Hospital CUF Porto Building, Oporto Architecture, Portuguese Building Photos, Architect
Hospital CUF Porto, Portugal
Portuguese Health Development design by MVentura & Associados Arquitectos
post updated 29 September 2021 ; 9 Aug 2010
Location: Porto, Portugal
Architects: Manuel Ventura, arquitecto, Lda, Porto, Portugal
MVentura & Associados – Arquitectos, Portugal
photograph : António Teixeira
Hospital CUF Porto Building
The building is very compact and consists of two overlapping volumetric bodies. The upper volume is coated with glass and steel and is disjointed over a swing of 8 meters on the more opaque body, made of concrete, which forms the base. Thereby protecting the entrance and moving away from the subsequent area, where the scale of the street is smaller.
The coating materials of the upper body provide brightness effects and hues of light that enrich their reading and emphasize the volumetric differentiation inherent to the design of the building. The upper volume mainly houses the parts of the program for use of the general public, namely the internment, while the more technical areas are located at the base, including ‘triage’ assessment and medical and surgical operations.
Adopting a modular structure from which are organized all segments of the extensive and complex program was of special importance to the design of the building. This modulation is visible in the outward expression of the elevations and in the treatment of the large foyer that sections the whole interior of the building.
The foyer is a constructive emptiness that lets in natural light for a far-reaching part of the program located inwards in the more remote areas from the facades. It is a space that allows a global view of the building. As an internal square.
photo : António Teixeira
This design also allows for a simpler guidance and understanding of the organization and location of the various sectors of the hospital.
The structure of the circulations is done through columns of vertical access with stairs and lifts located in the four corners of the large foyer. Staff and goods entrance are through the back and public access is near the entrance.
The waiting areas of outpatients appointments are located in the foyer base, in the floor level -1, which is accessed from the reception on escalators or lifts. The atmosphere created with textures and warm colours materials contrast with the steel and glass coating of the foyer elevations in the upper floors.
The structure and subdivision of the various parts of the hospital program adopted strategic locations taking into consideration their use and accessibility by the public and clinical staff.
From the entrance level and through the foyer there is access to the Imaging Department and Special Examinations, Outpatients Appointments, and Clinical Lab. From the foyer a link was designed through to A&E (named Continuous Care). Because this sector has its direct and independent access from the outside in order to enable hasty access to patient transport vehicles and ambulances. The Continuous Care has separate areas for children and adults. The sectors with the most complex and technical components of the hospital are located in the first floor: Surgery theatres, ICU, Angiography, Laboratory, Clinical Pathology and Outpatients Surgery.
(Much of the technical areas of the building and the administrative offices are located in the second floor).
We decided to dedicate one floor to the theme of obstetrics bringing together the midwifery appointments, paediatrics, and specific internment. Thus it becomes possible to provide a more appropriate treatment to such specific users while allowing more effective responses to their requests.
Internment is organised comfortably in the upper floors without neglecting any efficiency or technical components of services.
The hospital also has a car park with sufficient capacity to support all the flux generated by the hospital traffic.
Photographs: António Teixeira
Location: Estrada da Circunvalação Porto, Portugal, western Europe
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