The Isala Diaconessenhuis is a hospital that transcends all stereotypes of what a hospital should look and feel like. Contrary to designing the everyday sterile hospital, Vakwerk Architecten took a more holistic approach and made it their mission to create an environment that would actively contribute to the well-being of its patients. The result is an elegant and friendly building that resembles a healthcare centre more so than a hospital, with abundant use of daylight and orientation on its natural surroundings. Carefully considered choice of textures and materials give warmth to the building and make visitors feel at home. Despite the extensive program that the hospital comprises, the building still feels friendly, coherent and functional. Several working groups and conferences with healthcare professionals have helped to optimize workflows and have resulted in a highly efficient building. The main goal was to create a healing environment that stimulates vitality, health and movement. Therefore, most functions are located on the ground floor, with patients only having to go upstairs when they are being admitted. Even for surgery, patients walk themselves to the OR, after which they can relax in their treatment room surrounded by the beautiful nature of the Reest valley. Special care was taken to utilise the qualities of the natural context as much as possible, and in many creative ways. With its mainly horizontal orientation, use of a modest colour scheme and the implementation of a green roof landscape, the hospital is perfectly embedded in its natural surroundings. To ensure a seamless extension of the natural context into the interior and a fitting spatial identity, Vakwerk Architecten worked closely together with the strategic designers at Komovo: brass leaves of the native trees are integrated in the floor, as if they were blown in by the wind; animals follow the movement of visitors at the entrance through an interactive wall projection; and various prints of plants and animals adorn walls, doors, windows and curtains. Folded aluminium plates on the façade reflect the sunlight differently over time, changing the building’s appearance throughout the day and with the seasons. Canopies accentuate the buildings' horizontality and help prevent overheating. Not only in its organization and architectural expression is the hospital innovative in its sector: the Isala Diaconessenhuis is also the first all-electric hospital of the Netherlands. Solar panels cover the roofs of the two higher volumes, and the building is equipped with a thermal storage system. Moreover, the building treats its environment with the utmost respect: the terrain is primarily planted with local vegetation; storks’ nests have been preserved and new ones added; and the green roof allows for sufficient biodiversity. All these sustainability measures combined have resulted in a healthy building, both for its users and the environment, now as well as in the future.