The “L’Arca sull’Albero” Pediatric Hospice stands on the edge of a black locust woodland separating Bologna from San Lazzaro di Savena, within a 16,000 sqm green area. Designed by the Renzo Piano Building Workshop and financed by the Fondazione Hospice Maria Teresa Chiantore Seràgnoli Onlus, it represents a unique architectural and healthcare model at the national level. Completed in 2024, the project now serves as the regional reference center for pediatric palliative care services in Emilia-Romagna.
Covering a total surface area of 23,800 sqm, the complex is composed of multiple buildings raised off the ground on cylindrical pilotis, connected by light aerial walkways evoking the image of suspended branches. The main building extends over four levels: the underground floor houses parking and technical rooms; the ground floor includes the entrance, reception areas, and outpatient clinics; the mezzanine is dedicated to training activities; and the first floor accommodates the patient rooms, winter garden, rehabilitation gym, hydrotherapy area, and recreational spaces.
The complex also includes 14 single rooms with covered terraces, 8 family apartments, a meditation area, a farewell hall, and rooms for art therapy, music therapy, and film projections. The design concept draws inspiration from the idea of a “treehouse”, lifting the building above ground to create a light, suspended space immersed in natural light and greenery.
From a construction standpoint, the building adopts integrated structural solutions combining exposed concrete, steel, glass, and American cedar wood. The high-performance envelope and photovoltaic roof, combined with a geothermal system, significantly reduce the overall energy demand. The project has achieved LEED Platinum certification.
The entire architectural scheme is conceived to offer a non-hospital, open, and permeable environment, fostering connection with the landscape and ensuring care conditions focused on well-being, dignity, and the quality of lived time.