SERVICE-USER ACCOMMODATION


The bedroom – with an overall area of 32.19 m2 special escort due to its size and weight.


ceiling height was integral to the calming design of the bedroom – at three metres, the height gave the room a light and airy feeling, again busting the myth that modular buildings can only be low, boxy, spaces.


Exterior finishes We embarked on this project with the aim of showcasing the vast range of stylistic and material finishes available in our designs. Our goal was to dispel any potential hesitations about the limitations of modular build systems by demonstrating a spectrum from traditional to ultra-modern designs. The variety and intricacy we achieved across the façade inspired a cosy, familiar, and comfortable exterior space. This design choice echoes the importance of the ‘Outdoor Room’ concept, a century-old idea recognised by Otto Wagner at his Steinhof Hospital. In today’s context, the ‘Outdoor Room’


concept holds as much relevance as it did during Wagner’s time. It serves as a reminder of the timeless nature of good design principles. For a traditional approach, we looked to the centuries-old diamond motif of a


, and weighing an estimated 12 tonnes, was delivered to the Coventry Building Society Arena under


diaper-bond brickwork pattern. This rich and haptic design showcases a brick skill that was once fading. We coordinated our entire module set-out to traditional brick dimensions, including coordination with window suppliers. To contrast the traditional brickwork,


we complemented it with a precision- engineered, laser-cut, ultra-modern fibre cement panel. This juxtaposition between a flat, smooth surface and the rough, tactile textures of brickwork creates an interesting visual dynamic. Our in-house Darwin Group team flawlessly finished and constructed both materials. Our team precisely cut and aligned the panels to ensure that the diagonals lined up perfectly at every corner. The result stands as a testament to the precision skills of the Darwin Group production team, demonstrating the potential of combining traditional and modern design elements in modular build systems. Healthcare architecture specialist, Medical Architecture, was tasked with leading the design of the bedroom environment to encapsulate the latest thinking in inpatient mental healthcare spatial design, while showcasing the


capabilities of Darwin Group’s modular building system and the various specialist products of the partnering suppliers. Following years of experience designing bedroom spaces for a broad range of inpatients, the firm identified new opportunities presented by the innovative building structure to serve modern living in these facilities better.


Six Pillars of Design The approach centred around the creation of a homely and therapeutic environment, which supports the mental and physical wellbeing of service- users, while maintaining a focus on the important functional requirements of these challenging spaces. This was realised through six pillars of design: 1. Privacy and dignity. 2. Inspiration and activity. 3. Environmental quality. 4. Practicality. 5. Functionality. 6. Sustainability.


l Privacy and dignity The privacy and dignity of inpatients was an important factor in the spatial design


The ‘Bedroom Evolved’ attracted considerable interest at the Coventry event; Darwin Group said: “The fact that people could physically touch it and interact with it in the live display setting meant they didn’t have to imagine anything.”


THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2023


Specially designed vision panels in the door give near-silent opening and closing to protect privacy and dignity, while still allowing for inobtrusive safety checks. The integrated furniture was designed to create a homely environment, ‘promoting healing rather than feeling overly clinical’.


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