Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen Herlev

GOAL no. 3, 4, 15

The landscape reflects into the new hospital building in Herlev, which is designed to be a welcoming place for patients, relatives, staff and researchers alike.

The growing number of diabetes patients worldwide raises the importance of providing improved research environments focusing on both treatment and prevention. It is well-documented that a green, pleasant environment can promote people’s mental and social well-being and aid their recovery.

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen located at Herlev Hospital is Northern Europe’s largest hospital dedicated to the prevention and treatment of diabetes. It sees up to 13,000 patients a year, children as well as adults.

The two-storey building is organized around a large garden comprising four small, lush courtyard gardens and a publicly accessible rooftop garden with varied vegetation making it a biodiversity hub.

The green spaces and large glazed sections in the exterior walls offer views of nature throughout and break down the boundary between building and landscape. Inside, wooden floors and ceilings give off a warm, homely feel. All communal spaces and waiting areas are organized around small ‘squares’ that encourage physical activity and promote recovery and education.

Denmark is known for its diabetes treatment and research, and the Steno Diabetes Center supports the ambitious goals of halting the global growth in type-2 diabetes, finding a cure against type-1 diabetes, increasing patients’ lifespan and making living with diabetes easier.

This project demonstrates that architecture can be used to redefine the notion of disease, and that combined with nature, architecture can contribute not just to treatment but also to prevention and education –Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen also supports world-class scientific research.

Project details

Where: Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 83, 2730 Herlev

Completed: 2021

Client: Capital Region of Denmark and The Novo Nordisk Foundation

Architects and advisors: Vilhelm Lauritzen

Architects, MIKKELSEN ARKITEKTER, STED By og Landskab (landscape), COWI (engineer)