Children’s Hospice House for Julia by CTYRSTEN: A Sanctuary of Compassion and Design

Designing with Empathy: Architecture for Healing

The Children’s Hospice House for Julia is more than just a building—it is a sanctuary carefully designed to nurture inner peace, acceptance, and harmony. Created by CTYRSTEN, the hospice is discreetly integrated into the natural amphitheatre of an existing park, surrounded by mature trees and greenery. Every architectural decision prioritizes emotional comfort, accessibility, and connection with nature, creating a serene environment for children, families, and staff alike.

The hospice is oriented around a protected inner courtyard featuring lush landscaping and a reflective pond. All children’s rooms and communal spaces are designed to maximize natural light and outdoor views, reinforcing a sense of calm. A rooftop viewing walkway and meditation spot provide parents with a private retreat to reflect and relax, accessible at any time of day.

Thoughtful Spatial Planning

The hospice is carefully divided into four main sections, each serving distinct functions while maintaining fluid connectivity:

1. Communal and Dining Spaces

Located to the right of the main entrance, the spacious communal area accommodates social gatherings, family meals, and relaxation. Large terraces extend on both sides, offering seamless indoor-outdoor interaction. Behind the central kitchen, private lounge spaces with a cozy fireplace allow families intimate moments together.

2. Therapy and Activity Zones

To the left of the entrance, around a smaller courtyard, are rooms dedicated to daily activities and therapies: physiotherapy, art therapy, music therapy, a pool for watsu therapy, snoezelen rooms, and even a small cinema. This thoughtful arrangement encourages engagement and emotional well-being in a supportive environment.

3. Children’s Accommodation

The main accommodation area includes 10 children’s rooms, each with a private terrace opening to the central courtyard. A nurses’ station ensures continuous care, while a separate apartment for final farewells features its own memorial atrium and chilled room, allowing parents to say goodbye privately and respectfully.

4. Administrative and Support Areas

Embedded discreetly into the terrain, the administrative section houses offices, meeting rooms, technical facilities, and storage. It includes separate access to the memorial atrium, ensuring privacy and dignity in sensitive moments.

Design Features that Prioritize Comfort and Accessibility

A key element of the hospice is its circular corridor system around the central courtyard. Generously glazed, it offers continuous views of trees, the sky, and reflections from the pond, creating a sense of openness and tranquility. The layout supports mobility for walking, strollers, or wheelchairs, allowing residents to alternate between private and social environments while staying connected to nature.

The parents’ floor is entirely separated from the main operations, providing privacy, relaxation, and reassurance that children are well cared for. Family rooms with private terraces, a common lounge, and direct access to the rooftop walkway and terrace offer panoramic views of Brno and spaces for social events, relaxation, or stargazing.

Sustainable and Thoughtful Construction

The building is primarily constructed with monolithic reinforced concrete, harmonized with larch wood panelling and large-format wooden-frame glazing. Overhangs provide passive shading, protect terraces, and contribute to the building’s sleek, modern aesthetic.

Heating and cooling are managed through a conduit system embedded in concrete and fibre-cement ceilings, powered by three air-to-water heat pumps discreetly located in underground niches. Green roofs help prevent overheating, retain rainwater, and blend the building into its natural surroundings. Collected rainwater supplies the courtyard pond and irrigates surrounding vegetation, reinforcing the hospice’s commitment to sustainable design.

A Modern Sanctuary for Families

The Children’s Hospice House for Julia embodies CTYRSTEN’s philosophy of combining architecture, nature, and care. It balances emotional needs with practical functionality, offering a safe, comforting, and accessible environment for children facing critical illnesses and their families. Every design element—from the central courtyard to the rooftop meditation spaces—emphasizes connection, peace, and dignity, making this hospice a benchmark for compassionate healthcare architecture.

All photographs are works of Alex Shoots Buildings