Why study in Stockholm?
That is a question that I get a lot when I am talking about my research and travel fellowship.
There are two big reasons. One is the IVL, link here for more information on them and their role in my studies. The other big reason is White Arkitekter. They are currently working on a very big hospital project, Karolinska Solna.
White describes this project as, “…one of Sweden’s most comprehensive hospital projects ever, and a decisive venture in the realisation of the vision of Stockholm and the Mälardalen area as the world’s premier life science region.”
Six project goals constitute the foundations for the New Karolinska Solna project:
• Healthcare, research and education must be so integrated that they effectively support the development and dissemination of new knowledge for the care of seriously ill and injured patients.
• The project must create attractive, caring environments with high architectural values, both within and adjacent to the hospital.
• The care processes must be rationalised and the utilisation of resources optimised.
• As far as possible, the project must employ general solutions that permit the continual development of activities.
• The hospital and its activities must be given a clear, prioritised role in the city.
• The project must work on the basis of a sustainability perspective at all levels.
These project goals align with the goals that I hoped to realize in my design thesis. Here, I hope to understand how a project of this magnitude is undertaking such goals and implementing them in a real project. Perhaps some of the lessons learned from this project can help positively influence the course of healthcare architecture in the Pacific Northwest.
