Wuzhen Medical Park

In Wuzhen, a rehabilitation clinic in the character of a hotel was built to a design by Architects von Gerkan, Marg and Partners (gmp). The developer is a German hospital operator who has worked in cooperation with Chinese partners.

The facility lies in a landscape with many waterways. An ensemble of two- and three-story courtyard houses has been grouped around a lake in a park, inspired by the idea of a “water city”. The water of the waterways is filtered naturally, thus ensuring careful and sustainable use of resources.

The architectural character of the buildings is defined by strong contrasts in the materials, light, and color, both inside and out. The deeply staggered facades provide natural solar screening and thereby reduce the energy required for cooling.

The clinic is accessed via a reception building with room-high glazing. The offices and the restaurant, with a view from the terrace over the entire development, are on the upper floors. Link buildings provide the connection to the neurological and orthopedic departments. The patient rooms are accommodated in the upper floors. The ensemble was rounded off with two residential buildings for hospital staff, as well as a plant building.

The design reflects the overall objective: an atmospherically stimulating architecture that supports the recovery of patients through its spatial diversity, well-designed landscaping, and moderately sized buildings.