Over the past decade, St. Martinus Hospital in Bilk has undergone extensive expansion. This transformation extended to the heart of the facility, originally established in 1859. A cornerstone of this modernization is the new emergency department with its dedicated ambulance access. The Langenfeld-based architecture firm Füchtenkord Architekten guided the planning process. Specializing in healthcare construction with proven expertise in retrofitting existing structures, they brought deep institutional knowledge to the project.

The old ambulance access on Gladbacher Straße no longer met emergency services standards, and the existing emergency room required significant renovation. The new location at the hospital's south entrance—accessed via Völklinger Straße—delivers optimal logistics for emergency responders, provides four parking spaces, and welcomes visitors with clear, intuitive wayfinding. The proximity to the radiology department in the same wing adds another operational advantage. Inside the new Central Emergency Department (ZNA), a carefully planned layout maximizes efficiency. Three fully equipped examination rooms, two treatment and isolation rooms, and an open treatment area work together seamlessly. Flexible treatment bays ensure patients receive immediate care appropriate to their condition's severity. The open-plan concept promotes transparent triage while keeping staff sightlines clear and walking distances minimal. A separate waiting area for non-critical cases and family members maintains a calm, focused atmosphere in the treatment wing. Wooden wall panels and soft blue tones structure the interior, creating visual rhythm and human scale. For immobilized patients, asymmetrically positioned linear lights provide glare-free illumination. Wall graphics feature microscopic imagery of monochromatic cell structures—a subtle, abstract nod to the medical context that offers anxious or distressed patients a visual anchor and sense of calm.

www.fuechtenkord-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Füchtenkord Architects

(Published in CUBE Düsseldorf 04|23)