Healthcare
H. Catharina Residential Care Centre: a warm home in Zonhoven
Right next to the historic monastery, H. Catharina Residential Care Centre has been given an entirely new building that brings care, village and community closer together. The fully renewed campus has transformed into an open, welcoming place where residents, visitors and neighbours naturally meet. Small-scale living, warmth and quality of life were the guiding principles for this forward-looking project.
- Expertise:
- High-performance buildings, Health & life sciences
- Client
- vzw Christelijke woon-en zorgcentra
- Location
- Zonhoven
- Services
- architecture, structural engineering, infrastructure, building services engineering, interior design
- Partners
- Heedfeld, Willemen Bouw
- Architect
- Sweco Architects
A masterplan that restored space and care quality
Sweco developed a masterplan that gradually transformed the former closed care site into a vibrant village hub. The challenge was significant: achieving a high-quality care concept on a site that was completely built up. Through smart phasing and strategic space optimisation, the campus reopened itself towards the village, the school and the inner garden. The result is a permeable, inviting environment where care and community reinforce one another.
Small-scale care architecture that radiates warmth
The new building deliberately breaks with the large-scale nature of the previous infrastructure. The star-shaped volumes with small living groups give residents a recognisable, homelike place to live. Each living group shares its own “little square”: a warm communal area where neighbours can truly connect.
The volumes face the street, public domain and inner garden, ensuring a harmonious integration with the scale of the village. On the school side, an inviting forecourt was created, while the tranquillity of the existing assisted-living units has been fully preserved.
A campus that connects: care, school and village as one
The masterplan strongly focused on integration with the surroundings. By redesigning circulation flows, the heart of the site became entirely low-traffic. Cars and logistics move along the edges; residents, visitors and schoolchildren circulate safely through the central area. The cafeteria and multipurpose spaces were made accessible to the neighbourhood. As a result, the care centre now forms a natural part of social life in Zonhoven.
Sustainable building with a future-proof vision
The design was executed with minimal ecological impact as a core objective. In collaboration with Heedfeld Engineering, concrete core activation was implemented throughout the new building, ensuring a stable and energy-efficient indoor climate. The building typology, choice of materials and flexibility anticipate future care needs, making the centre ready for generations to come.
Smart phasing: renewing without losing rooms
The phased approach allowed the care centre to remain fully operational during construction.
- Phase 0 – creating space
The central wing of the existing building was demolished to create space for the first new volume, with minimal impact on operations. - Phase 1 – maximising new rooms
Three floors with 23 rooms each were built, together with a logistics basement. After the first relocation, the right wing was demolished, and freed-up areas were temporarily used for offices and therapy spaces. - Phase 2 – completing the new construction
The remaining 36 rooms were realised at a safe distance from the school. After the second relocation, the final old wings were demolished and landscaping began. - Final phase – commissioning
The renewed care centre is now fully in use and offers residents a modern, warm living environment.
Comfortable care rooms with a homelike identity
The rooms were designed with short walking distances, efficient care processes and maximum privacy in mind. Residents enjoy comfort, care support and flexibility within a single space. Each door received a personal identity, using warm materials and space for individual decoration. This gives every resident a recognisable, personal place, reinforcing the feeling of home.
An integrated campus that strengthens village life
With this renewal, Zonhoven now has an open, fully integrated care campus that embraces both residents and neighbours. H. Catharina Residential Care Centre is now firmly rooted in the heart of the community. A place where care, warmth and connection come together.
