Human-Centered Design Welcomes You to KUH’s Phlebotomy Area

Can a hospital environment be soft, flowing, and inviting—even when an uncomfortable sample collection lies ahead? The renewal of the phlebotomy facilities at Kuopio University Hospital, furnished with Palad design furniture, shows that it can. The renewal continued Partanen & Lamusuo’s holistic design approach, which also gave rise to the architecture and furnishing of KUH’s main lobby and Palad’s TUMA furniture family.

Partanen & Lamusuo developed KUH’s hospital environment with a human-centered approach, creating spaces that are functional but also support well-being, bring calmness, and make visitors feel welcome. They lightened the straightforward appearance of the phlebotomy area by designing a gently curving glass wall structure that brings softness and light into the space. Palad’s TUMA™ sofas continue this same sense of curvature.

“Sample collection can be an anxious and even frightening experience for many patients. Especially when ill or worried, sitting in a row side by side can feel burdensome. The TUMA sofas provide a softly defined personal sector, a place where one can breathe more freely and feel at ease,” say Palad’s designers Partanen & Lamusuo.

“Even if sample collection feels uncomfortable, the space itself can still feel gentle.”

Empathetically Designed Furniture Supports Well-Being

The design of the TUMA sofas emphasizes user-centeredness. The sofas respect an individual’s need for privacy while maintaining a warm and communal atmosphere in the space, making it easy to be together. In situations such as sample collection, the human-friendly form of the furniture and a human-centered approach to space support well-being and enhance comfort.

Palad’s TUMA furniture integrates seamlessly into the architectural whole of Kuopio University Hospital, which from the outset was built on an artistic concept: the idea of the hospital as a place of healing—a holistic environment that supports well-being. In a hospital environment, the empathetically designed TUMA furniture makes waiting as pleasant as possible.

The inventive design of the TUMA sofa makes it a versatile piece that serves people of all sizes. There is no need to search for “your own spot,” as the sofa adapts to its sitter. From a single piece of furniture, each person finds a suitable seating depth, and it invites play, lounging, or resting.

This inventiveness goes beyond seating depth variation: the design of the TUMA sofa’s backrest also enables adaptation to different needs. Palad designed interchangeable elements for the central section of the backrest, such as a magazine holder or a tabletop. For the sample collection area, Palad chose TUMA sofas with a fixed backrest and an integrated magazine holder. The structure could just as easily accommodate, for example, a planter with greenery or another solution tailored to the space’s needs. This flexibility makes the TUMA sofa both practical and enriching.

Places for Play and Rest Behind Glass Walls

In the KUH renovation project, wall surfaces were opened up to bring natural light as a more integrated part of the interior. Separate glazed spaces were built between the glass walls. In one of these, Partanen & Lamusuo designed a children’s playroom, and in another, a calm waiting space with curtains.

The interior of the playroom follows a curved, organic design language. Palad’s lead designers chose TUMA sofas and TUMA-R™ ottomans for the space. The TUMA sofa is not only a seat but also a stage for play and imagination, offering children a safe and inviting way to be in the space. TUMA sparks imagination, transforming into a pirate ship or a princess castle in the middle of play.

When playtime ends, toys can be stored inside Palad’s TUMA-R™ ottomans, keeping the playroom peaceful and orderly. The TUMA-R™ ottoman serves as storage, a seat, and a footrest. Available in three different sizes, the ottomans can be combined into versatile and lively furniture ensembles. The playroom has direct access to a curved outdoor play area, so children can play and wait outdoors as well.

The lobby culminates in a softly curving, glass-walled space that opens onto the courtyard. This inward-curving space is furnished with cozy TUMA sofas, whose soft design continues the interior’s flowing shapes. The ensemble crystallizes the essence of Palad’s philosophy: human-centered form, functionality, and calming aesthetics come together in a space where one can wait, be, pause, and recover.