{"id":33013,"date":"2025-03-05T20:36:22","date_gmt":"2025-03-05T19:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/?post_type=showroom_cpt&p=33013"},"modified":"2025-09-22T14:20:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T12:20:43","slug":"hospital-network-helora-embraces-modular-design","status":"publish","type":"showroom_cpt","link":"https:\/\/www.swecobelgium.be\/en\/showroom\/hospital-network-helora-embraces-modular-design\/","title":{"rendered":"Hospital Network HELORA Embraces Modular Design"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\"Ziekenhuisnetwerk\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n

Five Next-Generation Hospitals<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Hospital Network HELORA Embraces Modular Design<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The UMC HELORA is embarking on a large-scale project: the reconstruction of five hospitals. This is a unique initiative in Europe, aimed at modernizing healthcare delivery while addressing the ecological and technological challenges of the 21st century.<\/p>\n

To design these innovative infrastructures, a unique collaboration was established between three architectural and engineering firms: Sweco, archipelago, and Tractebel. Together, they are designing the hospital of the future, where modularity, sustainability<\/a>, and user well-being perfectly come together.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n \t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n
\n
Client<\/dt>\n
Hospital Network HELORA<\/span><\/dd>\n
Locations<\/dt>\n
Mons, La Louvi\u00e8re, Nivelles, Warquignies, Lobbes<\/span><\/dd>\n
Expertise<\/dt>\n
Architecture<\/a>, techniques, structural engineering, sustainable design, Digital Engineering, Fire Safety Engineering, Acoustical Engineering, Facade Engineering<\/span><\/dd>\n
Designers<\/dt>\n
Sweco, archipelago, Tractebel<\/span><\/dd>\n
Figures<\/dt>\n
approx. 1,800 beds, 220,000 m\u00b2<\/span><\/dd>\n
Dates<\/dt>\n
2023 – 2031<\/span><\/dd>\n <\/dl>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

With a healthcare region of more than 750,000 inhabitants spread over 42 municipalities in the province of Hainaut, 7,000 employees including 1,000 doctors, the new HELORA hospital network comprises 7 hospital locations and no fewer than 64 medical centers covering the entire area.<\/p>\n

The strategic decision has been made to rebuild 5 of the 7 hospital locations near the existing sites. Each new location will be a next-generation general community hospital with better accessibility. They will all be served by a common logistics center.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\"Ziekenhuisnetwerk\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n
<\/i><\/figure>\n

“The assignment is based on a clear ambition: to simultaneously rebuild multiple hospitals to ensure optimal coverage of the region.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Modular Hospital Design<\/h2>\n

The design is inspired by the metaphor of a living organism, where the basic unit, the cell, multiplies to form an embryo and then develops specific cells for different functions. In the context of the HELORA community hospital, the ‘cell’ represents a modular basic unit that can be assembled and developed into a three-dimensional structure according to a predetermined matrix.<\/p>\n

This matrix follows specific rules that allow different typologies of plans to be generated from a perfectly modular basic unit. Similarly, the various hospitals work together on a larger scale in a ‘network’, just as the cells of an organism are connected and collaborate.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Nature as the Core of Human Well-being<\/h2>\n

The concept literally places nature at the heart of the project, with the courtyard garden serving as a landmark, source of natural light, and fresh air. The connection with nature and outdoor spaces has been rediscovered and is now considered a primary physiological need.<\/p>\n

The courtyard garden, the green heart, is surrounded by a two-level plinth housing the medical-technical and outpatient functions that interact most with the outside world. This plinth is permeable, open, and transparent to its surroundings, creating interesting visual relationships between the central courtyard garden, the functions of the plinth, and the surrounding outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n

The integration of nature and numerous open spaces in the hospital design<\/a> is based on the idea that the proximity of natural elements and the ability to connect with the outside world are essential for human well-being. The garden serves as a protected natural space where patients, staff, and visitors can relax and recharge. The plinth can also evolve in four directions as needed, as an open column structure is used on a proven grid of 8.10 x 8.10 m.<\/p>\n

The hospital section is organized into connected rings of 24 beds, each with 2 generic care units. These interconnected and stacked rings form a community around this central garden. In case of seasonal peaks or future pandemics, each care unit can also be expanded to 32 beds or can rely on the beds of the adjacent unit.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\"Ziekenhuisnetwerk\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Healing Care Environment<\/h2>\n

This innovative hospital typology combines the benefits of compactness and modularity of previous models and has added a central garden of almost half a football field. The presence of greenery and natural elements is an important aspect of the ‘healing environment’ principle, which states that the physical environment has a positive influence on the healing process.<\/p>\n

The structure of the hospital is also designed to have a high degree of versatility, meaning it can be easily adapted to different functions and expanded in all directions. All this contributes to a hospital design<\/a> that is not only functional, flexible, and sustainable but also has a deep human dimension by creating a permanent relationship with nature and outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n

\"Ziekenhuisnetwerk<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\n
\n\t\t\t\"\"\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n \n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
\n\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

High-Quality Standards and Local Identity<\/h2>\n

The near-complete reconstruction of the HELORA hospital network with the same vision at 5 locations is unique. A set of principles, rules, and strategies have been established in a charter to ensure that all hospitals now share common standards while retaining their own identity adapted to the specific context of each location.<\/p>\n

The result is an innovative hospital typology with a unique ‘signature’ that is specific to the HELORA hospital network, specific to the region: human in scale, evolvable, open, and integrated into the urban or rural landscape, close to its residents.<\/p>\n