New building of the children's psychiatric hospital in Louny

This diploma thesis responds to the critical and socially urgent state of child psychiatric care in the Czech Republic. The aim of the project is the architectural design of a new, modern building for the child psychiatric hospital in Louny. The project actively combats the stigmatization of this medical field by rejecting the traditional model of isolation on the periphery and integrating the new development directly into the city structure. In accordance with the current psychiatric care reform, the operation is supplemented with a day care center, which serves as a crucial prevention tool and a stepping stone to full hospitalization. The architectural concept of the massing breaks down the classic institutional monoblock and creates a safe, civil environment with a more intimate scale. Emphasis is placed on maximizing passive safety without a sense of repression (organically rounded edges, absence of radiators, frosted glass sightlines), the use of natural materials, such as green sandstone and wood, and targeted color psychology. A crucial role in the design is played by the permeability between the interior and a generous exterior garden, which forms a platform for a wide spectrum of activities, from art therapy to animal-assisted therapy and occupational therapy. From an operational perspective, the project abandons the outdated model of large hospital wards and proposes intimate inpatient units for a maximum of nine patients. A major innovation is the inclusion of an inclusive mixed ward, which offers a safe haven for older adolescents or transgender patients. The result is a comprehensive, empathetic, and sustainable sanctuary that demonstrably supports the healing process and prepares child patients for a successful return to everyday life.