Healing space for mental wellness

The new mental health hospital in Tampere, Finland exhibits a profound commitment to mental well-being through its human-centered architecture. By integrating warm brickwork, round shapes, and a spacious, inviting courtyard, the design fosters a serene and supportive environment.

Approachable design language

For this project, feedback and perspectives of various user groups have been carefully considered from the very beginning. Designed in the shape of a six-fingered hand, the psychiatric hospital is built around a spacious courtyard.

The aim of the building and space planning has been to create homelike, comfortable facilities that support both, patient rehabilitation and nursing care. Each wing and patient room provides views of the beautifully landscaped courtyard areas. The brick masonry surface gives the light-coloured façade a soft and approachable appearance, blending smoothly into the lush surroundings.

Mix and match

“The architecture and shape of the building started from Danish CF Møller Architects visual plan, which had round, wave-like shapes, different from the usual hospital environment. Danish brick with a lively surface was also included in the original plan,” says Kalevi Näkki of Arco Architecture Company Oy.

“The brick façade features a blend of three bricks of different colours, mixed on-site by the masons as the construction progressed. Initially, there was some apprehension about the final appearance and the effectiveness of the mixing. However, the brick surface achieved a harmonious and uniform look across the entire building. The small size of the bricks allows for flexibility in laying, with the mortar seams beautifully binding everything together. Moreover, the building’s rounded shapes were easily accomplished using brick,” explains architect Mari Helminen.

Following in the footsteps

The building was completed in late 2023 and staff and clients were able to move into the new T-building in January 2024. The construction work of the Y-building, which focuses on psychiatric services for children and young people, will start in the vicinity of the adult psychiatry operations during 2024.

“The new Y-building for child psychiatry will follow the same design language as the T-building for adult psychiatry. It’s great to be involved in building projects where both functional and structural quality standards are set high,” says Jaana Varjolahti, who drew up the project plan for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit.