“So you work in a hospital? How many beds?” Hospital professionals have been asked that last question many times. Yet there is growing evidence that putting patients in beds actually does more harm than good. Clinical stays in hospitals are associated with a decline in health and well-being. For the growing group of frail elderly patients, a hospital episode can turn into a catastrophic event. How to avoid this? In principle the answer is simple: keep patients active! For architects and designers, it means that the focus on comfort and safety needs rethinking. The Diakonessenhuis Utrecht has taken up the challenge. Together with DJGA Architects and TNO a pilot project is underway to devise a practical yet radical solution.