Sophia Children’s Hospital, Rotterdam
So Fit & Fun Centre,
Inspired by the feeling of being outside
Bringing nature, play and wellbeing into children's healthcare environment.
The So Fit & Fun Centre is a healthcare renovation and interior design project for Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam. Designed for children with heart, lung and respiratory conditions, it combines movement, play and sensory design to create a supportive environment where children can build confidence and discover what they are capable of.
The project began with conversations.
Not about design, but about the experiences of the children, their families and the healthcare professionals who support them every day.
One wish returned again and again: the feeling of being outside.
Alongside this was a desire to create opportunities for children to explore, move, play and connect with the world around them.
This idea shaped a playful landscape organised around spaces for meeting, movement and exercise. Not everything is visible at first glance. As children move through the space, new views, activities and places to explore gradually reveal themselves.
Natural materials, daylight, colour, sound and tactile experiences were carefully considered to create an environment that feels welcoming, optimistic and connected to the world beyond the hospital.
The centre is more than a children’s healthcare environment for testing and therapy. It also functions as a meeting place for children, families and staff.
A sensory space offering moments of play, connection and respite within the hospital environment.
At its heart, the project is about shifting the focus from limitations to possibilities.
A place where children can discover what they are capable of.
