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Breaking Ground in Medical Architecture

Elegance, innovation, and functionality: the remarkable Corian® Exteriors facade at Liberec Regional Hospital

This innovative material choice has truly brought my vision to life. I appreciate its unique combination of elegance and strength. Corian® Exteriors formability enables the creation of distinctive design elements, and it was essential for us to have a material that could shield the building from direct sunlight while allowing natural light to filter inside through perforations. (Jan Duda, architect)

Tuesday 24 October 2023, by Mert

October 2023 — The Regional Hospital in Liberec, Czech Republic, has unveiled its groundbreaking Pavillion dedicated to nuclear imaging techniques. This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with advanced diagnostic tools, making it a unique medical resource in Europe. The Pavilion is not just functionally significant; it also represents an outstanding architectural achievement, showcasing innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to patient well-being thanks to its visionary facade design. Designed by architect Jan Duda, it is composed of 150 panels of Corian® Exteriors color Glacier White, perforated to recreate a decorative pattern reminiscent of the radiation sign's triangles.

Liberec Regional Hospital

Pavilion R, Liberec Regional Hospital, Czech. The facade is made of 150 panels of Corian® Exteriors color Glacier White. Designed by Jan Duda; manufactured by Soliform; photo by Jan Duda, all rights reserved.

Jan Duda took on the design of Pavilion R at Liberec Regional Hospital with a unique vision. Diverging from typical enclosed medical facilities of this kind, Duda chose an open, spacious design prioritizing patient comfort and balancing functionality with aesthetics. Corian®v Exteriors played a vital role in creating a shading ring that seamlessly blends strength with an ethereal feel.

Duda's selection of Corian® Exteriors stemmed from his prior positive experiences with the material in interior applications. He remark s: "This innovative material choice has truly brought my vision to life. I appreciate its unique combination of elegance and strength. The material's formability enables the creation of distinctive design elements, and it was essential for us to have a material that could shield the building from direct sunlight while allowing natural light to filter inside through perforations. Corian® Exteriors' technical attributes, including its resistance to climatic and weather conditions, as well as its UV resistance, were also decisive factors in our decision-making process."

Solid, homogeneous in all its thickness and coloured all the way through, Corian® Solid Surface is used to create custom-made panels to produce expansive and sleek vertical surfaces with inconspicuous seams. Corian® also stands out for its enduring color stability, thanks to its non-porous and resistant qualities.

Liberec Regional Hospital

Pavilion R, Liberec Regional Hospital, Czech. The facade is made of 150 panels of Corian® Exteriors color Glacier White. Designed by Jan Duda; manufactured by Soliform; photo by Jan Duda, all rights reserved.

The facade's installation was executed by Soliform, an established Corian® fabricator based in Sofia, Bulgaria, with a clientele spanning Central Europe. Christian Kostov, Architect and Managing Director of Soliform, explains: "We conducted several tests to strike the perfect balance between solid sections and perforations, ensuring structural integrity while providing visibility from the interior. Corian® made it possible to create large panels, and despite 40% of the facade being perforated, it maintains excellent structural resistance. Precision was paramount during the installation of the steel structure that supports the panels, ensuring the pattern's regularity, with each panel perfectly aligned with the next. Corian® makes it possible to create seamlessly corresponding façade connections.”

Although Pavilion R has been operational for a relatively brief period, initial feedback from the public and the surrounding community suggests that the unconventional approach has been a resounding success. Duda's visionary concept has not only transformed the physical landscape of Liberec Regional Hospital but has also challenged conventional perceptions of hospital spaces.

Soliform (soliform.com) is a Bulgarian company with more than 20 years of experience in designing and fabricating products made with Corian® Solid Surface. Soliform serves both national and international customers, providing innovative solutions and top-quality products throughout the consulting, design, product development, and installation phases. The company is a member of the Corian® Solid Surface Quality Network Programme.

About Corian® Design  Corian® Design, a division of the DuPont company, is a global organization which creates, manufactures and markets advanced materials, products and solutions for interior design and architecture, originating from a foundation of world-class technologies and expertise. Marketed under the Corian® brand and the Make your Space™ tagline, its materials, products and solutions meet the most demanding requirements in terms of beauty, functionality and durability. The Corian® Design global portfolio is continuously evolving and it currently includes Corian® Solid Surface, Corian® Quartz, Corian® Endura and Corian® Exteriors. To know more about Corian® Design and its product offering in your country or region: www.corian.com

About DuPont - DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader with technology-based materials, ingredients and solutions that help transform industries and everyday life. Our employees apply diverse science and expertise to help customers advance their best ideas and deliver essential innovations in key markets including electronics, transportation, building and construction, health and wellness, food and worker safety. More information can be found at www.dupont.com.

DuPont™, Corian® and the Corian® logo system are registered trademarks or trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours Inc. Other logos, trademarks and registered trademarks are a property of their respective owners.

DuPont de Nemours, Inc. (DuPont) manufacturers and sells surfacing materials and products that inspires creative design. DuPont is not in the business of architecture, engineering, or performing installations. As such, we do not approve or disapprove any applications' final drawings or installation, nor assume any liability for such. Any and all liability for a final design rests solely with the architect, designer, and/or the building owner.

Media contact:
Łukasz Gągało,
Corian® Design
EMEA Commercial Segment Marketing Leader
Email: lukasz.gagalo@dupont.com

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