“Medizin Mitte” – The centre for medical expertise
Ambitious façade solution for a future-orientated healthcare facility
Nobody likes going to the doctor. Even less so when the building is characterised by long hallways, dark rooms and a sterile atmosphere - as in many older healthcare facilities. The "Medizin Mitte" centre for medical expertise in Leipzig is completely different. It has been created by architect Martin Faßauer, office partnership BAUKOMPLEX, and the client KSW GmbH. The design concept stands out due to innovative architecture in a central location, high-quality interior furnishings and meticulous design down to the smallest detail, with maximum comfort for both patients and employees. The exterior of the building makes a bold impression with an ambitious façade corner solution. The individual storeys are staggered in such a way that they offset one another. The highly thermally insulated Schüco FW50+.HI mullion/transom system was used for the suspended aluminium twin-wall façade of the reinforced concrete skeleton construction. A special construction of the vertical profiles of the Schüco AWS 75.SI aluminium window system was chosen for the distinctive glazing. The innovative twin-wall façade is a fundamental component of the energy concept of the building and therefore helps to reduce energy consumption. The "Medizin Mitte" centre for medical expertise is a successful example of an ecologically and economically-efficient healthcare facility which meets the requirements for sophisticated design and outstanding medical provision.
In March 2012, the ultra-modern, newly-built centre for medical expertise "Medizin Mitte" in Leipzig was completed by architect Martin Faßauer, office partnership BAUKOMPLEX, and handed over to the client KSW GmbH and its tenants. The building impresses with innovative architecture in a central location, high-quality interior furnishings and a uniform, sophisticated design. The concept of the modern healthcare facility is based on a light and friendly atmosphere, which supports the recovery of the patients on the one hand and creates a pleasant working environment for the staff on the other. With modern architecture and carefully selected interior furnishings, a uniform colour concept and the finest materials, the "Medizin Mitte" project contradicts the stereotype of gloomy hospitals and doctors' surgeries characterised solely by a sterile environment and functional room design. In complete contrast, the innovative healthcare facility outwardly conveys the expertise of the medical practitioners due to the high-quality architecture, façades with a large number of windows and attractive rooms. Diverse specialised practices have established themselves in the centre for medical expertise on Simsonplatz in Leipzig Zentrum Süd over a surface area of 1780 m2 .
Closing a gap between buildings
In terms of urban development, the newbuild closes a gap between buildings left by the Second World War and integrates into the block development in a magnificent location opposite the Federal Administrative Court and the Leipzig University Albertina library. The area is influenced by the architectural styles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries with refined Gründerzeit and Art Nouveau buildings. The design of the building is entirely coordinated towards reconstructing the corner by closing the gap in the ensemble. The site of the gap has an irregular floor plan with different angles. The idea of emphasising the corner location of the building and further reinforcing the existing angles builds on this. The horizontal planes of the structure and the displacement of individual storeys creates an offset where the building forms a point, which gives a new emphasis to the corner facing the Federal Administrative Court in particular. The offset also aligns both sides of the façade to Simsonplatz to the north and Pleißenmühlgraben to the west, and the green space behind on Beethovenstraße. The architect has therefore cleverly avoided an orientation of the building in just one direction. The main entrance is located directly where the building forms a point and the structure, which is located in a challenging urban location, appears to "gaze out" in all directions.
Ambitious façade corner solution
The façade design plays deftly with the contrasts of old and new. The building deliberately stands out from the adjacent houses due to its materials, colour and architectural language, yet it is also orientated to the height of the eaves and parapets of the neighbouring Gründerzeit buildings. The spandrels and top attachments for the windows run diagonally away from another towards the point of the building, so that where they meet in the corner area, the glazing is completely flush-fitted. At the edges of the building they take up the features of the neighbouring structures. The public and private areas inside the building can be seen from the outside through the full and partial glazing. The highly thermally insulated Schüco FW50+.HI mullion/transom façade was used for the suspended aluminium twin-wall façade of the reinforced concrete skeleton construction. White sheet metal panels were selected as closed insert units and a special construction of the vertical profiles of the Schüco AWS 75.SI aluminium window system was chosen for the large areas of glazing. The façade was developed in cooperation with Medicke Metallbau GmbH and Medicke Fassadentechnik GmbH. The narrow profile widths of the system allow maximum design freedom. The façade reflects its immediate surroundings due to the reflective surface of the flush-fitted glazing, thus reinterpreting the topic of urban context.
Energy efficiency and comfort
The double-skin twin-wall façade helps to minimise the energy consumption of the building. It reduces transmission heat losses and provides effective solar shading and anti-glare protection. The solar shading is arranged between the panes and therefore does not disturb the overall appearance of the façade. In addition to the energy-saving twin-wall façade, the energy concept of the building is further supported by the integration of ground-source heat pumps and component activation.
The modern interior design was closely modelled on the external façade contours by the developers from LOUNGE Design. The overall concept is based on lots of light, glass, white and reflective surfaces and a powerful green tone which is used for all seating. The tapered shapes of the façade are also consistently applied in the interior design, by means of a wall relief in the façade structure in the large foyer or targeted illumination, through to the fully designed medical practices.
The "Medizin Mitte" centre for medical expertise is a successful example of an ecologically and economically-efficient healthcare facility which meets the requirements for outstanding medical provision.
Schüco – System solutions for windows, doors, façades and solar products
Together with its worldwide network of partners, architects, specifiers and investors, Schüco creates sustainable building envelopes which focus on people and their needs in harmony with nature and technology. The highest demands for design, comfort and security can be met, whilst simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions through energy efficiency, thereby conserving natural resources. The company and its Metal, PVC-U and New Energies divisions deliver tailored products for newbuilds and renovations, designed to meet individual user needs in all climate zones. With 5000 employees and 12,000 partner companies, Schüco is active in 78 countries and achieved a turnover of 1.8 billion euros in 2012. For more information, visit
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Project details:
Project title: "Medizin Mitte" centre for medical expertise
Location: Lampestraße 1, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
Completion: March 2012
Budget: 5.5 million euros
Special requirements: Inner-city, high-quality newbuild with innovative façade and medical function
Project participants:
Architect: Martin Faßauer, Freelance Architect, office partnership BAUKOMPLEX, Leipzig
Client: KSW GmbH, Leipzig
Metal fabricator: Medicke Metallbau GmbH, Borna
Façade technology: Medicke Fassadentechnik GmbH, Borna
Interior design: Lounge Design Group, Ronny Eysser and Alexander Grimm, Halle/S.
Structural planning: Lantzsch Ingenieure Tragwerksplanung, Leipzig
Building services: Projektierung HLS Tegl, Leipzig
Electrical planning: Elektro Fahrig GmbH, Am Großen Bruch
Schüco products:
Schüco FW50+.HI façade system
Schüco AWS 75.SI window system - vertical frames as special profiles
Schüco ADS 75.HD door system
Picture credits: Schüco International KG
The façade design plays deftly with the contrasts of old and new. The building deliberately stands out from the adjacent houses due to its materials, colour and architectural language, yet it is also orientated to the height of the eaves and the parapets of the neighbouring Gründerzeit buildings.
The highly thermally insulated Schüco FW50+.HI mullion/transom façade was used for the suspended aluminium twin-wall façade of the reinforced concrete skeleton construction. White sheet metal panels were selected as closed insert units.
The exterior of the building makes a bold impression with an ambitious façade corner solution. The individual storeys are staggered in such a way that they offset one another.
In terms of urban development, the newbuild closes a gap between buildings left by the Second World War and integrates into the block development in a magnificent location opposite the Federal Administrative Court and the Leipzig University Albertina library.
Floor plan of the "Medizin Mitte" centre for medical expertise
Scale 1:1000
North view of the "Medizin Mitte" centre for medical expertise
Scale 1:400