St. Claraspital Basel

BFB Architekten AG, Zürich

Extension and Renovation of the “Clara Huus Basel”

On the grounds of the Claraspital, the existing Hirzbrunnenhaus was replaced by a four-storey new building. In addition to a modern surgical department with eight operating theatres, the replacement building houses two inpatient wards, a central sterilisation unit and a parking facility with a fully automated parking system. The radiology, nuclear medicine and pharmacy departments were also remodelled and modernised.

 Modernisation of the Infrastructure

The conversion took place over several years and phases, concluding in August 2022. The focus was on preserving the existing structure, reorganising departments and modernising the infrastructure. Sustainability requirements and energy efficiency were carefully considered.

Further modernisation measures included optimising the building services (heating, cooling, ventilation) and using renewable energy sources. One of the challenges was to ensure the smooth operation of the existing hospital while construction work was ongoing.

 Fire-Protection Ceilings Meet Multiple Requirements

The decision to install a metal ceiling in the form of fire-protection ceilings (system F90/EI90 with hinge-down cassette and perforation Rg 0.7–1.5% , colour RAL 9010) was based on several factors. Key considerations were fire safety—due to the high density of installations and corresponding fire loads—as well as easy access to installations during operation. “In addition, architectural and design aspects, as well as acoustics, played an essential role,” explained BFB Architekten of Zurich. The collaboration between the architects and Metalit worked very well and was solution-oriented. Clean, well-devised solutions were found for all spatial and design challenges.

Project Participants

Client/Contractor: Isolag AG
Project Manager: Niklas Schmid
Internal Fural Contact: Perrine Rapp