Cantonal psychiatric clinic Liestal

The conversion and extension of the clinic was accompanied by B+P on behalf of the Building and Environmental Protection Department of the Canton of Basel Landschaft from 1998 onwards – from the concept via the requirements planning with submission to the Cantonal Parliament and right through to realisation.

Building A was erected in 1934 as the oldest part of the Cantonal Psychiatric Clinic. The building illustrates the style of the “Architecture for the health of soul and body” of that time and recalls the sanatorium buildings from that era. Apart from the attic extended in 1999, the building was in need of redevelopment from both a structural as well as an operational perspective. The equipment and atmosphere of the large, mass care rooms no longer conformed to present and future requirements on therapeutic surroundings.

Particular importance was attached to careful handling of the existing building substance and architecture. The character of the long building, situated beautifully incorporated on a hill spur, is retained.

In accordance with the symmetric ground plan, the central staircase becomes the main connection.  Situated on both the ground and first floors are two polyvalent-use wards for 16 beds, the 2^nd floor has two open wards with 15 beds. The rooms are arranged such that the dwelling areas and patient rooms face south. The less frequented areas such as personnel/ward rooms are on the north side. The ward corridor opens out into an open dwelling area in the entrance area; at the head end it merges into a generous, naturally lit forecourt.

In addition, a 4-storey new building (building C) for workshops and studios was set up on the premises as therapy location; this new building also accommodates the offices of the doctors, nursing staff and administration.