Switzerland (Bern) | Healthcare | noracare™ seneo

A high-performance foundation for a state-of-the-art medical clinic

noracare seneo allows efficient cleaning at Switzerland’s Anna-Seiler-Haus

The new Anna-Seiler-Haus in Bern is one of the most modern and attractive hospital buildings in Switzerland. The new main building, which opened in 2023, offers optimum working conditions and creates the perfect environment for a patient-centred, cutting-edge university clinic. Visitors, patients and staff benefit from short walkways, clear structures, central hubs and optimized processes. The fact that the Anna-Seiler-Haus features spacious architecture, plenty of daylight and views of the green surroundings also makes it a very pleasant environment in which to spend time. The noracare seneo floor covering, around 23,000 m2 of which was laid in thoroughfares and recreation areas, also contributes to this ambience. Its high-performance surface was specially developed for areas with the most stringent hygiene requirements and heavy use of disinfectants. It could not be easier to clean. noracare seneo is stain-resistant and fully disinfectable. The clinic’s feel-good atmosphere also benefits from noracare seneo’s silk-matt surface and harmoniously balanced colour palette. The flooring does not ever require treatment or coating, which makes organizing maintenance easier and saves considerable follow-up costs over time.

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Premium quality standards apply to floorings too

Decision-makers face major challenges when it comes to maintaining floor coverings in clinics, especially in heavily frequented thoroughfares. “We generally can’t close off these areas and so have to clean them while they are in use”, says Rudolf Pfaffen, Head of Special Cleaning at the clinic’s Facility Services division. Floor coverings with coatings that need to be renewed at regular intervals are therefore less suitable. The Swiss clinic became aware of noracare seneo just after the flooring was launched in 2021 and decided to install a test surface. As the experience was positive with regards to durability, hygiene and chemical resistance, the decision-makers opted for large-scale use of the flooring. This proved a success, as it is extremely easy to clean. “We clean the surfaces twice a week using a machine and a neutral detergent”, says Pfaffen. “The maintenance expenses are low and the floors look flawless.” Another advantage is that noracare seneo has low rolling resistance, so it is easy to more even heavy equipment and beds around. At the same time, the permanent elasticity of the covering makes it very comfortable to walk on.

Cradle to Cradle Gold-certified and fully recyclable

noracare seneo also impresses in terms of environmental friendliness and compatibility with the circular economy. This makes the floor covering a perfect fit for this building, which is built in accordance with the Swiss Minergie-P Eco standard to conserve resources and protect the global climate. “noracare floors are extremely durable and have a service life of 30 years or more”, says Martina Hoock, Senior Segment Manager Healthcare and Education for the DACH region at nora. “The colour laid at the Inselspital clinic is also Cradle to Gold-certified and is fully recyclable.” The fact that noracare floors are non-hazardous and free from PVC, chlorine-containing polymers and phthalate plasticisers makes them the ideal choice for hospitals. They are also low-emission and contribute to good indoor air quality.

Data and facts

Building	Inselspital \| Anna-Seiler-Haus, Bern, Switzerland
Architect	reinhardpartner Architekten und Planer AG, Bern, Switzerland
Installation Year	2022
Photographer	Pascal Gugler

View through the hospital corridor between reception and waiting area. The noracare seneo floor covering was chosen for the circulation areas.

View from a corridor into a treatment room in the Anna-Seiler-Haus at Inselspital Bern

Connecting corridor in the hospital, a nurse pushing a trolley can be recognised in a blur

Dynamic bend in the connecting corridor linking the hospital buildings. Left and right window fronts

Break/recreation room in hospital with kitchenette, bistro tables and seating

Waiting area in hospital with wooden walls and benches, dark floor and green seat cushions

Waiting area in hospital, wood, the dark noracare seneo floor and green seat upholstery characterize the ambience

Products

noracare™ seneo

For application areas with highest requirements for hygienic cleaning and maintenance as well as stain and chemical resistance. Single-coloured design with iridescent marbled colour granules, from a distance almost uni-coloured.