Children’s Hospital BKUS

The Children’s Clinical University Hospital (BKUS) is located at 45 Vienības Avenue in Riga, between Robežu, Indriķu and Oliīvu Streets and Vienības Avenue. Although the main entrance to the hospital area is still in the collective memory of visitors from Vienības Avenue, the time has come to create additional high-profile entrances from other streets adjacent to the area. The proposal in the meta-plan calls for a reorganisation of access to the site from Indriķu Street. In response to the need to functionally link the diagnostic services in the centre of the multifunctional block with both outpatient and emergency care, while separating these two streams, outpatient services are retained in the existing premises 21. The architectural concept has been developed taking into account the landscape and architectural qualities of the Tornakalns and Children’s Clinical University Hospital blocks. The redevelopment creates a new 265 metre long frontage with a pavilion architectural character. A large-scale sculpture, ‘Doctor Stork’, is placed at the entrance to the NICU area, while ‘Doctor Deer’ is placed at the entrance to the combined reception, polyclinic and diagnostic block. The large sculptures will make it easier for visitors to find their way around the hospital, and will also help young patients to reduce the psycho-emotional distance during the treatment process.

The outpatient clinic part is designed on three floors, while the NMPON and the reception area are designed one floor high, which will create a harmonious scale in the surrounding environment. The building blends into the surrounding pine and dune woodland, creating a completely new kind of space that seems to breathe in rhythm with its surroundings. The programme of spaces is organised within this glazed pavilion volume in such a way that the different characters of the spaces can be read at the same time, and a comprehensible movement through the site and the interior of the building is programmed for any visitor. The main aim of the architectural concept is to create a well-functioning and well-thought-out arrangement of spaces, as well as to create pleasure for everyday users.

The design was developed in collaboration with landscape design studio ALPS.