Case study. New construction of a chapel in the St. Elisabeth Hospital in Ravensburg using VINOVApanels. Tranquillity layer upon layer

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1 Case study Iphofen 08 / 2013 New construction of a chapel in the St. Elisabeth Hospital in Ravensburg using VINOVApanels. Tranquillity layer upon layer Tranquil places in daily life are important, especially in hospitals, where joy and suffering lie so close together. This premise was the motivating factor for the decision of the operators of the St. Elisabeth hospital that a chapel become the central haven of the new hospital construction. This chapel is extraordinary because of its unusual form and unique wall material: stacked Gypsum fibre boards from KNAUF Design. The first impression of the St Elisabeth Hospital in Ravensburg is not necessarily overwhelming. But actually, one finds oneself in the midst of a massive construction site, which upon completion in 2017 will become the flagship of the Oberschwabenklinik GmbH. As one approaches though, one realises that the building under construction has the potential of becoming a jewel. One has to pass the newly opened consulting rooms to reach the main entrance which leads to the wards for the patients. This is the first phase of the extensive renovation and extension of the St Elisabeth Hospital. An overall investment of 115 million Euro in the first phase and 125 million Euro in the second phase will allow the largest and most significant hospital in the Verbund der Oberschwabenklinik GmbH to meet the growing demand and requirements for healthcare in the county. This investment was a deliberate decision by the Ravensburg City Council against a completely new construction located elsewhere. The 1

2 2 2 Council relied in the proposals put forward by the Architect Agency Arcass Freie Architekten BDA : tear down parts of the old hospital, add new structures and renovate the remaining buildings. This proposal which was not foreseen in the submission for the architectural competition, was however, accepted and implemented because of the associated improvements. By 2017, the gross floor area would be approximately m². Haven at a central location A pastoral care area and a quiet place to escape the stress of daily life formed part of the plan for the hospital. The explicit wish of the client and the sponsors, Friends of the new chapel at the St. Elisabeth Hospital, was that this area not be tucked away or hidden. Much rather, it should become a focal point. Unlike the previous chapel, which could only be found if one really searched for it, the new chapel should be located so that one could not really miss it. Therefore it was situated in the middle of the main activity area, the central intersection if you like: there where the access to the stairways, lifts and other areas of the hospital cross paths. This choice of location presented the next challenge: how does one present a chapel as a quiet, tranquil place when it is situated in such a restless area? A suitable solution was soon found however. The architect, Manfred Ehrle of the Arcass Agency designed an unusual form as a frame for the chapel. Instead of a room in the classic sense, he proposed a room in room. The floor plan showed an elliptical shape set out like a spiral shell, enabling the chapel to be situated right in the heart of constant pedestrian traffic and bed-pushing personnel. This position would make it difficult for anyone to rush past it or ignore its existence. To preserve the quiet atmosphere inside the chapel and not be disturbed by the constant traffic past the door, it was planned to utilise a soundoptimized Dry Wall Construction. But these plasterboards showed too many expansion joints and did not fulfil the vision of a homogenous, harmonious outer frame. 2 2

3 3 3 After some consideration an alternative was found: concrete and stacked wooden boards with gypsum fibre boards. These would not just be erected and supported by a dry wall construction as was the usual practice, but would be stacked. This would result in a vivid shell that would create with its relief exciting light and shadow contrasts. New interpretation of existing material The choice of material (gypsum fibre boards from KNAUF Design) and the method of construction (stacking) was the result of a close collaboration and lively exchange between the architect Manfred Ehrle, the artist Bernhard Huber and Markus Rießler of KNAUF Design. According to Bernhard Huber, gypsum fibre boards were already being considered for the ceiling so samples were available and at hand. That fibre boards could also be used for the shell of the chapel was at this stage just an idea. This vague idea grew into concrete considerations which resulted in the final decision to construct the chapel out of stacked VINOVApanels. The preliminary planning was based on a computer generated 3D model created by the artist Bernhard Huber. It soon became clear that with the fibre boards it would also be possible for elements like shelves or brackets to be incorporated. But the basic floor plan, the geometry of the walls and the spiral formation presented its own set of difficulties. Almost every board for the walls was unique and had to be custom made. These included features like carved out shelves and surfaces. Together with specialist consultants from KNAUF Design however, it was possible to overcome these difficulties and to implement the complex design. Another key factor in making this a practical solution was the extremely stable substance of gypsum fibre board with its stone like properties, Also, the use of CNC machines made it possible to cut the boards to precise specifications. This phase is offered by KNAUF Design as an individual service to its clients. 3 3

4 4 4 The boards, designed on the basis of the 3D computer models, are unique for this building : although the wall was built by layering the boards one upon the other, similar to the drywall, the term drywall is somewhat misleading. In order to achieve maximum stability each layer was literally glued to the next. Pins were additionally used to ensure a perfect fit and to prevent lateral movement. Raw and without veneer That the boards were not coated with veneer or foil but left in its natural state is obvious from the first impression. With its stone like appearance, the optics and the haptics, the material had already convinced all the participants from the beginning, when the foundation was laid for the current chapel. After being polished and coated with a protective lacquer, it was a pleasure to touch the cool but by no means cold material. This was not the only reason for the choice of the VINOVApanels. The acoustics, a specific request of the client, could also be optimised with the VINOVApanels. The sheer mass alone of the wall components ensured a low noise transmission. With a total weight of kg, the wall of the chapel was certainly no lightweight! Despite this heavyweight solution, no additional adjustments had to be made to the statistics of the new hospital. This was due to the fact that, as is the norm with hospital constructions, a higher surface load of 5 KN/m² had already been calculated. Glass ribbons for light and colour Horizontal bands of glass and a wooden door gave the finishing touch to the façade of the chapel. The painted glass panels create a pleasant warmth especially inside the chapel. Bernhard Huber, who has frequently enhanced buildings with his glass art, designed and produced the coloured glass panes. He had already been commissioned to work 4 4

5 5 5 together with the Arcass Ageny on a bereavement room and other installations at the Robert-Bosch Hospital in Stuttgart. In general, all the stakeholders agree that the cooperation between artist, architect and KNAUF Design was a success. To quote Bernhard Huber: It was a success because all parties were open to new ideas and worked professionally together. Upon entering the great wooden doors, one arrives first at the entrance with its stoup and booths for the bibles and other brochures or flyers. Both the surface for the holy water and the niches are carved out of the wall or stand out from it. Bernhard Huber put forward the idea that all shelves, booths, candles holders and even a niche for the Madonna statue be integrated by stacking the boards unevenly or carving. One reaches the main room by walking along the curved path. The main area of the chapel is furnished with chairs which allows for more flexibility. It is characterized by the relief of the wall and the coloured glass panels and complemented by an altar and a sandstone pulpit. The result is a harmonious, tranquil interior. A unique solution for an extraordinary location The chapel in the St. Elisabeth Hospital deserves, rightly so, an excellent report. This building is unusual and unique in the best sense of the word! Firstly, the location is extraordinary: centred in the hustle and bustle of daily activity it sends out a signal and invites one seek refuge, to find peace and quiet; an invitation that stands out. One cannot just pass by the chapel and not notice its unusual construction. The stacked gypsum fibre boards, the colourful ribbons of glass and the unusual spiral shape all demand attention. The impression of the building is also extraordinary from an architectural and construction standpoint. It is not just a building for a specific purpose as is so often the case nowadays. It is clearly a confession: a respect for art and for form without compromising the practical purpose of the 5 5

6 6 6 building. The importance of this can clearly be seen in this chapel, which has become the focal point of the St Elisabeth hospital community and is not just a hospital chapel with rooms for pastoral care. Photo captions Photo 1: The 3D model of the artist Bernhard Huber shows the elliptical floor plan, similar to a spiral shell, and the carved out niches and surfaces. Photo 2 (panel detail): The colourful panels designed by the artist give the chapel colour and warmth. 6 6

7 7 7 Photo 3 (wall detail): The stacking of the VINOVApanel is an extraordinary but successful construction. Pins and a surface bonding ensure optimum stability. Photo 4 (Boards under construction): Almost every board is unique and was individually cut on the basis of 3D plans using CNC machines. Info-Box: Project: New Building of a chapel in the St.Elisabeth hospital, Ravensburg Dedication: Spring 2013 Place: Ravensburg Building owner: Oberschwabenklinik GmbH Architect/planner: Arcass Architekten Stuttgart, Manfred Ehrle Idea/artist: Bernhard Huber, Esslingen Material: KNAUF Design VINOVApanels 7 7