At the Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology, expertise in the field of care and research is collected at the highest level. The Princess Máxima Center is unique in its nature, and with an area of 45,000 m2, is the largest pediatric oncology center in Europe.
Photography: Ronald Tilleman
Function:
Pediatric oncology hospital with specialist functions: care, treatment, scientific research and educational facilities
Client:
Princess Máxima Center
Location:
Utrecht
The Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology mission is to cure every child with cancer, and with an optimum quality of life. The architecture contributes to this and the interior and exterior are particularly unique. A natural transition has been created between the inside and outside, and between the child and research world. The main route through the building is a meeting place for children, parents, doctors, nurses and researchers.
Development-oriented care formed the basis for the design of the Princess Máxima Center. After all, the child's development continues also in the event of illness. A lot of attention is therefore paid to the child and the family. This resulted in a new concept for the center. The most visible example of this are the patient suites resembling those in luxurious private clinics. These suites consist of a room for the child with a room for the parents connected to it. In this way, family members can naturally stay with their child within a homely atmosphere. Depending on the needs of the parent and the child, the rooms can be connected or separated by a sliding door. A special feature is that each room has access to its own outdoor space and has its own bathroom.
Resources such as daylight, air, the view, the overview and the overall structure are elements that have received much attention to support the healing process. A comforting environment, which supports natural processes such as a day-night rhythm and the experience of the seasons and the weather, will contribute to the recovery and well-being of young patients. Furthermore, each age category has been given its own space designed to meet its specific needs, so that the social-emotional development of the children is optimally stimulated. LIAG has created spaces that make it possible, among other things, to cook and eat together as a family, to take lessons in the classroom or to play with grandma and grandpa.
It had to be a pleasant building, a child-friendly environment, without being childish. A building that radiates optimism and in which you also want to give children an experience. That is why development-oriented care and the healing environment formed the basis of our design. The child's development must continue, even if they are unwell.
The Princess Máxima Center is located next to the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital (WKZ) of the UMC. A colorful connecting bridge connects the Princess Máxima Center with the WKZ so that they can make optimal use of each other's facilities. LIAG has also made the design for this.
Furthermore, LIAG is involved in "participating = growing", an initiative of the TU Delft to design and research interactive products and environments that foster the development of children with cancer.
Landscape Architect: BplusB
Interior Design: MMEK
Landscape architect:
BplusB
Interior design:
MMEK'
Awards:
Publications:
Website:
Prinses Máxima Centrum
