St. Olav’s Hospital, Women and Children’s Centre

The Women and Children’s Centre is located on the eastern side of the square along Olav Kyrres Gate, which forms the main axis and central plaza of the hospital campus. The building is connected by bridges to the Neuroscience Centre to the north, the Laboratory Centre to the south, and the Movement Centre to the west.

Brick façades anchor the centre within the hospital’s overall architectural identity, while the volumetric composition gives the building a distinct character and contributes to variation within the new district. Large square openings in the upper floors lend the façade a light and open appearance, further emphasized by glass surfaces drawn outward to the façade line. Facing the inner courtyard, the façades are executed in steel, glass, and wood, creating a combination of reflection and warmth. The courtyard serves as a recreational space for patients and staff and is integrated into the centre’s therapeutic environment. On the ground floor, circulation areas open directly onto the courtyard, as do the school facilities.

The project balances calmness and dignity for adult patients with colors and dynamics tailored to children’s needs. In patient rooms and care areas, technical elements are subdued through integrated solutions. Each ward is distinguished by a clear color palette, while corridors vary in width, rhythm, color, and lighting. Selected walls are kept free of technical installations to provide space for artistic decoration.

Generous daylight in corridors and communal areas creates pleasant spaces for rest and interaction, supports efficient use of space, and ensures a legible building structure that facilitates easy orientation.