When architecture acts on historical buildings, it becomes responsible for the memory and identity of the place in which it is intervening.

luis vidal + architects has completely refurbished a 19th-century building located in the center of Santiago de Chile, carefully restoring and recovering it piece by piece. At the same time, its proposal included the design and construction of a new building within the existing plot (the General Healthcare Clinic – CESFAM), which aimed to establish a dialogue with the heritage building (a community center now), combining tradition and modernity.

The heart of the project lies in the dialogue between the two buildings that make up the Matta Sur Complex, the old one and the new one, through a homogeneous architectural language based on rhythm, materiality and spatiality. The design of the new building is respectful and discreet to enhance the original building. As a result of this dialogue, a new public space, the plaza, arises as a connecting element between the two centers.

The Matta Sur complex has a program that came out from neighbors’ surveys and is the answer to the challenge of the cities of the future and to what today’s societies need most urgently: more public spaces where neighbors can co-exist, share, be connected, and foster a sense of community. A project that, having been nominated and won on over ten occasions since its opening, keeps getting the attention of media and users worldwide.

Designed to serve as the primary health infrastructure of the province, creating a node of knowledge, innovation and health. The architectural design solves the challenge of merging two existing public infrastructures into a new public-private building.

It is one of the largest hospitals in Europe. It is conceived from the patient’s well-being point of view: curative architecture based on sunlit spaces and therapeutic gardens as elements to diminish stress.

The building is on a hillside just outside the city of Vigo and takes advantage of the slope to gain a privileged position in the field, integrating with the landscape. A clear division of the hospital’s program is created. In the lower part, there is a stone base hosting the outpatient area, above which there is a large garden and public space with all main accesses to the Hospital. The six hospitalization blocks seem to be flying over this base, allowing great views of both the valley and the garden for the inpatients. The inpatient area for diagnosis and treatment is on the highest floor, with specialized and emergency access.

The element connecting the whole complex is a large glass volume that hosts all vertical and horizontal communications for medical staff, patients and visitors, as well as facilities and supplies.

Referential Design: Valode & Pistre.

The Health Service’s commission was to refurbish and extend the existing public Hospital into a new Healthcare Complex, tripling the healthcare area and taking advantage of the change to transform how the staff works, thus achieving a highly efficient hospital. The construction and funding of this project are made through a concession scheme in which health services have public management while non-health services have private management. During the construction phase, we conducted a follow-up work of consultation and technical control of the concessionaire to ensure the quality of the hospital.

The design was conceived to mimic Ibiza’s local architecture by using a fragmented construction that introduced white as the predominant color; despite being the largest building on the island, it is still an integrated part of the surroundings. The building extension doubles the existing surface area, housing all healthcare services, while the existing building is refurbished to house supplies and logistics facilities, freeing up ample space for future expansion and other uses.

Can Misses Hospital has been chosen Best Public Service Architecture in the European Property Awards.

This new educational and health campus will be located in the heart of Pueblo Bávaro, a mixed-use area of approximately 5.4M square feet. The project’s first phase will develop the design of a master plan to offer a solution that will lead to an innovative solution model that will serve as a reference for the entire Dominican Republic.

The concept of the project is about carrying out a unique and ambitious idea, joining in an unprecedented model of different uses: health, training and information, within a framework of shared and innovative development, which allows a harmonious coexistence of the various services and transforming the space into an urban catalyst of the environment: a Clinic Express or Primary Care Center under the “walk-in clinic” model; a General Hospital Center; a hub that groups the Medical Offices, Laboratory and Pharmacy; and a stand-alone Convention Center.

The resulting layout aims to show a homogeneous image of the intervention, structured along axes, flexible and contemplating the possibility of future growth. In addition, it seeks to create a sustainable and profitable service, proposing a functional, feasible, atypical model that provides added value to its environment, which stands out for its excellence and is, above all, profitable.

This newly built hospital is the first of a new type of hospital for the 21st Century, based on two main concepts within healthcare architecture. “Curative architecture” focuses on the patient’s well-being through careful architectural and interior design studies. Analyzing key aspects such as natural lighting and the creation of therapeutic gardens. Plus, the “Airport Hospital” concept, developed through the relevant experience that our team has gained in airport design, applies a methodology dedicated to the reduction of passenger stress and an improvement of the experience through optimized circulation, spatially explicit routes, and visual connections between the different areas within the building.

This strategy contributes to creating an efficient hospital with a modular scheme that allows for future extensions and maximum flexibility. It is well-connected and has segregated routes for flows of different natures, such as staff vs. patients, thus optimizing facilities and minimizing redundant areas, achieving a recognizable image and an integrated building. The building is organized along a central spine, which connects six different satellite buildings of different sizes and colors, helping the user to orientate within the building and to create clear and identifiable spaces.

Regarding environmental responsibility, sustainable strategies have been implemented in all design phases, applying both passive and active measures for controlling energy consumption and minimizing environmental impact.

The construction of the new Cauquenes Hospital is part of a network of three health infrastructures of medium complexity, which will all serve the area of influence of the Cauquenes, Constitución and Parral provinces. They will work under the jurisdiction of the Maule Health Service within the homonymous region. The new Cauquenes hospital will serve 60,000 people in roughly 439,156 square feet, with 136 beds, three operating rooms, 25 consultation rooms, an emergency service, diagnostic and therapeutic support services, and administrative and industrial support areas.

The building is developed from North to South, following a “double comb-shape” typology that takes advantage of the existing slope of the plot. The primary access and public circulations are located alongside the East axis (on the upper level), while the internal circulations are to the West (on the lower level). All other units are located across this axis, with ER to the North and General Services and supplies to the South. The segregation of these circulations results in functional, operational and energetic efficiency.

A series of active and passive measures have also been implemented to guarantee energy efficiency: sun breakers, Low-E glass, solar panels and native vegetation with low water consumption, among others. In addition, given the high risk of seismic activity in the country, seismic isolators have been incorporated to ensure the regular operation of the hospital in the event of a catastrophe.

The Cauquenes Hospital goes a step further, creating public spaces for citizens and using color to integrate the building into the city as a landmark. Cauquenes is known for its wine cultivation and pottery tradition, so red and ochre tones have been chosen to distinguish the proposal, acting as a catalyst for the improvement of the municipality’s urban, economic and social life.

The Constitución Hospital will serve 57,573 people from the Constitución and Empedrado communities, with an estimated area of 403,797 square feet. It will have the capacity for 111 beds, three pavilions, 22 consultation rooms, emergency care services, diagnostic and therapeutic support, and administrative and industrial support services to meet the demand for healthcare in the area.

According to the current community regulatory plan, the new Constitución Hospital is located on Río Maule Street and next to the Copihue Village. The site has an area of 788,000 square feet, adjoining to the north with Calle Prieto, Arnoldo Opazo and Forestal Arauco S.A. To the south with other property owners and Villa Verde One. To the east with a free plot and to the west with Maule Street.

The site is located at 129 meters above sea level. Concerning the topography, it is a vast plot, characterized by irregular topographic conditions, with a notable downward slope from Rio Maule Street to Prieto Street. Significant ravines are observed at the bottom of the site, which follow the natural condition of the terrain, with height differences of approximately 20 m. The portion of land parallel to Rio Maule Street has the most favorable topographic condition compared to the rest of the site.

Taking advantage of these conditions, the building is developed from North to South, organizing itself as a spine, integrating concepts of functional, operational and energy efficiency.

The Parral Hospital will serve 58,392 people from the Parral and Retiro communities, with an estimated area of 422,515 square feet. It will have the capacity for 121 beds, three pavilions, 22 consultation rooms, emergency care services, diagnostic and therapeutic support, and administrative and industrial support services to meet the demand for healthcare in the area.

The new Parral Hospital will be located on Route L-84, Camino a Catillo Nº 420, Commune of Parral, Maule Region. It corresponds to the Urban Expansion Zone ZE-2, according to the Community Regulatory Plan, in force since 1990, and allows the construction of health establishments.

The site has an area of 581,790 square feet, bordering to the Northeast with Villa Pilar Dos, Calle Dos and Camino Publico a Catillo. To the Southeast, with land owned by Graciela Concha Benavente. To the Southwest, with two plots, one owned by Sociedad Fuente Concha Limitada and the other by Graciela Concha Benavente. To the Northwest, with Calle Doctor Mario Mujica and Villa Pilar Dos.

The land is located 939 meters above sea level. Concerning the topography, it has a predominantly flat morphology and without noticeable differences in level.

Taking advantage of these conditions, the building is developed from North to South, organizing itself as a spine, integrating concepts of functional, operational and energy efficiency.

When architecture acts on historical buildings, it becomes responsible for the memory and identity of the place in which it is intervening.

luis vidal + architects has completely refurbished a 19th-century building located in the center of Santiago de Chile, carefully restoring and recovering it piece by piece. At the same time, its proposal included the design and construction of a new building within the existing plot (the General Healthcare Clinic – CESFAM), which aimed to establish a dialogue with the heritage building (a community center now), combining tradition and modernity.

The heart of the project lies in the dialogue between the two buildings that make up the Matta Sur Complex, the old one and the new one, through a homogeneous architectural language based on rhythm, materiality and spatiality. The design of the new building is respectful and discreet to enhance the original building. As a result of this dialogue, a new public space, the plaza, arises as a connecting element between the two centers.

The Matta Sur complex has a program that came out from neighbors’ surveys and is the answer to the challenge of the cities of the future and to what today’s societies need most urgently: more public spaces where neighbors can co-exist, share, be connected, and foster a sense of community. A project that, having been nominated and won on over ten occasions since its opening, keeps getting the attention of media and users worldwide.