Hospital of South-East Bari of Monopoli-Fasano, Italy

If you look at a photograph of the Puglian countryside, whether in a newspaper, an advertisement or on the Internet, it is impossible not to recognise it. The centuries-old olive trees, the narrow dirt roads that wind through the fields and the typical dry-stone walls used by farmers to mark out their land are all characteristic features. In this unique rural setting, between Monopoli and Fasano, the Hospital of Southeast Barese was built, conceived as a "hospital in the park". The architect, Albert De Pineda, designed the building with porous volumes articulated around courtyards and open public spaces, both green and paved, maintaining maximum heights comparable to the crowns of the monumental olive trees (12/13 metres) that surrounds it.

Attention to the environment goes beyond just avoiding visual pollution. The structure is built with eco-friendly, locally sourced materials, exemplifying green architecture. It is inspired by sustainable and bioclimatic design principles aimed at reducing emissions by approximately 650 tons of CO₂ each year. Moreover, the hospital is thoughtfully integrated into a park where around 200 centuries-old olive trees have been replanted.

Located in a strategic area, the building is a new healthcare facility of excellence, improving and modernising the region's hospital services. It has 299 beds and 9 operating theatres, serving a catchment area of 260,000 people.