Josef Hoffmann’s Pruckersdorf Sanatorium of 1904 was a functional and aesthetic masterpiece that might have set a precedent for hospitals in Austria—but didn’t. Throughout the 20th century, Austrian hospitals fared perfectly well without architects’ architects. Today, the country not only has the most hospitals per capita in the European Union, it also boasts the highest international ratings, along with France, in health-care quality. Recently, however, the climate for public hospital construction has shifted. State facilities are now competing for patients who have opted for new, private supplementary insurance, and simultaneously, the national hospital service hired a slew of project managers tasked with keeping construction strictly on budget. The grand new public building at Provincial Hospital Graz-West, designed by Domenig/Eisenköck/ Gruber, should convince both patients and administrators that the public system in Austria is entirely capable of delivering top-notch hospitals cost-effectively.
You have 0 complimentary articles remaining.
Unlimited access + premium benefits for as low as $1.99/month.