Zentrum für Psychiatrie Friedrichshafen

The 1-3-storey Centre for Psychiatry encloses a generously proportioned green inner courtyard. This sheltered outdoor space opens to the north-west. A bridge frames the sweeping view of the hilly landscape and makes the natural slope of the hillside noticeable even in the inner courtyard.

The Centre for Psychiatry in Friedrichshafen is all about striking the right balance between the ambivalent meanings of the sheltered courtyard. Many patients are not allowed to leave this location at certain times during their approximately two-week stay. The building must not appear hermetic. On the contrary, the opening beneath the bridge metaphorically shows the way out of the psychiatric ward.
Another aspect is the use of simple, often raw materials. The façade is made of rough precast concrete elements and untreated wood. The natural ageing process of the wood will change the building, making it age visibly.
Warm, living materials such as wood create a protective and sheltered atmosphere. Simple materials also create a bridge to everyday life and familiar surroundings, helping patients feel at home.
The use of colour helps with orientation in a complex building structure. Coloured surfaces give the rooms a sense of depth. Wide diagonal views facilitate orientation and make different areas of the building easier for users to understand.