Sick children and their parents can retreat into a world of peace and privacy inside the Ronald McDonald Family Room of Amalia Children’s Hospital. Escaping from the hospital atmosphere and its operations and examinations, they can enjoy a sense of comfort, safety and security. The entrance is located on the second floor, right next to the nursing wards.
Being close to one another helps
Having parents, brothers and sisters nearby has a positive effect on the wellbeing and recovery of children. The new Family Room offers a warm and welcoming environment to come together. Anouar, father of Yanis, enjoys visiting the Family Room. “Our son has been admitted to NICU because he requires light therapy. The Family Room helps us forget everything, as weird as that sounds. At the same time, I’m just a few steps away from Yanis.”
The Pebble aligns with the redeveloped children’s hospital, where everything revolves around family-integrated care. Nienke Plass-Verhagen, business director of Radboudumc Amalia Children’s Hospital: “The focus of the redesign is to create a setting that has a positive effect on patient recovery, a so-called healing environment. This new Family Room at Amalia Children’s Hospital offers a welcoming, domestic atmosphere for young patients and their families inside a medical facility.”
Three floating floors
The shape and design of the new Family Room arouses a sense of wonder and offers a pleasant distraction. The Pebble consists of three levels connected by a spiral staircase. In addition to the reception area and a private space to pump breast, there are three cheerful seating areas, a play area and a kitchen. The Family Room therefore offers a range of settings. EGM architect Daniel van den Berg: “The look and feel of this design is in perfect sync with the theme of ‘Theatre of Nature’ at Amalia Children’s Hospital. It’s a combination of openness and privacy. The Family Room is suspended between two floors like a series of floating pebbles and stands out because of its rounded shapes. Inside, smooth transitions create cosy spaces full of intimacy and peace.” Interior architects Thoben & Minten elaborated the EGM concept for the spaces.
Long-cherished dream
The Family Room is part of the Ronald McDonald House Nijmegen. It provides accommodation for parents, brothers and sisters of children who are admitted to the Radboudumc. Erny Boots, manager of the house in Nijmegen: “The new Family Room is a long-cherished dream and replaces the three units in the hospital that had become too cramped. The design stands out from a distance because visitors coming from the main entrance can see the suspended pebbles from outside. This is the most beautiful Ronald McDonald Family Room in Europe.”
The Pebble was realised togehter with PBB Radboudumc, 2doubleyou, Aronsohn, Peutz, Cornelissen, Jora Vision and Engie.
Photography: Scagliola+Brakkee
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