Restoration and extension of “King Carol I” rural hospital in Filipestii de Targ

Authors’ Comment

My diploma project proposes the restoration and extension of a rural hospital built in 1906 in the village of Filipeștii de Târg. Part of a national network of 32 rural hospitals built to mark King Carol I’s 40th coronation anniversary. Designed to be accessible to peasant communities, these rural hospitals marked an important psychological shift: for the first time, the peasant population had widespread dedicated buildings intended for their medical needs.
Today, Romania’s healthcare system faces significant challenges. The Ministry of Health, in its General Regional Plan for Health Services 2021–2027, acknowledges that “inpatient care is oversized and that primary and outpatient services are underused” and “the hospital is no longer the exclusive setting for routine medical and surgical care”. The plan calls for the “development of integrated outpatient networks, as well as improved diagnostic services, laboratories, and functional explorations.”
My project aligns with this vision, proposing a healthcare center that combines preventive care (family medicine, gynecology, pediatrics), treatment (dental, physical therapy), and diagnostics (blood labs with on-site sampling).
The project preserves the architectural and historical value of the original structure, reusing local limestone, brick, and timber with a pitched roof to maintain its rural character. Rather than enforcing symmetry, which was never present in the original structure, the entrance is marked by a pivoted "void," a rotated square that echoes the size and off-axis position of the existing extruding pavilion.
It follows a "neo-pavilion" concept, distributing functions horizontally while sharing essential functions, improving flow and operational efficiency. A central courtyard acts as a shared social and waiting space, while a traditional portico supports circulation and evokes rural architectural language. The blood sampling area serves both existing and proposed buildings, bridging the two volumes and fostering a sense of integration.
The front courtyard is open to the village and reinterprets the role of public outdoor spaces in rural life. It was designed as a welcoming and inclusive place, particularly for elderly residents who often face isolation. Benches and chess tables encourage interaction, mental stimulation, and regular presence in the community. These activities support mental health and cognitive well-being. In this way, the healthcare center has become more than a medical facility. It has become a familiar and integrated part of everyday life. Parking is situated at the back of the site and includes spaces for cars, bicycles, and ambulances.
This project proposes a replicable model for the adaptive reuse of Romania’s abandoned rural hospitals. It advocates sustainable, empathetic healthcare architecture: contextual, decentralized, and responsive to the real needs of smaller communities.