ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
The centre’s new entrance area includes a community space with servery, to allow service-users to engage with the local community by providing hot drinks and snacks.
easy access to the main street, including entrance ramps that would be inclusive for all. There was also a need for open free access and egress for staff and service- users visiting the community facilities. Central to the whole development was the creation of a welcoming, warm, and non-clinical feel. Wesham has moved away from the clinical setting and into a residential community space.
Private garden and therapy areas The design requirements also called for designated female and male en-suite bedroom areas, and quiet lounges with open shared spaces. Private garden and therapy areas, both grassed and hard pave, were created with input from local charity, ‘Grow Your Own’, who will work with service-users to utilise the garden areas to grow plants and produce. A key point of the refurbishment has been to ensure that service-users are encouraged to leave the building to access services in the community, leading to the initial inclusion, but subsequent removal, of some typical spaces, such as a gymnasium, beauty, and hairdressing areas. That has allowed better use of rooms for on-site therapies, and enhanced the provision of residential spaces such as bedrooms, lounges, and kitchen / dining areas.
A fresh and uplifting colour palette was chosen to support both calmness and relaxation.
Spacious kitchen The kitchen and dining areas are key spaces in the building. FWP was tasked with creating a spacious kitchen for service-users to be able to cook all their own meals with staff support. The kitchen design progressed from
a standard two rooms with perimeter worktops and central tables, to a focused, much more open, ‘MasterChef’ approach. Separate rise and fall workstations, fully inclusive of the needs of those using them, have been provided, each with preparation and cooking space and individual food storage. The design has been supported by the inclusion of a breakfast bar and a separate orangery-style dining room, with views over, and access to, the kitchen therapy courtyard, which will in time include herb planting. In addition, the centre’s new entrance
area includes a community space with servery to allow service-users to engage with the local community by providing hot drinks and snacks, complemented by the provision of a ‘Changing Places’ room and a separate baby change area and child visiting room.
An uplifting space The overall design encompasses many open access spaces, a reception area
that is both warm and welcoming, and a central living space that connects the two bedroom wings, which is a truly uplifting space for day-to-day relaxing and engagement. With access to nature contributing to mental wellbeing, the expansive gardens, that include raised beds, a polytunnel, and flagged patio, with ecology bird nesting boxes and bug houses, as well as outdoor therapy areas, together all make full use of the site. The central lounge area has doors leading straight out into the gardens, making for easy access all year round. Externally, additional car parking space
was created, and EV charging points were installed. This new high-quality environment is a key part both in the programme’s success, and the comfort of its users as they work to regain their independence.
Healing touches
Inside the building, thoughtful modern design, and the use of colour and light, have created a calming and peaceful atmosphere. Vaulted ceilings add to the feeling of space and light. A fresh and uplifting colour palette
was chosen to support both calmness and relaxation. The colours used were also selected to complement the indoor and outdoor therapy areas, including the therapy garden. Thoughtful interior design has an impact on mental health, wellbeing, and the recovery journey. With that in mind, the aim was to provide the centre with an air of tranquillity, to make it an uplifting place of calm. The creation of quiet lounges and open shared spaces has played its part in creating this tranquil atmosphere. The design of the extension also
An architectural plan of the new rehabilitation centre. THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2022
incorporates large, high windows to allow in as much daylight as possible into the entrance area. All the rooms have been designed in such a way as to try to minimise the potential for ligature attempts. However, it is important that they don’t look and feel clinical, and they are far removed from people’s traditional view of a hospital unit. Recent years have brought an amazing array of vinyl fabrics
31
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34
