ST. VINCENTIUS KRANKENHAUS ANTWERP
An attractive forecourt has been added to the St. Vincentius Hospital in Antwerp, following extensive new construction and renovations. During the night hours, WE-EF luminaires light up the newly-designed space and the hospital’s heritage-protected building facade.
St. Vincentius Hospital provides state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options and more than 300 beds, thereby making an important contribution towards the provision of medical care in the Antwerp region.
Faced with a chronic lack of space and partially outdated building technology, the hospital decided to undertake a series of comprehensive improvements in 2008. The hospital’s historic architectural characteristics – the chapel, clinker brick facade and main entrance towers – were restored in line with Belgium’s heritage requirements, including the construction of the new wing that complements the original structure.
The decision to build an underground parking garage provided the builder with a number of options regarding the outside space. Instead of an asphalt parking area, the entrance to the hospital has been turned into an attractive space with trees and green zones. It invites patients, employees and visitors to rest for a while, but also functions as a public space for the city quarter that surrounds the hospital. This conversion has benefited the entire building complex. In fact, the forecourt allows for an uninterrupted view of the historic building front, which can now be experienced as an integral part of Antwerp’s cityscape.
A meticulously co-ordinated lighting concept, which was implemented using WE-EF luminaires, ensures that the architectural qualities of the hospital can be fully experienced at night. ETC130 inground uplights illuminate the historic hospital facade with grazing lights. FLC230 and FLC240 projectors accentuate ornaments and details. Metal halide lamps are used as the light source for all luminaires and their colour spectrum lends a warm atmosphere to the red clinker brick.
The forecourt itself is lit by VFL540 LED street and area lighting luminaires. [S70] lenses with an asymmetric ‘side throw’ light distribution ensure even, glare-free lighting. The flat design of the luminaire bodies is in keeping with the horizontal feel of the surrounding buildings.
The energy-conscious builder was also impressed with the low connected ratings of the WE-EF VFL540 LED luminaires. With only 28 W per luminaire, the forecourt lighting system is one of many measures that ensure the energy-saving operation of St. Vincentius Hospital.
Architects: De Vloed Architektenburo Nv, Heusden-Destelbergen, Belgium
Lighting design: De Klerck, St Michiels, Brugge, Belgium