New neuroscience centre a world first
The Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) has revealed its design for a new neuroscience centre at one of Denmark’s major hospitals, and fittingly it mimics the anatomical shape of the folds of the human brain. The centre - touted as a world first by BIG - will bring together psychiatry and neuroscience under one roof combining science and treatment of physical and mental brain diseases, spinal cord and nervous systems.
The design studio says the brain’s ability to gather and connect knowledge inspired its design choices. Founding partner, Bjarke Ingels, says “the brain is the most complex and adaptable organ of the body. Our design of the Danish Neuroscience Centre replicates the essential principle of the brain - the brain folds - providing room for contacts within limited space.
The design deliberately contrasts to typical sterile, white hospitals. All images supplied by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
“The folds are ‘green pockets’ bringing in light and the surrounding green landscape inspiring patients, visitors and staff to go outside and get some fresh air and be inspired by nature and biodiversity to promote both research efforts and the healing process.”
The Danish Neuroscience Centre was established in 2009. Its move to the new 19,000 m2 building will allow it to host around 500 researchers over six floors. A centre spokesperson said one of its goals was to break with the division between physical and psychiatric diseases of the brain, helping to de-stigmatise psychiatric disease.
The architecture is inspired by the anatomical shape of the folds in the brain. All images supplied by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
“The thought behind the building is to make room for networking, for establishing new connections like in the brain and establish common understandings and perceptions and stop seeing somatic (physical) and psychiatric diseases as isolated conditions,” says DNC chairman, Jens Christian Hedemann Sørensen. “The location of the DNC building between the somatic and psychiatric facilities as well as the architectural shape of the building promotes and emphasises this understanding and approach.”
The centre will be the place where knowledge, research, and communication about the diseases of the brain are created. All images supplied by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
Each department from neurology to nuclear medicine, headache clinic and psychiatry has its own distinct space and program functions. To avoid separation and fragmentation between the disciplines, BIG proposes to organise them by the functions they have in common. This encourages crossbreeding between the different research groups that can help fuel inspiration, innovation and creativity, and future proof the spaces for growth, reduction or replacement.
Every fifth Dane is affected by diseases of the brain amounting to $8.5 billion annually covering hospital and home care as well as medicine. All images supplied by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group.
Natural materials throughout the building such as wood and brick, used in other buildings at the campus will bring positive health benefits and a comforting atmosphere to the patients and guests. The red concrete of the exterior will blend well with the existing brick buildings and bring warmth to the spaces, contrasting the usual clinical and sanitised white environment of hospitals.
All office areas in the building are planned to be naturally ventilated and every floor has access to an outdoor terrace. A stretched metal window mesh prevents all workspaces from being affected by glare or direct sunlight, filtering the light to provide each office, laboratory or examination room with pleasant natural illumination. The project aims for a DGBN Gold sustainability certification for hospitals in Denmark. It’s expected to be operational by 2026.