Psychiatric Hospital Slagelse

Situated in green surroundings close to the somatic hospital, Slagelse Psychiatric Hospital forms, together with the somatic hospital located close by, a new integrated health campus. At 44,000 m2, it is the largest psychiatric building project in recent times and accommodates194 beds: 114 in general psychiatry, 50 in forensic psychiatry, and 30 in the Secure Unit.

At the heart of the psychiatric hospital lies The Knowledge Centre – five floors dedicated to research and teaching. With large open-plan offices, a canteen, an auditorium and outpatient facilities, the Knowledge Centre is a hub for innovation and learning.

In dialogue with its surroundings

In the past, psychiatric care was often isolated and placed far in the countryside. Located close to sports facilities, the stadium and recreational areas, Slagelse Psychiatric Hospital reflects a new, open approach to treatment of mental illness. It sends a clear signal that psychiatry should not be hidden away, but rather be an integrated and natural part of the urban environment. 

The organic structure of the hospital, with varying heights and widths, blends seamlessly into the landscape. The building gradually opens towards its surroundings, mirroring the transition from private to public zones within the hospital. From the surrounding park, a network of pathways links psychiatry with the local community.

Compassionate and caring architecture

Focusing on people rather than on the hospital as an institution, healing architecture has been a guiding principle throughout the building. Research shows that traditional hospital environments can make even healthy patients feel unwell, weakening them physically and emotionally, while contact with nature and life around can improve recovery. Slagelse Psychiatric Hospital has therefore been designed from the inside out with materials and shapes that create warm, calming surroundings. In this way, the architecture itself becomes part of the treatment process, rather than merely providing its setting.

Throughout the building, intelligent LED lighting recreates the natural colour changes of daylight throughout the day. Combined with generous amounts of daylight, the technology provides the best possible lighting conditions for both patients and staff.  

Colours influence people, and the colour scheme is therefore carefully selected to create a sense of safety for patients. The palette of soft, muted tones is composed by visual artist Malene Landgreen, and complemented by poetry of writer Ursula Andkjær Olsen, it adorns the walls throughout the building. The words and phrases are centred around the tangible surroundings – the light, the gardens and the architecture itself – and the metres of poetry help anchor patients in the environment they are in. At the same time, the artwork on glass walls provides varying degrees of covering, required in different settings.

To actively create a healing environment for patients, the strong relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces plays a crucial role. All departments have access to courtyards or quiet gardens, and with the focus on daylight, nature and outdoor areas, the landscape is always present.

Functional solutions to complexity

The relationship between indoors and outdoors is a consistent theme throughout the building. Wards and departments are organised as clusters, with the landscape flowing between them and creating small gardens. To provide identity and coherence, each ward is organised around central courtyards, while patient rooms and smaller areas face quiet gardens, ensuring a calm and safe environment in the most private zones of the hospital. 

With strong functional and architectural possibilities for future expansion, the cluster-based structure helps address the complexity of creating spaces that are both flexible and highly specialised. It also ensures a logical flow between departments and functions, offering both clarity and adaptability. 

Safety has been considered in every detail. Wide corridors and simple interiors support the safety of both staff and patients, ensuring secure working conditions. To create a calm atmosphere around patients throughout the day, the transportation of beds and other equipment takes place underground.

The most valuable insights come from the people who use the building daily, and user involvement therefore played a major part in the process. Patients, relatives and staff have all been important voices in the process. The staff’s insights into the day-to-day functions and patients’ wishes for the future of psychiatric care have had a decisive influence on the building’s design.