FIGURE 2-3 This hospital’s architects focused on designing a humanizing environment, not minimizing the footprint. The main street is the backbone of the hospital and encourages informal meeting between staff. Walkways connect patient units with treatment facilities.

SOURCE: Rikshospitalet Information Department, unpublished (2005). Reprinted with permission.

munication with a doctor. The staff cafeteria is located next to the main entrance, which facilitates informal meetings among staff members. Walkways on three levels connect the patient units with treatment facilities across the main street. Inpatients are taken to treatment across the street in their beds.

The hospital is accessible by public transportation. Oslo city authorities extended an existing rail track when the hospital was planned, and today connections to central Oslo run every eight minutes. For those who drive to the hospital, the parking structure is a 4-minute walk to the main entrance. Bicycle parking is located outside the hospital, under the main plaza.

In terms of energy use, the Rikshospitalet is not an exemplar project, noted Bergsland. It uses more energy per square meter than most other Norwegian