hofmann). Parbat Landscape Architecture designed the outdoor spaces, creating continuity between built and natural environments.
3Material Selection
The center prominently features wood and concrete, materials chosen for their durability and warmth. Manufacturers like 4B, Embru, and Bach Heiden supplied specialized components. Huber Fenster provided window systems, while SAW contributed other building elements. These material choices reflect Switzerland's architectural traditions while meeting modern healthcare requirements for hygiene, accessibility, and longevity.
4Spatial Organization
The design organizes diverse healthcare functions into a village-like configuration. Public areas foster social interaction, while treatment zones maintain necessary privacy. Circulation routes balance efficiency with opportunities for incidental exercise. Daylight penetrates deep into the plan through strategic window placement, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and supporting patient wellbeing.
5Photographic Documentation
Ruedi Walti's photographs capture the center's interplay of massing and transparency. Images reveal how the architecture mediates between institutional scale and domestic comfort. The photographic series documents both architectural details and the building's relationship to its landscape context, showing how the design achieves its village-inspired concept.
6Technical Collaborations
Multiple engineering firms contributed specialized expertise: Meier-Zosso consulted on general engineering, AFRY on civil works, Maneth Stiefel on electrical systems, and Basler & Hofmann on mechanical installations. This collaborative approach ensured the complex healthcare facility meets all technical standards while achieving architectural ambitions.
7Operational Impact
By consolidating services, the center reduces patient travel between specialists and improves care coordination. Staff benefit from shared resources and streamlined workflows. The design accommodates future flexibility, allowing spaces to adapt as healthcare needs evolve. This operational efficiency was a key driver behind the foundation's decision to consolidate.
8Healthcare Design Innovation
Rosenthal Health Centre demonstrates how architectural design can humanize healthcare environments. The village concept reduces institutional anxiety while maintaining clinical functionality. This project sets a benchmark for integrating multiple care levels in a single, coherent facility that supports both patients and caregivers through thoughtful spatial organization.
Original article: ArchDaily Global — Rosenthal Health Centre Merges Care Facilities Under One Roof