The future of St. Joseph's Hospital
A wellness centre, a family services centre and a regional archive are among the proposals of a working group tasked with developing a future strategy for the use of St Joseph's Hospital.
A wellness centre, a family services hub and a regional archive are among the proposals of a working group tasked with developing a future strategy for the use of St Joseph's Hospital. The working group guided its work by the words HEALTH – COMMUNITY – CREATION. The working group also states that it is essential to ensure the building is sustainable, multi-purpose and flexible. The working group submitted a report to the town council on 19 October.
St. Joseph's Hospital covers over 2,800 square metres across four floors, with an attached chapel and service space in the basement, along with annexes. The Hafnarfjörður Town Council appointed a working group this summer to formulate proposals for the hospital's future use. The group had extensive collaboration with residents and stakeholders and, based on available data, proposals and discussions, three proposals were put forward for the future of St. Joseph's Hospital.
The group's first proposal is to promote Hafnarfjörður as a wellness town and to honour the educational work that the sisters at the hospital worked so diligently on. It is therefore proposed that the building become a so-called 'quality of life centre', housing a community that offers prevention, health care, early intervention, education and a creative hub.
The working group says that the Family Services of Hafnarfjörður have submitted several proposals for the use of the hospital. There is a shortage of accommodation for young people with disabilities, particularly long-term housing, and it was therefore proposed that the building be used as a service centre for the Family Services.
Finally, it is stated that the people of Hafnarfjörður have long called for a regional archive and that the building is ideal for such a collection. This activity could run alongside other activities. A day care centre has been proposed alongside the archive, and the group suggests that charities such as the Alzheimer's or Parkinson's organisations should also be able to use the building.