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The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg is a joint project by German Cancer Aid, the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg, and Heidelberg University Hospital. The newly constructed NCT building, inaugurated in 2010, houses a combination of interdisciplinary medical care and clinically oriented cancer research under one roof, creating a space where patients, doctors, and scientists can mingle and meet. Due to the positive feedback and the requirement for additional space, the new design includes an annex to the existing laboratory and a new building to the north of the day clinic area. Both buildings have three floors and cover a usable area of approximately 2,600 m².
The new addition to the NCT marks the northern boundary of the campus, next to the ring road, with student housing facilities located on the opposite side. As a longitudinal structure, the new administrative building runs parallel to the street, creating a new outward face for the NCT and an outdoor space towards the pre-existing facility in the south. The southwestern part features staggered floors to increase daylight exposure. The geometry of the annex is partially shaped by an access road leading onto the property. Both new building and annex complete the original structure, which was finely calibrated to integrate with the surrounding clinic complex.
Once it became clear that an extension on top of the existing building was not possible, we opted for an all-timber structure to house the NCT’s administration. This freestanding three-story building is constructed almost entirely of wood, from the smallest details to the largest components. Apart from the basement, every part of the building showcases timber, serving as a sustainable addition to the existing structures. The goal is to create an all-encompassing sensory experience with the wood, fostering a welcoming and pleasant working atmosphere. The timber frame consists of laminated timber plates in a cross-wall construction, with 20 cm thick internal walls and 24 cm thick floors. The design maximizes the use of daylight and features natural ventilation through operable windows.
The central aim of the design is to create a welcoming and inclusive hospital experience through an environment that is multi-sensory and thus engaging on various levels—haptic, visual, and olfactory. The new freestanding structure, primarily made of wood, contributes to an atmosphere unlike most other hospitals: it is bright, emanates the natural scent of wood, and features a colourful felt facade on the inside, design features which together create an almost domestic ambience. Despite strict functional limitations, the existing complex differs significantly from a traditional hospital building. It does not conform to a rigid grid structure, and its light-filled atrium provides a welcoming space for patients, visitors, and doctors to meet. The friendly indoor atmosphere is enhanced by the generous use of wood. This material variety is also reflected in the facades, which incorporate glass, metal, and rendering, further highlighting the diverse shapes of the building's various sections. By matching the construction style, form, and materials of the existing laboratory wing and continuing them according to the same principles, the new building seamlessly extends the original structure.
"Research and practice will have more space together while also moving even closer together. We hope the modern aesthetics of the building will contribute to a great deal of inspiration and joint innovation in cancer research and treatment for our colleagues at the NCT Heidelberg." Ursula Weyrich, Kaufmännischer Vorstand des DKFZ
Behnisch Architekten was founded in 1989 and works out of four offices – Stuttgart, Munich, Boston and Weimar. The firm enjoys a global reputation for high-quality architecture that integrates environmental responsibility, creativity, and public purpose and produces a rich variety of buildings mainly in Europe and North America. The partners and staff share a vision to push the boundaries of high performance, 21st-century architecture that respects user needs, ecological resources, and local cultures. From the beginning, Behnisch has prioritized the social dimension of architecture and the quality of the urban environment. Its projects respond to the material and spiritual needs of people. In over 30 years, the firm has created a diverse portfolio of projects that is attuned to the culture and climate of place and demonstrates new ways for occupants to inhabit their surroundings.
