Noorder Sanatorium, Psychiatric hospital in Zuidlaren, Netherlands.
The Noorder Sanatorium is a psychiatric facility in Tynaarlo built with distinctive 1930s modernist features. The structure uses yellow stone with deep blue tile panels between windows and features a central tower with four angled wings that originally served different functional areas.
The building was constructed in 1935 by architect Egbert Reitsma as an expansion of the existing Dennenoord psychiatric institution. It was specifically designed to accommodate patients without court-ordered psychiatric declarations, representing a shift in how psychiatric care was organized during that period.
The building displays 1930s architectural thinking through its clear geometric forms, which reflected modern approaches to psychiatric care. The separate wings show how the design physically organized different patient groups, a practice that was typical for hospitals of that era.
The grounds are visible from outside and the architecture can be viewed from multiple angles, allowing close examination of the details. The tower with its four wings serves as a natural reference point for understanding the overall layout.
The central tower contains a large stained glass window designed by Jan Wijkmans that subtly modulates light throughout the building. This artwork was a deliberate use of light as a therapeutic element within the sanatorium.
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