Façade film enhances a building at Privatklinik Bethanien
A daily dose of nature
Getting people quickly back on the road to recovery – this is seldom one of the work specifications at Frontwork! However, this is precisely what Privatklinik Bethanien had in mind when it approached us.
A private hospital is a place where many demands are made: the most important objective? Providing patients with a feel-good atmosphere.
The hospital management of Privatklinik Bethanien finally found Frontwork through its professional website.
The task:
The customer required a realistic photo reproduction which brings nature to the hospital window. Studies have long since proven that a view of the green beauty of nature activates the body’s healing powers and defences. Frontwork listened very carefully, in order to find out more about Privatklinik Bethanien’s ideas. The patients should be able to enjoy a beautiful view, but the view through the window was currently blocked by a grey wall.
Our wealth of experience showed that a simple photo is boring and not sustainable. This enabled us to convince the hospital and finally find a solution together.
View of the completed façade from below (motif of the film: woodland with trees, woodpecker, doe and stag)
Completed façade on the top floor
A feast for the eyes
Today patients are sent on a visual journey thanks to the new façade with its graphic elements. The eye now discovers woodpeckers, birds, farmhouses and benches in a playful exploration. Natural landscapes of forest, mountains and tracts of land provide the large natural motif with a varied touch. The up-market standard of the hospital, equipment and CI were also reflected in the choice of images.
Worker on scaffolding covering the façade
Worker on ladder secured with a safety line working on the façade
Installation in the heat
The wonderful hot summer of 2018 was glorious – but unfortunately it was a massive challenge for our operational planning, since cooler weather is best for wrapping work:
So armed with water bottles and sun cream, our team of specialists set off at 5.00 am. The metal façade was cooler at this time of the morning and could be processed more easily – our team would have burnt their fingers in the truest sense later in the day. The heat gradually made the metal façade almost red-hot, while work was being carried out on scaffolding with inclined supports – over a glass roof.
Three workers applying film to the façade on scaffolding three floors up
Woman working with cutter and ruler
A motif on all levels
Selecting the film was challenging. Several qualities were required: the material had to be weatherproof, resist temperatures from -30 to +50 degrees and withstand cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner while remaining colour-fast. Overall, a durable result with a life expectancy of 7-10 years was desired. In short: everything simply had to be right!
Applying the motif consistently to different base surfaces such as glass, doors and metal was another exciting challenge. The Frontwork team, soaked in sweat because of the heat, strove for high precision during application of the film with an area of around 100 m2: different films were used for different base surfaces. During the preparations for the printing, care was taken to ensure that the motif can always be appreciated as a whole over the complete façade.
Complete façade wrapping of the whole building
The result is truly impressive, and for all to see. None of the patients will have to do without their daily dose of nature on the Zürichberg hill from now on …