The Emma Children's Hospital, situated on the top floor of the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam is currently undergoing a drastic transformation. The first unit, Infants Care and Staff, became operational in January 2010, next phases ( children, teenagers, oncology, surgery, intensive care, theatre, playgrounds, lounges, terraces and area's for contemplation ) will be completed up until 2013.
In total the project's footprint is 8800 m2.
The architects from OD205 signed up for the architectural design and OPERA Amsterdam is responsible for the interior design. OPERA interpreted the question to modernize the Children's Hospital at a more fundamental level and designed an integrated approach for the project. After all, the EKZ doesn't only treat infants but also young adolescents and all ages in between. Each of these groups requires different surroundings and age-specific facilities, while at the same time the hospital also needs to be perceived as a coherent structure. Besides the (young) patients, the needs of parents en employees can't be neglected.
Naturally the design does not interfere with the primary processes of the hospital.