A WARM WELCOME Altro has brought the feel-good factor to a flagship spinal injury centre in Dorset.
An integrated package of Altro floors, walls and ceilings has been installed in a brand new flagship Spinal Injury Centre in Dorset, run by disability charity Livability, creating a homely, design-led unit with a high level of aesthetic appeal.
Livability Holton Lee has recently undergone a total refurbish- ment, carried out by main contractor Stepnell Ltd, transform- ing the existing care home into a wellbeing discovery centre and purpose-built Spinal Injury Centre. This provides respite and rehabilitation services to people with spinal cord injury, offering both short-term residential and drop-in care.
A spokesperson for the Livability Estates Team says: “The Spinal Injury Centre is a flagship facility for Livability, and part of the formal pathway of care for people who need spinal injury support. The unit is designed for people who have left hospital but need some additional support and rehabilitation before go- ing home, so our vision was to create a warm, homely and non- clinical space where they would feel relaxed and comfortable.”
He continues: “Choosing the Altro products was very much a collaborative team effort between Livability, Altro, Elite Interiors and Western Design Architects. The design team was all very much of one mind, in that we wanted to create a feel-good ‘wow factor’, with a warm, homely colourful look, non-clinical, using contrasting designs and colours to be both decorative and to help with wayfinding and accessibility for those with visual impairment.
“We felt that wood-look flooring would be ideal for the areas in which residents would be relaxing, such as the dining room, lounge and bedrooms. It has a warmth that can make an environment feel like home. Altro Wood Safety is ideal for this environment.
“We wanted this same flooring to work hard for us in other ways too, so we also used it for decorative edging around the
corridors, reception and communal areas to create wayfind- ing around the unit, and show clearly where the floor and wall meet. This was coupled with Altro Reliance 25 heavy duty safety flooring.
“The homely yet professional theme was continued for the wet rooms and en-suite bathrooms in the Livability Spinal Injury Centre. These are private areas where people need to feel comfortable and relaxed during their stay, but safety and hygiene are also key. For the floors we chose Altro Pisces, an excellent safety surface for wet environments because it per- forms in wet or dry and with bare feet or shoes, so it’s ideal for both staff and residents.”
“We felt that all-white walls would be too clinical for the bath- rooms,” says Livability, “and we wanted to add some colour and interest. Altro Whiterock Satins hygienic wall sheet is ideal for this because it has a strong decorative appeal, and it’s also proven in terms of hygiene.
“We chose a pale lilac called ‘Malva’ for three of the walls, and a powerful dark rich purple called ‘Viola’ for one state- ment wall. This gives great impact, and it’s as far away from a hospital bathroom as you can get!
“Once the design team had selected the Altro products, Western Design Architects went away to bring our vision to life, design the interior and create a CAD model so we could see what the finished article would look like. It was a thrilling process to be involved in.”
Jonathan Turvey, director at Western Design Architects, says: “The common language of those designing the look and ethos of the new Spinal Unit was that it should never look like a hospital, and should feel welcoming and warm. The clever use of different Altro flooring colours and designs to differentiate between the walls and floors ensures that wayfinding in the
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