CHICAGO — IIDA is pleased to honor 100% interior, the studio of interior architect Sylvia Leydecker, as the Best of Competition winner of the 2020 Healthcare Design Awards for their project, Private Clinic Chateau Gracht.

This annual competition celebrates excellence and originality in healthcare interior design that is exemplary of extraordinary innovations in design concepts. The studio was chosen from 10 category winners and was announced as the Best of Competition winner during a virtual awards ceremony hosted by IIDA Headquarters on November 17.

“This project beautifully pushes the boundaries of a traditional clinic environment through the marriage of contemporary and historic design elements,” said IIDA Executive Vice President and CEO Cheryl S. Durst, Hon, FIIDA. “The restoration of the original building was impeccably done — the design concept not only showcases a significant understanding of adaptive reuse but also of the human spirit.”

Entries were judged by a jury of design professionals: Lilliana Alvarado, IIDA, CHID, EDAC founder and design principal at UPHEALING; Gilbert Broco, IIDA, vice president of culture and design at CI Group; and Sara K. Wengert, AIA, ASID, principal at architecture+.

Located in Erftstadt, Germany, near Cologne, the private clinic is housed within the transformed Schloss Gracht, a castle dating back to at least 1433. Modern, balanced design can now be found within its sumptuous rooms featuring stucco detailing and herringbone parquet.

“We were impressed with the calming and comfortably modern interiors the design team accomplished within such a landmark structure,” said Alvarado on behalf of the jury. “The project seamlessly combines styles to create a one-of-a-kind patient experience that is truly deserving of the Best of Competition title.”

All winning projects can be viewed on IIDA.org and will be published in a 2021 issue of Healthcare Design magazine. For more information, contact Clare Socker, design competitions manager, at csocker@iida.org.