HOSPICE DESIGN
Lancaster hospice is a local ‘beacon of hope’
The ‘highly acclaimed’ Forget Me Not Centre at St John’s Hospice in Lancaster is – the architects say – ‘a haven providing support through grief and bereavement’. It offers ‘whole family support – the most effective type of therapy, which was previously not available free of charge in the area’. Architecture, design, and masterplanning practice, FWP, was appointed to deliver a safe, warm, welcoming environment for families and individuals. Partners at the practice, Neil Ainsworth and Brent Clayton, discuss how its team created ‘a very special building for therapy and play’ that has been called a ‘beacon of hope’.
St John’s Hospice has been providing palliative care for a wide range of life- shortening conditions in North Lancashire, South Lakes, and parts of North Yorkshire, since 1986. The original brief from St John’s was to create a building for therapy and play – for toddlers through to teenagers – who are losing or have lost close relatives, and need support to withstand grief and get through a difficult period in their lives. The building had to have a homely feel to it, with lots of natural light, and a strong relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces. It also had to allow various levels of social interaction, such as private sessions or complete isolation, where someone could sit and watch others without necessarily joining in. The desire was to deliver an outstanding, bold design, easily identifiable and special: a place that the local community could be proud of. The new, modern, purpose- built facility, with its striking larch cladding, is just that. It offers a safe, warm, and hospitable environment where families and individuals can come and get the support that they need in a space away from home.
Former Victorian lodge An old Victorian ‘lodge’ on the site that had previously been converted to offices
A rendered CGI of the new Forget Me Not Centre in Lancaster.
was demolished to make way for the modern, purpose-built facility after it became clear the building did not have the space to accommodate the facilities and uses the ‘Forget Me Not Centre’ would require.
In its place, the new building has quiet
rooms, breakout spaces, open spaces for group and family activities, mixed-use areas, a kitchen, and work areas for staff, while a sensory garden provides reflective
spaces and more. An obvious entrance has been created, followed by a ‘pause’ space where a newcomer can see and assess what’s going on – without feeling they have to ‘jump right in’. There is also a visual connection between the office and activity area. The building evokes a ‘playful wooden cabin’, displaying an articulated façade, with insets and proud elements softening its appearance, enhanced by ever-
A kitchen and work areas for staff are among the features of the new Forget Me Not Centre at St John’s Hospice in Lancaster.
As well as the flooring looking stylish, it is also carbon-neutral, while furniture was delivered to site in materials that could either be recycled or used again.
October 2023 Health Estate Journal 63
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