Mary Elizabeths Hospital
Where life continues, even in times of illness.
When illness strikes, it can turn an entire family’s life upside down. Some families break apart, parents lose their jobs, and children’s development is put on hold. The world of hospitals can feel foreign and overwhelming, especially for children and young people, who experience a significant loss of control.
At Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital, new spaces are created for children, young people, and pregnant women, with room for both joy and sorrow – and, above all, support in finding a way back to everyday life.
The result is a building with an organic design that conveys openness and provides space for dreams. But, even though the architecture is beautiful, it’s what’s going on inside that truly matters. World-class research and treatment are brought together at Mary Elizabeth’s Hospital, where specialists come to the patient, not the other way around.
The user experience team of MARYS, consisting of architects, anthropologists, and designers, works from a deep understanding of the needs of patients, relatives, and staff. Their goal is to ensure a safe and cohesive hospital experience before, during, and after treatment, where everyone is met with respect and receives the support they need, precisely when they need it.
The ambition of MARYS is to be recognized not only as a human-centered hospital but also as a model for a more compassionate healthcare sector – one that inspires other hospitals and industries to prioritize human-centered care.
The Jury says
MARYS is a marker of design’s progress in 2024 and where it’s headed: tackling significant societal issues with a grand and grounded approach deeply connected to essential needs in today’s world. The project goes beyond reimagining healthcare; it’s a call to designers and decision-makers to bring purpose and aesthetics into spaces that shape our lives.
MARYS sets a new benchmark, showing how design can make healthcare more than a clinical experience – it’s transformative, meaningful, and humane.