Following cardiovascular intervention, treatment for musculoskeletal issues, cancer-related surgery or pulmonary diseases, the quality of rehabilitation care is arguably as important as the sophistication of the initial medical treatment when it comes to ensuring the best possible outcome. Early in its 130-year history, the Klinik Schloss Mammern recognised the central and positive influence of well-being on the healing process. Today, its fourth-generation owners, who are also medical doctors, incorporate nature, clever design and cutting-edge medicine to ensure that patients enjoy a full recuperation in comfort following serious medical intervention.

Set in a small village in a nine-hectare (22-acre) park along the shore of Lake Constance, the clinic consists of a 17th-century chateau, as well as a state-of-the-art medical centre that was unveiled in 2022. Running more than one kilometre along Lake Constance, the clinic’s park offers ample space for patients to relax; if they are not yet ready for a stroll, the clinic’s clever design brings the outdoors inside.

Staying an average of three weeks, patients are assessed by an interdisciplinary team upon arrival, and treatment may include physiotherapy, sports therapy, occupational therapy, nutritional counselling and nursing care. For many patients, a stay at Klinik Schloss Mammern represents their first steps back towards normal life following hospitalisation. As Dr Annemarie Fleisch Marx, the clinic’s chief physician and fourthgeneration owner, explains, the comfort of patients is paramount: “You see the importance of design in the restaurant, for example, where we serve a five-course lunch and dinner menu that changes daily. The glass structure gives the feeling that you are sitting in a garden, though the glass does protect patients from the weather. In the colder months, the fireplace lures patients to enjoy tea or coffee in a cosy atmosphere, as if they were at home.”

Of course, the design exudes serenity and style, but it is also neatly adapted for patients undergoing rehab. The bathrooms may be tiled with beautiful Italian mosaics, but they are accessible to wheelchairs. And it is not just the social and living areas that make the most of the beautiful surroundings: all of the therapy rooms, from sports therapy to physiotherapy to balance training, have views of the lake and gardens. This was all by design, explains Dr Fleisch Marx: “Our goal, when we expanded the clinic a year ago, was to design a functional medical clinic that would feel to the patient like a luxurious hotel, a real home throughout the duration of their stay, a place to find peace and harmony within nature.”

This conscious effort to call on every possible tool to treat patients can only improve outcomes. Many patients come to Klinik Schloss Mammern as a first, tentative step back to their normal lives after a stay in an emergency ward or intensive care. Taking these first steps back to a happy, productive life in a serene environment will help a diverse range of patients back to health.

Annemarie Fleisch Marx is a specialist in internal medicine, rheumatology, physical medicine and rehabilitation. Her great-uncle, Dr Oscar Ullmann, turned a small Swiss clinic into an international institution in 1889. Her grandparents and father, Dr Alfred Oscar Fleisch, have since focused on the clinic, allowing it to make the most of its beautiful lakeside location to help people heal at the most difficult moments in their lives.

What role does design play in rehabilitation?
It plays a significant role. The ambiance and surroundings have a big influence on the mood of patients and their comfort. After an operation, or amid general weakness, it is essential to derive new strength from natural light. Nature heals by offering a place to rest and find tranquillity.

You brought your medical expertise to work with architects. What did you prioritise?
The open spaces, plenty of natural light and we made sure that each room is facing the lake. Patients who need to lie in bed still have a direct view of the lake and the clinic’s own park through the large floor-to-ceiling windows.

How will these design elements help with healing?
We chose materials with the philosophy of “nature inside and out”, and “healing architecture”, so rooms feature wooden floors, furniture and wardrobes. Soft, natural fabrics are combined in warm colours on chairs and in lounges. In patients’ rooms, we have prioritised comfort and ambiance; there is no clinical feeling. Every room has its own terrace, which is accessible without any steps.