Design that heals

Karolinska Hospital is one of the largest hospitals in Sweden.
The main goal of the architectural firm White, based in Stockholm, was to create a pleasant atmosphere for patients. White architects have many years of experience in designing hospitals in Sweden and Africa, and have already received several awards for their design work.

It is a very extensive complex, with its expansion completed in 2018.
In their design, the architects primarily emphasized fundamental principles that positively influence patients' stays in the hospital. These principles include daylight, natural materials, views, and larger spaces.

The focus was not only on the interior spaces but also on the building as a whole.
Therefore, the White architects turned to RECKLI, the world leader in the design and manufacture of polyurethane molds and models for structural concrete surfaces.

The building connects to older structures, which was crucial in selecting the individual structural façade of the adjacent hospital. Ultimately, the architects opted for a structure of irregular waves. RECKLI created a custom mold sized 1.20 x 0.80 m, which was then used by Prefa Benders to produce a mockup for the architects.

Models of the individual structure were made on a CNC milling machine. From these models, polyurethane molds were subsequently produced, which were used as inserts in the formwork at Prefa.
In total, there were 8 different models, with a texture depth of 25 mm. The total area of the façade was 4,000 m².

Karolinska University Hospital

Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Concrete Design: Custom
Architect: White Arkitekter
Photo: Magnus Östh