Veselības pils. Tērvetes sanatorijas būvvēsture, arhitektūra un dizains
The Palace of Health. Construction History, Architecture and Design of Tērvete Sanatorium

Summary/Abstract: The Tērvete sanatorium of the Latvian Red Cross (LRC) was the largest and the most modern newly built sanatorium in the interwar period in Latvia. It was also the largest sanatorium in the Baltics and was able to accommodate 250 patients. From 1918 to 1940 the Latvian Red Cross was the most important and wealthiest humanitarian organization in Latvia. The LRC established hospitals, pharmacies, healthcare stations and sanatoriums as well as educated the public about health and disease prevention. Through close cooperation with other member states of the International Red Cross, the LRC contributed to introducing high level healthcare standards in the newly proclaimed Republic of Latvia.As a result of successful and well considered commercial activities, the LRC could afford to construct modern buildings with the characteristics of modernist architecture and which met the requirements of construction development at that time. Examples include the Tērvete sanatorium (1930–1932), the orthopaedics workshop and medicines storehouse in Riga (1933–1934), the contagious diseases unit in Rēzekne hospital (1933–1934) and the nursing school in Riga (1935–1936). All of them are characteristic examples of Latvian Functionalism and were built by the eminent modernist architect Aleksandrs Klinklāvs (1899–1982). The sanatorium for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis was established in the countryside village of Tērvete because of the extensive surrounding conifer groves, hilly terrain and the specific climate of the region (the lowest rainfall level in the country and many sunny days). At first this medical institution, like most Latvian sanatoriums, was established in an adapted building, a Neo-Classicist hunting lodge. The increasing number of patients and the wish of the sanatorium director Eižens Puriņš (1888–1956) to treat patients according to the most modern methods at the time motivated the LRC to announce an international competition for a new sanatorium building in 1930. Despite the fact that 27 design proposals were submitted, the first prize was not awarded. The shared second prize was given to two participants – Baltic German architect Erich Gramtz (1884–?) and architecture student Ansis Kalniņš (1903–1944). In the final construction plan Klinklāvs further developed Kalniņš’s proposal. From Kalniņš’s ideas only the southern façade composition with semi-circular avant-corps in the centre was retained, but the overall impression of the building became more modern. We know that Klinklāvs was inspired by the layout and northern façade of the hospital at Beaujon in France, designed by French architect Jean Walter (1883–1957). A plan of this building was enclosed in the Tērvete sanatorium construction documentation.The sanatorium was built in 15 months and officially opened in July 1932. It was a three-storey linear building planned according to the compass with its longest façades facing north and south. Patient wards and public spaces were located in the southern part of the building and the northern part was reserved for treatment and sanitary facilities.The structure of the building was characterized by features of Functionalism – planning according to function, horizontal spatial and façade composition, ribbon-like fenestration with large windows and the use of reinforced concrete. A regional approach to modernism is also visible, which permits a comparison with the Paimio Sanatorium in Finland designed by architect Alvar Aalto (1898–1976). In both cases the architecture was closely linked with the surroundings; for example, pine groves were kept very close to the building and the architectural composition blended harmoniously with the landscape. However, the sanatoriums do not resemble each other either in terms of volumes or in spatial configuration. The Tērvete sanatorium also reveals the principles of the Latvian local cultural milieu – the building shows the visible impact of the nearby Classicist manor houses in Zemgale. The same spatial composition was used – a rectangular block with imposing semi-circular avant-corps in the garden façade and two smaller rectangular avant-corps in both ends of the building and a symmetrical garden around the edifice.The planning of the sanatorium was symmetrical and rational. A corridor system considered to be the most hygienic at that time was also used. The spatial structure was highlighted by the semi-circular halls on all three floors – an events hall transformable to a dining room on the first floor and halls for open-air treatment on the two upper floors. Klinklāvs paid particular attention to the interior of the sanatorium, which allows us to link it with other iconic examples of sanatorium architecture in Europe. To provide additional illumination in the wide and long corridors Klinklāvs used frosted glass partitions, for easier movement of patients there were no thresholds between rooms and special flooring made footsteps quieter. Staff were alerted by light signals instead of sound with lamps located above the doors of every ward. The furniture reflected strong joinery traditions but looked in the modernist direction – practical yet elegant. The architect himself designed the projects for the furniture of the LRC healthcare institutions (e.g. hospital beds, chaises longues, etc.) but the simpler furniture in Tērvete was created by a joinery company under his recommendation and supervision. Klinklāvs designed the most significant piece of furniture in the pulmonary sanatorium – the chaise longue. He used the well-known construction of the Davos Liegestuhl but curved the seating part, which resembled the design of other modernists like Le Corbusier (1887–1965) and Alvar Aalto. Overall the interior of the Tērvete sanatorium was plain and even reminded one of a hospital.The sanatorium became an important local community centre and was well known across the country too. Named variously from Ship of Health (just like the Zonnestraal sanatorium in the Netherlands) to Palace of Health, the sanatorium retained its status in the Soviet period. The building suffered some unsuccessful modifications to the interior but these did not affect the building overall. Tērvete sanatorium is considered to be an architectural monument of national importance and one of the most ambitious healthcare buildings of interwar period Latvia.

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