IRA II

Name: Birrd
Price range: $

In healthcare settings, interior design plays an essential role in shaping both the emotional experience of patients and the daily reality of medical staff. For the new Institut du Roi Albert II (IRA II)—a 20,000 m² building entirely dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer—the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc entrusted BB Design with creating a warm, reassuring, and functional interior. After more than a year of close collaboration, the project evolved into a shared vision: designing spaces that put patients at maximum ease during particularly vulnerable moments, while simultaneously offering a professional, comfortable, and stimulating work environment for the care team.

Essential qualities

Working closely with Sandrine De Cuyper, who was responsible for the architectural and design choices of the new building, BB Design contributed to the design phase and led the full furnishing and installation. The challenge was twofold: meeting strict hospital hygiene and durability standards while offering softness, comfort, and harmony—essential qualities for a department caring for highly fragile patients. Through numerous proposals, on-site sample testing, and continuous dialogue with caregivers, we ensured every piece of furniture was not only compliant but genuinely supportive of patient and staff well-being. 498 items were ultimately selected, each one chosen with intention and empathy.

Home away from home

The result is an interior that feels less like a traditional hospital and more like a welcoming, thoughtfully designed home away from home. Since moving into the new building, staff describe IRA II as “a dream to work in,” and patients have been equally vocal about the comfort and atmosphere of the space. The positive impact has been so strong that Saint-Luc has already placed additional orders, extending the design approach to other sites. The IRA II project stands as a testament to how purposeful design can elevate both care and work — and how, even in the most clinical environments, human-centered design makes all the difference.