Madeleine Hospital Complex in Ath

Project: Madeleine Hospital Complex in Ath
Architect: RESERVOIR A

Momentary association

RESERVOIR A + DDV

Programme: The expansion of the Madeleine Hospital Complex reimagines the hospital with a focus on efficiency and the humanization of care. This project combines densification, urban requalification, and optimization of medical flows to create a more fluid and soothing environment for both work and healing. The architecture organizes the new volumes around a bright central axis, connecting the interior spaces to the banks of the Petite Dendre. The overall design promotes a harmonious relationship between the city, nature, and healthcare. The current project concerns Phase 1: the construction of a first street-facing building and the reconfiguration of the hospital complex’s main circulation routes.

About: The expansion project of the Madeleine Hospital Complex, undertaken by RESERVOIR A and DDV for the EpiCURA group, reorganizes patient and logistical flows while optimizing the distribution of functions based on a critical historical analysis of the site's development.
A series of small, space-consuming interventions are being demolished to make way for a completely new volumetric structure. This new design consists of two rectangular volumes arranged in an "L" shape over three levels, with an additional underground level. It echoes the layout of the very first hospital historically established on this site in the 19th century. The project restores an urban character to the site's access street by reinforcing the presence of built volumes along the street front. A cantilevered structure highlights the new entrance, now clearly oriented toward the city center. The new outdoor spaces, facing both the Petite Dendre river and the heart of Ath, redefine how the building interacts with its surroundings, ensuring a more respectful integration.
Inside, the entire program has been rethought: logistical flows are directed to the basement, visitor circulation naturally takes place on the ground floor, and patient movements are organized on the first and second floors. To place well-being at the core of the project, the hospital complex reintroduces a central green space, reminiscent of the courtyard design of the original hospice. In an effort to foster a sense of community, the cafeteria and commercial areas are positioned at the center of the new construction.
The project enhances flexibility in usage by introducing a new distribution axis in the form of an interior street—a bright, two-level spine that opens onto the green space. This design ensures continuous clarity in the perception of the building’s volumes and circulation logic. The east and west façades feature narrow, evenly spaced openings along their entire length, reinforcing rhythm and coherence in the overall architectural composition.