The KSA, Kantonsspital Aarau and its grounds in Aarau, Switzerland, will be transformed into a new large-scale park and high-quality hospital facility. Currently, the grounds consist of a series of dotted landscape pavilions that have proved exceedingly impractical for modern use. Through the demolition of the existing buildings and park redesign, today’s fragmentation will be dissolved, while the green area in the heart of the city will be increased from 75.000 m2 to 94.000 m2. The hospital facilities consolidated into the new “Dreiklang” structure are designed by Burckhardt + Partner AG and wörner traxler richter, while the new hospital grounds are designed by Topotek 1.

The “Dreiklang” is located within the newly designed park, which offers tranquillity and respite for patients, visitors and hospital staff. On the basis of its exceptional situation, the new hospital appears as a large public pavilion. As the key to the architecture to park relationship, the building demonstrates fluidity through transparency and by means of the generous portico suggests openness and provides orientation for visitors.

The existing artworks and the historical garden have been integrated into the redesign of the park. The new restaurant terrace and cafeteria located beneath the portico extend into the park and enhance the impression of interior and exterior synthesis. The entrance and circulation areas, as well as bike racks and short-stay car parking spaces, are arranged so that they are seamlessly connected to the green areas.

The result is the hospital grounds turned into a large-scale public park that offers the necessary elements of a medical facility with a multitude of experiences and impressions of a high-quality green space.