HISTORY

An ambitious project along the River Lys for the OCMW (Belgian Public Social Welfare Centre) Kortrijk. The OCMW site is situated on the island that is formed by the two branches of the Lys. The hospital, the OCMW administration and the technical services were situated in either recent or rather old buildings without unity or structure. As from 1991 we worked on the global design in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works, the Waterways Board, the intermunicipal company, Leiedal and the municipal services. Thanks to its location near the city centre and between two branches of the Lys, there is a strong interaction with the Leie Project, under which the Leie will be widened, the Reep Bridge will be demolished and a new bridge will be built (Gerechtshofbrug) and the Buda Bridge is replaced.
The hospital’s facade was refurbished so that it defines the environment of the Reepkaai to a great extent.

The massive black wall has very large windows offering a great view of the river and serves as a bearing for the distinctive glass construction on the outside. This glass cone segment constitutes a reference object on the inside as well as on the outside. It creates a glass awning above the entrance and is situated exactly opposite the new Gerechtshof Bridge that will connect the Reepkaai with the city centre. The internal and external circulation patterns were optimised within this broader context. The accessibility of the site was drastically altered and a new building connects the various hospital functions. It has a pivotal role for the existing hospital and the new parts: the new entrance with reception and cafeteria, a new wing with beds in Reepkaai and a new emergency department next to the inner area.

On the inside, the simple and coherent architecture contributes to the spatiality of the reception, the circulation spaces and the cafeteria, with surprising details as a finishing touch.

The hospital’s facilities were rearranged and regrouped logically. We worked in phases in order to guarantee continuity.