Curacao Medical Center
Cliënt:
Ballast Nedam International
Program:
Hospital
Location:
Willemstad, Curacao
Year:
2019
Status:
Completed
The new Curacao Medical Center (CMC) marks a major leap forward for healthcare on Curacao and across the Caribbean. Replacing a 164-year-old facility, this state-of-the-art hospital represents a significant transformation in medical care on the island.
Together with architects from OZ and EGM, we designed this 40,000 m² medical center. The new CMC is equipped with the latest technology and meets international standards. We aimed for the design to embrace the local climate and culture, creating a hospital environment where both staff and patients truly feel at home.
First new hospital in 164 years
The journey to the new CMC was long. The previous hospital had been operating for 164 years and was outdated in many ways. Sick patients often could not be properly isolated, with treatments sometimes taking place outdoors—posing hygiene risks. Additionally, the hospital was divided into different classes; those who could afford better care were treated in first-class wards that offered improved healing environments.
The first calls for a new hospital date back to 1963. It took some time but the government of Curacao was determined to build a hospital that would meet international standards. They commissioned the Netherlands Antilles Development Foundation (USONA) to develop it. Our role included building realization, furnishing, and staff training, all aimed at creating a world-class facility.
A big change
Once the contract was awarded, the road to the final result was complex. A project of this magnitude had never been realized before on Curacao. Which meant that no one had ever built a building like this. In terms of regulations, we had to come up with all kinds of constructions that did not exist yet.
On Curacao, many public buildings struggle because the indoor climate is inadequate and they don’t sufficiently support meetings or interactions. With this project, we wanted to change that. This new hospital meant an enormous change for the staff and other users, in terms of moving to a new place and having a new workspace. This was sometimes met with resistance. However, the design was well received due to the designers’ vision and powers of persuasion.
For everyone
Our design puts the patient, staff and visitor first. From the start, it was clear to the design team that the hospital had to become a hospital ‘di nos’. In addition, there was a strong team that believed in the design and knew how to convey this with enthusiasm and conviction at every step along the way. An important milestone in that process was convincing UNESCO to include the hospital in the World Heritage site.
Compared to the old hospital this building differs in many ways. An important feature was to create a pleasant place for everyone, where everyone can get good healthcare no matter their background. Our partner EGM came up with the concept of a ‘hot floor’. Where we separate functions to create a better environment for the users.
The hot floor is where the heavy medical procedures happen. On the other side, in the wings – recognizable by their different colors – we wanted to create the wards. In between the wings there are several green areas or communal gardens. We have turned all the wings a bit so that people in the recovery rooms can enjoy the beautiful view of the Mangrove City Park and the Caribbean Sea. That was very important for us when designing a Caribbean hospital, to connect the building to the outside.
Input from focus groups
The design process involved experts and focus groups of healthcare professionals at critical stages. Hospital director Gilbert Martina emphasizes the importance of this: “Healthcare in the Netherlands is very different from Curacao. Here, there is high demand, many complex patients, and a large population with diabetes. Since we don’t have alternative care options, many people come directly to our Emergency Department. Understanding these realities was crucial to designing the right solutions.”
More info
This project was completed in 2019. It is an example of modern Caribbean architecture for hospitals.
Watch the latest video of Curacao Medical Center exterior and interior, or one of the other videos. You can also read more about the CMC in the brochure below.
Photography: Roos Aldershoff Fotografie
Gallery
Team:
Partners:
OeverzaaijerLyongo
EGM architecten
Contractor:
Geelhoed Caribbean
Valstar Simonis
Deerns
The new Curacao Medical Center (CMC) marks a major leap forward for healthcare on Curacao and across the Caribbean. Replacing a 164-year-old facility, this state-of-the-art hospital represents a significant transformation in medical care on the island.
Together with architects from OZ and EGM, we designed this 40,000 m² medical center. The new CMC is equipped with the latest technology and meets international standards. We aimed for the design to embrace the local climate and culture, creating a hospital environment where both staff and patients truly feel at home.
First new hospital in 164 years
The journey to the new CMC was long. The previous hospital had been operating for 164 years and was outdated in many ways. Sick patients often could not be properly isolated, with treatments sometimes taking place outdoors—posing hygiene risks. Additionally, the hospital was divided into different classes; those who could afford better care were treated in first-class wards that offered improved healing environments.
The first calls for a new hospital date back to 1963. It took some time but the government of Curacao was determined to build a hospital that would meet international standards. They commissioned the Netherlands Antilles Development Foundation (USONA) to develop it. Our role included building realization, furnishing, and staff training, all aimed at creating a world-class facility.
A big change
Once the contract was awarded, the road to the final result was complex. A project of this magnitude had never been realized before on Curacao. Which meant that no one had ever built a building like this. In terms of regulations, we had to come up with all kinds of constructions that did not exist yet.
On Curacao, many public buildings struggle because the indoor climate is inadequate and they don’t sufficiently support meetings or interactions. With this project, we wanted to change that. This new hospital meant an enormous change for the staff and other users, in terms of moving to a new place and having a new workspace. This was sometimes met with resistance. However, the design was well received due to the designers’ vision and powers of persuasion.
For everyone
Our design puts the patient, staff and visitor first. From the start, it was clear to the design team that the hospital had to become a hospital ‘di nos’. In addition, there was a strong team that believed in the design and knew how to convey this with enthusiasm and conviction at every step along the way. An important milestone in that process was convincing UNESCO to include the hospital in the World Heritage site.
Compared to the old hospital this building differs in many ways. An important feature was to create a pleasant place for everyone, where everyone can get good healthcare no matter their background. Our partner EGM came up with the concept of a ‘hot floor’. Where we separate functions to create a better environment for the users.
The hot floor is where the heavy medical procedures happen. On the other side, in the wings – recognizable by their different colors – we wanted to create the wards. In between the wings there are several green areas or communal gardens. We have turned all the wings a bit so that people in the recovery rooms can enjoy the beautiful view of the Mangrove City Park and the Caribbean Sea. That was very important for us when designing a Caribbean hospital, to connect the building to the outside.
Input from focus groups
The design process involved experts and focus groups of healthcare professionals at critical stages. Hospital director Gilbert Martina emphasizes the importance of this: “Healthcare in the Netherlands is very different from Curacao. Here, there is high demand, many complex patients, and a large population with diabetes. Since we don’t have alternative care options, many people come directly to our Emergency Department. Understanding these realities was crucial to designing the right solutions.”
More info
This project was completed in 2019. It is an example of modern Caribbean architecture for hospitals.
Watch the latest video of Curacao Medical Center exterior and interior, or one of the other videos. You can also read more about the CMC in the brochure below.
Photography: Roos Aldershoff Fotografie
Gallery
Team:
Chris Zwiers, Lyongo Juliana, René Metzelaar, Barthold Thijssen, Leontine Boots, Marina Bueno Diaz de Alda, Philippe Collette, Michael van Cutsem, Lennart Dorrestijn, Mehtap Dönmez, Cecilia Gallardo Rioseco, Iris Haak, Jan Hijlkema, Frank Hierck, Ewout de Jager, Michel Jongbloed, Martin de Jong, Sander Kleijn, Jacko Laan, Mark Lodder, Harmen Meijer, Victor Mediavilla Nevado, Jorn van Popta, Jetze Schreij, Ed van Teeffelen, Thijs Ultee, Joanna Wnuk, Jelmer van Zelm, Frank Schellingerhout
Partners:
OeverzaaijerLyongo
EGM architecten
Contractor:
Geelhoed Caribbean
Valstar Simonis
Deerns
