OPERA Amsterdam designs interior of the Emma Children's Hospital AMC (EKZ)

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.

OPERA defined three principle areas of intimacy: the most private area around the child; that of the child and its immediate surroundings; and that of the child in relation to the outside world. The design had to distinguish and incorporate these three prime areas.

The ‘parade', the main corridor that runs through the hospital much like a high street through a large town, plays an important part in the design. A high street leads off to all the main public spaces in a town: the town square, the zoo, the park, the sports fields, the theatre... but it also leads home and ultimately to the child's bedroom.
OPERA took the metaphor of the high street as the guiding principle for a coherent design. In addition, they created the option of variation by introducing a clever and sophisticated colour scheme that is slightly different in each area. Artists from around the world were asked to create illustrations to fit in with the interior design for the Parade. The signposting came out of the same uncomplicated ‘toolkit'.

At the heart of the design lies its subtle balance between areas with little sensory stimulation, one where the child can withdraw to and enjoy privacy, to areas (a lounge area, a cinema etc.) where there is plenty of stimulus that will connect the child's stay at the hospital with the outside world.

Renovatie Emma Kinderziekenhuis AMC

Initiatiefnemer:
Divisiebestuur Emma Kinderziekenhuis AMC

Opdrachtgever:
Directoraat Huisvesting AMC

Hoofdsponsoren:
Stichting Familieverblijf Emma Kinderziekenhuis AMC
Stichting Steun Emma Kinderziekenhuis AMC

Projectmanagement:
Kronenburg Consult, Arnhem

Architect:
OD205 architectuur bv, Delft

Adviseur installaties:
Grontmij Technical Management, Amersfoort

Interieurarchitect:
OPERA Amsterdam BV, Amsterdam

Lichtadviseur:
Hans Wolff & Partners BV

Adviseur EKZ:
Stevens Van Dijck, Amersfoort

Bouwkundig aannemer:
Medicom Zes VolkerWessels, Amsterdam

Werktuigkundige installateur:
Van Galen Klimaattechniek, Rotterdam

Elektrotechnische installateur:
Imtech Building Services, Amsterdam

Vaste inrichting:
Interfurn B.V., Winschoten

Interieurbouwer:
Bruns, Bergeijk

Illustratoren:
Cristina Guitan, Jose Luis Garcia Lechner, Stang

Fotografie:
Mike Bink