In 1940, manufacturer Robert Bosch (1861-1942)opened the first hospital to bear his name, whichalso followed his principles. One of these is thatthe patients' well-being must be served - medically,but also in terms of equally knowledgeableand thoughtful care, and all this in buildings thatare as practical as they are good to look at. Boschfollowed the same principles in his work as an industrialist.Bosch was interested in promoting publicwelfare as well as his highly successful businessactivities. Since 1964, 92 per cent of RobertBosch GmbH has belonged to the Robert BoschFoundation, whose dividends benefit education,science, understanding among nations and healthcare. So in 1973 it became possible to open anew hospital complex in Auerbachstrasse, innorth-east Stuttgart.There has been continual extension and improvementof the existing stock by Arcass FreieArchitekten, and in recent years the geriatric rehabilitationclinic and the very stimulating chapelin the south corner have been added, both byGünter Leonhardt, and also the entrance buildingby Joachim Schürmann & Partner, this last withan ambience that is scarcely reminiscent of a hospital.One side of the access route to this part ofthe building is lined with austerely framed pools,and there are three square pavilions on the otherside. The route leads past the reception to avertical 'spina', a glass lift and staircase towertopped by a viewing terrace rising above everythingelse. The appealing housing estate a fewpaces to the north is also by Joachim Schürmann& Partner, and offers dwellings of various typesand sizes for people working in the hospital.Of course the obvious urge to make everythingas perfect as possible is not expressed onlyin the architectural coherence of the buildings,but appropriately to the foundation's intentions,everything that happens in them in terms of medicalcare is equally well thought through. Very unusuallyfor a hospital, the well-being of patientsand staff is served not least by the presentationof selected works of fine art, selected and placedby a specially formed committee.Manfred Sack, who has a doctorate in music,was for almost four decades the architecturecritic for the Hamburg weekly newspaper DieZeit. Peter Walser is not only an architect as hisfirst profession, but also works as a sought-afterdesigner and architectural photographer. He hasalready appeared in the Opus series with the volumeson Balthasar Neumann's pilgrimage churchin Neresheim and Peter Kulka's Bosch-Haus Heidehofin Stuttgart.