HIGH SECURE FACILITIES
curtains, and the fabric on upholstered furniture, add to the non-institutional atmosphere.
The building’s relatively large footprint is sensitively placed into the landscape, taking account of the area’s conservation status.
subdued, tranquil, and unassuming exterior. The high-quality exterior brickwork – a key feature – is simple, but well-crafted, adding a sense of durability and permanence. The building’s modest appearance belies the quality of the construction, and the care that has gone into its design.
Graded robustness Guidelines regulate the level of robustness required in different areas within the building. For example, the graded robustness criteria range from no special robustness requirements for staff areas, to a need for the highest robustness in private rooms and seclusion units, as these are the areas where patients may be at a higher risk. The common patient areas have medium robustness requirements as these areas are supervised, and considered to be lower risk. This approach is more cost-effective and efficient, as it only requires the highest level of robustness where it is genuinely needed, rather than throughout the entire building. At the same time, however, a high priority was placed on the long-term durability of components, materials, fixtures, and fittings, since it is desirable not to have to undertake frequent maintenance in a high security facility.
Specially designed furniture Because patients in private rooms are at a greater risk of injuring themselves, or damaging their surroundings, the furniture in these rooms is specially designed and custom-made. However, comfort and
June Haugen Welo
June Welo has worked in architecture for the past three decades, and is now a partner at Ratio arkitekter in Oslo, a prominent independent Norwegian architectural practice which specialises in the design of complex public structures, including hospitals and academic institutions. Ratio has a team of 76 professionals, including architects, interior designers, building designers, BIM architects, and support staff. Since she joined the architectural team working on the Nytt Rikshospital in Oslo (also known as the New National Hospital) in 1996, June has been actively engaged, and has held leading roles in the planning and execution of several key hospital construction projects in Norway.
She has spent the last 10 years honing her knowledge and expertise in mental healthcare buildings and – during this time – has served as project leader for several mental health projects in the Oslo region, Trondheim, and Tromsø.
Since 2015, she has been on the board of directors of Arkitektforum, the Norwegian organisation analogous to Architects for Health. She received her Master’s degree in architecture from the Norwegian Technical University (NTNU) in 1991, after studying in Norway and Denmark. She then undertook postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen from 2016–18.
30 FEBRUARY 2023 | THE NETWORK
quality are still priortised. Making the corridors wider and the ceilings higher, meanwhile, reduces the likelihood of incidents – as the surfaces are out of reach. To create a safe and well-ordered
environment, we minimised the visibility of the building services in patient areas and other rooms. Instead, services such as wiring and pipework are located in a separate, easily accessible technical sub- floor duct. This reduces the potential risks in patient areas, and ensures that technical equipment and services are easy to get to for maintenance and repairs.
A consistent look One of our key principles was that the design and appearance of the building should be consistent throughout. Sturdy materials such as concrete and exterior brickwork are used for construction and cladding. The brickwork façade is designed to match the campus’s historic buildings. Using concrete and external brickwork provides a strong and durable foundation. These materials are also fire-resistant, and can withstand heavy usage and wear and tear.
Inside, the concrete walls are painted,
and the ceilings covered with cement- bonded wood wool acoustic panels, which provide sound-proofing. In addition, the floor has a PU coating that is easy to clean and maintain, and resistant to wear and tear. Wood veneer, wooden panelling, and wood construction in the sports hall add warmth and a sense of touch, while
Colour creating identity and coherence The use of colour is also essential, as it can create a sense of identity, coherence, and diversity, even in environments such as this, where strict restrictions apply. Different colour palettes feature on floors, walls, and doors, with subtle hues used to distinguish the entry to each patient room. Vibrant wall colours in corridors provide natural wayfinding, and are carefully matched to the orientation of the passages in terms of daylight and the sun. Throughout the new facility, beautiful artwork by the artist, Edith Lundebrekke, is integrated into the frosting of the glass walls to add shielding and aesthetic appeal.
Success criteria The success of this project lies in the clear and ambitious objectives set from the beginning. This applies in terms of quality, content, and execution, and all were followed up and prioritised during implementation. The project was completed on time, within budget, in adherence to safety standards and building codes, and with a quality that exceeded expectations. It was an excellent first step in a design competition because it provided the stakeholders with an early understanding of the potential impact and opportunities presented by different physical solutions and interpretations of the brief. Furthermore, it seems that the project’s unique character, and the imperative to get the facility designed and built, inspired everyone to strive for the best possible outcome. Although such a project had never
previously been delivered in Norway, the contractor, consultants, and suppliers, demonstrated considerable and willingness to stretch resources to deliver an optimal project within the framework. To the delight of all parties, the High Security Mental Hospital Sikkerhetsbygget was named the winner in the ‘Mental Health’ category at the European Healthcare Design Awards in June 2022.
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Photo used courtesy of m.herzog/visualis-images/
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