Army thermal hospital, Military thermal hospital in Amélie-les-Bains-Palalda, France
This thermal hospital is a complex of three limestone buildings arranged in a U-shape around a wooded park of six hectares along the Mondony riverbank. The facility contains three swimming pools, nine shower rooms, and multiple treatment spaces with natural light coming through elevated openings.
The French Ministry of War built this thermal healing facility between 1847 and 1886 to provide treatment for military personnel using mineral waters. The long construction period shows how the site gradually developed into a complete medical complex.
The building shows military construction methods from the 19th century, with limestone walls and brick framing around doors and windows that reflect the style used by French armed forces at that time.
The buildings are connected by a glass corridor, making it easy to move between different treatment areas. The elevated windows and openings provide natural air circulation and help maintain therapeutic temperatures throughout the spaces.
The glass corridor was an innovative solution that allowed patients to move between treatment areas during winter months without exposure to the cold. This design was unusual for its time and shows how much care was taken for patients during the healing process.
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