The theme of healing architecture forms the base of the creation of this proposal for a
Cancer Health Care Centre in Copenhagen based on a competition brief from 2009.
The site of the Cancer Health Care Centre is on one side located in a scenic area, with the
park to the North and the characteristic De Gamles By with classical red brick buildings in a
strict symmetrical layout and an oasis like character, defined by greenery and tranquility. On
the other side it is situated in the urban, dense area of Nørrebro, with busy main streets and
large building blocks, such as the Panum Institute neighbouring the site and Rigshospitalet.
The location defines two different types of contexts and scales, in which the Cancer Health
Care Centre should mark itself as well as complement and respect.
Many cancer patients visiting the centre come from the main streets of Nørrebro bording
the site, as well as from the Rigshospitalet on the other side of the traffic junction, why the
relation to this part of the side is evident.
Healing architecture and the underlying concept of evidence based design is analyzed in relation
to needs and conditions of cancer patients, to understand the relevance and how it can
be implemented to create a soothing, healing environment, where they can retreat before,
after or in between the harsh treatments, to get support, to meet others and to participate in
various recreative activities.
Various cases of cancer centres are studied in Scotland and Denmark to further gain practical
experience of the atmosphere and ambience and the architectural effects utilized, to
supplement the theoretical knowledge gained about evidence based design factors of healing
architecture. The conclusions of the theoretical and practical knowledge are summed up in a
small evidence based design guide that forms the base of the design process.
The evidence based design guide deals with factors of light, acoustics, relation to nature
flow, personal and social space as well as the importance of a qualitative indoor climate.
These parametres have together with the contextual factors formed the base of the project
through different phases and combined with the desire to comply with the Low Energy Class
2, it has resulted in a proposal for the Cancer Health Care Centre which integrates evidence
based design to create a comfortable, sustainable and healing environment with a domestic
atmosphere that accommodates the cancer patients and their