A BOOST TO Altro revisits Hillingdon Hospital, to see the lasting impact of products used to crea
The Paediatric A&E at Hillingdon Hospital, London, was transformed just over three years ago. Architect and healthcare specialist interior designer Georgia Burt of GBS Health worked closely with the hospital, lead designers Oxford Architects and with Altro on the project. The aim was to create a healing environment that would be comfortable, friendly, non-clinical and focus on wellbeing at a time of great stress.
Georgia says: “Being in hospital can be an upsetting and frightening experience for everyone, but especially for children. The interior space can have such a powerful effect on how they feel, and using the right designs, colours and materials will set the scene from the moment a child enters the space.”
Following a series of interactive consultation meetings with clinical and service users, a unique interior wayfinding strategy and supporting arts programme was developed. Using a combination of lighting, layout, materials, colour and artwork, a welcoming environment was created which has helped reduce anxiety at this stressful time for patients and carers.
14 | MAKEOVER OF THE MONTH
Based on an urban study of the Borough of Hillingdon’s bio- diversity and award-winning parkland, the interior design and art concept were developed around the map of the borough as if imagined from a young person’s perspective.
“We incorporated images and ideas into the space that children would recognise, to help them feel at home. The Hillingdon Trail is a very familiar walk locally and features some great characters and animals, such as a fox and owl. A large trail map in the reception leads a series of designs for the wards and cubicles using these characters,” says Georgia.
Christopher Knight, Capital Projects Manager, Estates Department, at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, says: “Everyone says how lovely the A&E unit looks, the Hillingdon Trail is such a great idea for a focal point, because it’s so famous in the area, so children immediately feel at home and relaxed when they arrive. It truly is a child-centred space from the moment you arrive and it looks and feels different; the atmosphere has changed and it’s so much more positive.
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