Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology

Vanceva® color interlayers provide light, hope, and healing.

Transporting pediatric cancer patients over a busy four-lane road and tram track was an architectural challenge faced by the new Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology clinic in the Netherlands. Patients, parents, and medical staff must be able to easily cross between the clinic and the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital. The answer came in the form of an elevated walkway and the execution in the form of a glass “rainbow.”

Time in a hospital can be difficult and lonely, especially for young patients and their families. All childhood cancer patients in the Netherlands are treated at Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital. As part of their care, the children must pass from one building to the other. All essential areas must be reachable within one minute. The rainbow-colored bridge, which was constructed in 2018, makes the trip faster, safer, and more upbeat.

When coming up with the design, LIAG Architecten en Bouwadviseurs considered multiple studies showing how natural light and colors can have a positive influence on health. Thiele Glas Werk GmbH provided approximately 650 pieces of colorful glass in various combinations of 15 different Vanceva colored interlayers for use on the bridge’s glass surface, which is 1258 m² at a height of 5 m and a length of 160 m. Natural lighting coming through the colored panes provides an extraordinary play of light and color in the clinic. The effect is a lively, friendly atmosphere that delights both children and adults.

The Vanceva interlayers, which are laminated between two pieces of glass, offer more than whimsical color. The corridor perfectly blends into the landscape and protects against traffic noise. In addition, the bridge symbolizes the collaboration of the institutes and ensures the best possible supervision of the kids and their families.

Traveling from one facility to another along the colorful pathway symbolizes the connection between the daily hospital routine and the path to recovery. In addition, the bridge naturally evokes feelings of fun, play, and good health.

“This project achieves a wonderful fusion of color and light to positively impact the lives of children and families undergoing the most difficult of challenges,” said one juror. “The specific colors selected work extremely well as a continuous spectrum, creating a vibrant bridge that complements the more neutral character of the surrounding architecture.”

Thomas Bögl, LIAG architecten en bouwadviseurs

Thiele Glas Werk GmbH