Solid surface material for a hospital in Baku

It is no longer a secret that much has happened architecturally in the Caucasian states since the collapse of the Soviet Union. With Zaha Hadid, UN Studio, gmp and Michele de Lucchi, some internationally-renowned protagonists have already entered the architectural scene of countries such as Georgia and Azerbaijan. Many built examples at this geographical and cultural interface between Europe, Asia and the Middle East show a fusion of styles, and often a pronounced preference for symbolism, material use and large dimensions. In the "land of fire", as Azerbaijan likes to call itself due to its oil deposits, or more precisely in its capital Baku, glass flames blaze from the city's historical sea of houses. The desire for modern and arguably Western architecture also goes hand in hand with the choice of materials.
 
Contribution to infection control
The Bona Dea International Hospital is named after a healing angel of Roman mythology. The choice of colours for the new hospital could be interpreted in a similarly symbolic way. Wall and furniture claddings made of Corian Solid Surface in shades called "Glacier White", "Grape Green" and "Dove" characterise the atmosphere inside, which is intended to be fresh and calming for the users. The high-tech material Corian, for its part, is intended to be a health-promoting factor. One of the most important properties of the solid surface material is that its pore-free surface meets the hygienic requirements. With appropriate cleaning, the growth of mould and bacteria is prevented, and the surface is also resistant to chemicals and penetrating liquids, according to the manufacturer. The fact that the surfaces are easy to repair should also contribute to their longevity, with scratches and stains able to be easily removed by maintenance personnel. For use on facades, the Corian Exteriors material version, which is manufactured on a solid-surface basis, offers high resistance to UV radiation and protection against extreme weather conditions.
 
Versatile use of the high-tech material
These properties are particularly attractive to the health-care sector. For the hospital in Baku, the processing of Corian Solid Surface panels, manufactured exclusively by DuPont, was carried out by Palitra, an Azerbaijan-based company.
Covering a total area of 37,500 m2, the Bona Dea Hospital comprises a total of 32 medical specialist areas. On the one hand, Corian facade panels in Glacier White create an irregular pattern of diamonds and triangles along individual sides of the building and thus form a characteristic decoration on it. On the other, the versatilely formable panels were used as cladding for other facade elements as well as for columns in exterior and interior areas. In the rooms, Corian can be found in numerous places: from wall coverings, bedsteads and furniture in patient rooms, to worktops in bathrooms, on laboratory tables and as windowsills. The puristic-looking material seems to flow smoothly and seamlessly over the inner shell of the room, the fixtures and fittings and the furnishings. Finally, the project demonstrates the broad scope of design possibilities with Corian, and is another example of the new architectural landscape between the Black and Caspian Seas.