Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen wins ArchDaily's 'Building Of The Year 2024' award in the 'Healthcare Architecture' category. With 160 million readers annually, ArchDaily is the world's largest architecture magazine and their 'Building Of The Year' awards ceremony celebrates architectural achievements internationally each year.

For 15 years, ArchDaily has given their readers the opportunity to vote for their favorite projects, and this year the field consisted of 4,000 architectural projects, from which 75 finalists were selected in 15 different categories. Among these finalists, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen is the winner in the 'Healthcare Architecture' category.

Safe treatment processes with nature as the focal point

Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen Arkitekter, Mikkelsen Arkitekter and STED, is an expression of the values of democracy, nature and diversity.

The hospital is designed with people in mind by integrating warm materials, strategic flows and daylight into its indoor spaces. SDCC is surrounded by a large two-story garden, including four smaller courtyards and a public roof garden that connects indoors and outdoors.

"SDCC is designed to break away from the classic institutional hospital and instead be a hospitable cultural center with nature at the center, where waiting time becomes experience time. We are incredibly proud of the award, but most of all, we hope that it can also inspire and push the way we develop healthcare architecture," says Thomas West Jensen, Partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects.

The public roof garden shows the project's commitment to contributing to the local community. The outdoor areas are designed to be open and accessible for passers-by to enjoy the biodiverse nature that distinguishes the surroundings of Herlev Hospital.

Furthermore, Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen is designed with a focus on patient well-being by integrating nature as a central part of the treatment environment. This is based on studies that show that green spaces can help improve both physical and emotional well-being in patients.

Read more about the award here.