Helios HSK, Wiesbaden

One of the most modern hospitals in Germany has been in operation since the beginning of 2024: the new Helios HSK in Wiesbaden. Around 120,000 outpatients and 45,000 inpatients are treated here every year in 28 specialist clinics and institutes, with more than 2,400 employees working for the hospital.

With an investment sum of 268 million euros, a new building complex with a longitudinal axis of 200 m and a depth of 100 m was erected directly next to the existing Helios Dr. Horst Schmidt Clinics, which can accommodate all the functions of a maximum care provider in high-performance medicine. The architecture and comb structure of the new building are aligned with the treatment processes and follow the principle of short distances: the departments are arranged in such a way that synergies are created and interdisciplinary cooperation is facilitated. The foyer, cafeteria, corridors and staircases of the building were designed to be functional and aesthetically pleasing at the same time using selected series of Villeroy & Boch tiles.

The vilbostone ABERDEEN porcelain stoneware series create a purist atmosphere with a subtle natural touch in the open foyer, which is flooded with light thanks to large glass surfaces and furnished with light-colored wood, in the corridors and stairwells. Inspired by the silver-grey granite from the former quarries around the harbor town of the same name in north-east Scotland, the design of the tiles adapts the typical inclusions and gloss effects of the grey Aberdeen stones in high-quality ceramics. In the floor design, the 30 x 60 cm and 15 x 60 cm formats in the expressive, matt slate grey color are combined in a bond, creating an interesting, lively look in the surfaces. The floor covering is extremely robust and easy to clean and offers a high level of slip resistance with slip resistance R10/A. The stairwells are designed with special 30 x 120 cm stair tiles, the edges of which have contrasting colored edges and milled grooves for better visibility. In addition, in particularly sensitive areas such as the kitchen, tiles with slip resistance R12-V4 were laid, which, thanks to their special surface structure, enable safe standing and walking even with large amounts of liquids or grease. The ABERDEEN wall tile in light white pearl in 30 x 60 cm format was also laid in various sanitary areas. A lustre print finish creates interesting matt-gloss effects on the glazed stoneware tiles, which subtly imitate the character of granite and can be perceived to varying degrees depending on the incidence of light and point of view.

In the cafeteria, whose interior design with the theme of “water” is reminiscent of Wiesbaden’s tradition as a spa town, floor areas with tiles from the historically inspired design concept CENTURY UNLIMITED catch the eye. The high-quality vilbostone porcelain stoneware combines a fine cotto cement look with decorations inspired by the Mettlach tiles from the 19th century. Attractive tile carpets have been created with decorative tiles in a successful contrast to the ABERDEEN surface in a consistent color: As a border, the cotto-colored Diamonds decor with classic diamonds creates a three-dimensional trompe l’œil effect. The main surface of the “carpet” is composed of the Circles decor, which uses ornaments in various coordinated shades of grey and beige as well as the expressive colors cotto and indigo to place the traditional patterns in a highly aesthetic, contemporary context.