Due to the specific needs of its users, the project had to find effective solutions for the best organisation of the functional areas, but it also took into account the need to create comfortable and qualitatively attractive internal and external spaces.
Special attention was paid to the study of routes in order to avoid possible interference between public areas and those reserved for the internal movement of patients and staff. The project has made it possible to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of each patient’s clinical pathway, following a lean approach aimed at creating rapid and direct connections between all the areas designed for tumour treatment (diagnostic imaging department, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy and proton therapy, radiometabolic therapy) and between the operating room block and the surgical intensive care units (closely interconnected by means of a fast track pathway on Level +2).
Oncology Centre, Astana
Location:
Client:
Team:
Task:
Principles:


The National Scientific Oncology Centre (NSOC) was established with the aim of becoming Kazakhstan's main centre for oncology treatment and research. The hospital houses state-of-the-art technological equipment and is designed to withstand particularly harsh climatic conditions.
The building is located within an urban area featuring a remarkable presence of other healthcare facilities: the national scientific centres for cardiac surgery, medical diagnostics, maternity and paediatrics, forensics, neurosurgery, paediatric rehabilitation and transfusiology.
Details
Characteristics
In accordance with this logic, the basement level (floor 0) is entirely occupied by the diagnostic-therapeutic activities of nuclear medicine and by general services; the north-west building houses administrative activities, the conference hall and some services for the public; the main building houses the inpatient units organised in a “five-section area” on the upper Levels (+2 to +5) while Level +1 houses the main entrance with the reception for outpatients going to the diagnostic areas located on the lower floor; the east block houses the diagnostic imaging department and the emergency and reception department on Level +1 while Level +2 houses the operating room block.
On the outside, the volumes are characterised by the contrast between the compact masses with a compact reinforced concrete skeleton – inside which the technological systems and the high-complexity therapeutic areas are located – the semi-compact masses that distinguish the inpatient units and the various operating spaces, and the totally transparent masses of the areas with a predominantly public end use.
The large entrance hall, completely permeable and open towards the square that gives access to the hospital, flooded with light through the high-efficiency glass panes, welcomes and guides patients and visitors. It is both a pleasant environment in which to stop and the main point to cross in order to reach the coplanar areas as well as elevators and stairs leading to the different levels of the building.
