Private and communal spheres under one roof

The Trygfonden Family House is open to families of children who have been admitted to the Hammel Neurorehabilitation Centre in Jutland. In beautiful surroundings and a secure environment, families are able to be together during long periods of hospitalisation and rehabilitation.

Sound-absorbing cement-bonded wood wool panels from Troldtekt are often used as acoustic ceilings in healthcare buildings
Photo: Helene Høyer Mikkelsen, architect

The Trygfonden Family House is situated next door to the Hammel Neurorehabilitation Centre, allowing the parents and siblings of patients to be together, while at the same time enabling parents to support their child during treatment or rehabilitation. A total of eight flats, each with their own bathroom and patio, encircle a central courtyard, which is part of the carefully designed and homely communal facilities at the facility.

The design is based on a number of transverse bands to create different zones and ensure transparency throughout the building. At the same time, the scale of the complex is welcoming and supports the homely atmosphere. In all the rooms, there is a strong sense of connection between the indoor and the outdoor environments, not least thanks to the views of the surrounding countryside and the river valley.

Daylight and acoustics

In addition to the daylight and the carefully selected colours and decoration, tactile and warm materials have been chosen for added stimulation of the senses. Inside, wood is a recurring material on the floors and in the kitchens, where families can prepare their own meals.

Troldtekt acoustic panels have been used on the ceilings in the flats, and also in the communal areas and on the exterior overhangs. The result is a holistic and harmonious feel extending naturally from the rooms to the communal outdoor areas.

Søren Rasmussen, an architect at Cubo Arkitekter, says: “The facility is an oasis for families whose daily lives have been removed from their normal context. It offers a chance for the individual families to spend time on their own, but also to seek the company of other families in a similar situation. A strong focus has been on the acoustics and the various physical spaces in the building.”