Mielen- ja kuntoutuksen talo was designed with users as a modern psychiatric hospital
ESSOTE’s Mielen- ja kuntoutuksen talo provides mental health, substance abuse and rehabilitation services under one roof in the inner city of Mikkeli. Throughout the long building project, users were supported in decision-making and the functional design of the hospital. The modern psychiatric hospital ensures both services for the municipality’s residents and good working conditions for its staff.
Mielen- ja kuntoutuksen talo is the last and largest sub-project of the ESPER project of the South Savo Social and Health Care Authority (ESSOTE). In addition to mental health, substance abuse and psychiatry services, the building will also include a hospital school and a children’s psychiatric day ward, as well as a unit for demanding rehabilitation and palliative care.
“We will soon have a modern psychiatric hospital that will serve to attract and retain both workers in the field and social services for local residents,” says Minna Mutanen, ESSOTE’s director of mental health and substance abuse services. With all services available under one roof, clients do not have to guess which address to go to. “At the same time, this allows for professionals from different fields to easily consult each other according to their clients’ needs.”
Users guided through the intricacies of the construction project
The staff of Mielen- ja kuntoutuksen talo have travelled the nearly eight-year journey alongside Sweco’s expert on user-oriented hospital design. “The journey has been challenging and complex, but also rewarding, enriching and informative,” Mutanen says. “Despite the many twists and turns, we have been determined to reach our common goals and have learned a great deal from each other.”
Sweco’s Kaisa Narvio has supported the users in the decision-making related to the design, starting with the location of the building. “A building project is often a once-in-a-lifetime journey for the users, but one that they do not have to take alone,” says Narvio. An experienced consultant can facilitate the process of defining user needs and approving the plans. “For example, I have explained the designers’ choices to the users and articulated the users’ wishes and needs to the designers.”
According to Mutanen, expert advice has been most important in functional design, where the risks of not making certain changes also had to be taken into account. “We also received a lot of help in drawing up the space programme and new insights into what has been carried out elsewhere in the country. Where necessary, Kaisa reassured us of the adequacy of the facilities with recalculations.”
Since the same building provides educational, social welfare and health care services, as well as basic and specialised services, it was important for the expert to combine different perspectives and draw the users’ attention to everyday details, such as the opening directions of doors. “Kaisa also always asked us how the clients will see the situation. This ensured that the client’s perspective was never forgotten,” Mutanen says.
From forest hospitals to hospital campuses
Mielen- ja kuntoutuksen talo is located in the centre of Mikkeli, near the Travel Centre. Indeed, many hospital districts are doing away with so-called forest hospitals, i.e. psychiatric hospitals built far away from the rest of society.Another new idea is the combination of somatic and psychiatric care in the same building, which reduces the stigma associated with psychiatric care. “Thanks to the sparring we received from Sweco, we were able to shake up traditional practices and gain the courage to pursue new approaches and space solutions,” says Mutanen.
Narvio considers the biggest achievement of the hospital project to be that the users’ wish for single-patient rooms in psychiatric wards is being fulfilled across the board. The ideas of the nursing staff are also reflected in the spatial solutions of the facilities. “For example, the layout of functions was changed so that the same night nurses can be used on two wards. This is a truly significant functional change.”
An important detail for patients was the planning of safe outdoor activities in the city centre. Compared to the previous location, the new hospital does not have a large yard area around it, so users will have to find new outdoor routes and areas. “We discussed with the users, in a concrete way, whether a terrace can provide sufficient outdoor activity if a client has mobility restrictions, or whether it is important for everyone to feel the soft ground under their feet,” says Narvio.
She is particularly pleased that enough space was allocated to the demanding rehabilitation facilities, allowing for a versatile rehabilitation ward complete with a therapy pool. “In addition to this, the building has its own cafeteria, where it is possible to meet with loved ones and spend time even during long periods of treatment. It can even have a rehabilitative effect on the patients.”
Mielen- ja kuntoutuksen talo will be completed in late 2022. The new hospital is expected to open in early 2023.
Picture: Työyhteenliittymä Raami arkkitehdit ja arkkitehdit Kontukoski
