karlsruhe municipal hospital
signage system
karlsruhe 2021

saying it with flowers


except on the happy occasion of a birth, a hospital visit is rarely something we look forward to. that’s why this signage system brings flowers and colours into the building, creating spaces that are pleasant to be in. 


plant names appear in neon writing on the walls of the main circulation corridor, giving each individual space a friendly feel and clearly defining the circulation spaces. selected interior walls and ceilings are painted in delicate floral shades specified by the artist hf müller. author miriam holzapfel has written entertaining descriptions of 24 medicinal plants to help anyone who has to wait pass the time pleasantly and guide their thoughts in positive and optimistic directions. setting the tone, the entrance hall greets everyone with ten suspended neon words – concepts relating to the hospital’s work, selected by the philosopher hannes böhringer. they endow this semi-public space with an urban feel and help to create a distinctive image. 


the system tells us that here, people are working to help and heal others, signalling care and personal attention – precisely what anyone in hospital needs.

projectdata

client:

städtisches klinikum karlsruhe ggmbh


architect:

wörner traxler richter


communication design:

büro uebele

visuelle kommunikation

project team:

dominik bissem (project manager until august 2020)

carolin himmel

nadja ratz

marcel tillmanns (project manager september 2020 – february 2021)

andreas uebele


photos:

frank blümler

guido kasper


art:

in collaboration with harald f müller


words entrance hall:

hannes böhringer


text medicinal plants:

miriam holzapfel


principal typeface:

own (neon writing), in collaboration with gabriel richter,

avenir next lt pro

awards

iiid award 2023, award