The architect’s firm SSV Architekten, Heidelberg, succeeded in creating open, transparent rooms with all-around glazing, which also significantly improve the working situation. The white walls and the bright blue floor covering typical of operating theatres emphasise the demands on high functionality and hygiene of this kind of area. Dark red doors to the operating theatres and apple-green chairs and built-in cupboards in some areas provide the room with colour accents to mitigate its cool appearance.
“The principal attached great importance to a high-quality, very durable floor covering with low wear. The floor covering is still to function without restoration after twenty years”, remembers the project manager, Jan Vochsen, of the architect’s firm SSV Architekten. This led him to the rubber floor covering norament grano ed with a strength of 3.5mm. The typical blue colour of the owner, the Evangelische Stadtmission Heidelberg, however, was not listed as standard colour in the catalogue. However, the manufacturer, nora systems, having been able to promise to produce the 1,300m2 as special colour for the Salem hospital, the decision was made in favour of the floor covering.
