The Day Oncology Centre in Kielce is a graduation project by Karol Mitręga, a student at the Świętokrzyska University of Technology. The young architect designed a building that not only fulfils the basic functions of a medical facility, but also promotes recovery due to its architectural form and contact with greenery.
At the entrance to Kielce, between the Botanical Garden and the Karczówka nature reserve, a Day Oncology Centre could be built. The building is the diploma project of Karol Mitręga of the Świętokrzyska University of Technology, implementing the ideals of modern health architecture. The author, under the supervision of dr hab. inż. arch. Joanna Gil-Mastalerczyk, designed a complex in which the buildings not only meet the functional requirements, but above all support the treatment process by caring for the patients’ psychological comfort. Instead of monumental buildings, an arrangement of low-rise buildings was created, open to the surroundings and away from overwhelming sterility. Natural materials – laminated wood, glass, architectural concrete and stone – harmonise with the greenery of the surrounding courtyards and green roofs. Spaces are filled with daylight, and the muted colour scheme of beige, green and white promotes tranquillity. The result is an environment that soothes the senses and minimises the stress of being in a medical facility.
Three faces of therapy
The complex consists of three independent buildings, each dedicated to a different stage of treatment. The diagnostics building contains consultation rooms, examination rooms and educational spaces with conference rooms and meeting areas. The haematology and oncology building is designed with the comfort of day treatment patients in mind – rooms overlooking the greenery, accommodation rooms and a meditation area are designed to promote recovery. The third building, dedicated to radiotherapy, encloses the radiation bunker in a building with a soft façade, and administrative facilities are planned on the first floor.
The designer attached great importance to an intuitive orientation in space. Thanks to the principles of wayfinding – clear zoning, controlled viewing axes, varying flooring colours and materials, and directional lighting – patients and staff navigate through the facility without having to read complicated signage. The simplicity of navigation is intended to reduce the tension associated with moving around in the new interiors.
Nature as co-therapist
The surroundings of the complex are an integral part of the treatment process. The view of lush greenery from most of the rooms, the courtyards and the therapeutic garden encourage a temporary escape from the hospital routine. The design harnesses the beneficial effects of nature, whose presence aids recovery, enhances mood and heightens the sense of security. The gentle connection to the Botanical Garden and the Karczówka nature reserve allows patients to breathe a full breath while not disrupting the rhythm of the facility.
The choice of CLT timber as the main construction material is no accident. It is a durable, warm-feeling and acoustically friendly material. Architectural concrete and stone add elegance, while the horizontal external louvre system regulates light, protects against overheating and becomes a decorative element of the façade. The whole is tied together by a sustainable design philosophy in which technology supports health without dominating the environment.
Socio-educational functions
In addition to medical therapy, the project includes spaces for medical students and rooms for workshops and prevention activities. Shared kitchens, contemplation areas and a chapel are available, where people after treatment can share their experiences with new patients. This social support network becomes a foundation of hope and strengthens the sense of community.
At the highest point of the establishment, the ‘Winner’s Bell’ – a symbolic moment of recovery – was located. Set towards the Karczówka monastery and the reserve, it links triumph over illness with spiritual space. Here, each patient, after completing treatment, can strike the bell, manifesting the completed battle and opening a new chapter of life.
The Day Oncology Centre in Kielce is an alternative to traditional hospital models. Karol Mitręga’s design shows that architecture can become an active tool for therapy and not just a background for treatment. Friendly interiors, clear navigation, integration with nature and a social dimension create a complex that can become a model for future investments in the health sector
design: Karol Mitręga – Kielce University of Technology
supervisor: dr hab. inż. arch. Joanna Gil-Mastalerczyk prof. PŚk Świętokrzyska University of Technology
reviewer: dr inż. arch. Ewelina Gardyńska-Kieliś Świętokrzyska University of Technology
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