ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN


Above: The authors say that ‘use of distinct, yet gentle colours’ helps patients navigate the space easily and intuitively, reducing the cognitive load on both children and parents. Above right: Wayfinding strategies that empower patients to feel in control of their environment – such as Ashford’s animal character coding – can significantly reduce anxiety levels.


Case study:


Ashford Hospital’s Children and Young People’s Outpatients Department At Floyd Slaski Architects, inclusive design is a cornerstone of our approach to creating environments that are welcoming, accessible, and supportive for everyone. We believe that every person who encounters the spaces we design should have the best possible experience – feeling welcome, secure, and fully able to engage with their surroundings. We aim to design environments that accommodate and celebrate diversity in all its forms, whether through architectural design, masterplanning, or the finer details of interior spaces. A recent project that exemplifies how inclusive design strategies can be


Identifying Patient Areas & Routes


Identifying


Decision Points & Wayfinding Nodes


harnessed to create environments that foster both physical and mental health is the Ashford Hospital’s Children and Young People’s Outpatients Department at Ashford Hospital in Middlesex. Floyd Slaski Architects was tasked with


reimagining an outdated space, converting it from a bariatric ward into a vibrant, neurodiversity-friendly environment for children and young people. The project’s overarching goal was to create a space that not only met the functional needs of a children and young people’s Outpatients Department, but also actively contributed to the mental wellbeing of its young patients. Recognising that hospital visits can be particularly stressful for children, especially those with hidden disabilities


Unique Identifiers Visible from Confusion Points


Thematic


Differentation of Hierachy


or neurodiverse conditions, we worked closely with clinical teams, stakeholders, and design experts, to develop a space that would make the hospital experience less intimidating and more supportive. The Ashford Hospital project


incorporated several key design elements aimed at enhancing the mental health of its users. Each of these features was carefully chosen to reduce stress and foster a sense of comfort and control for patients, families, and staff alike. The elements were as follows:


1) Neurodiversity-friendly colour schemes


Initial Review


Hierachy Levels


Wayfinding Information and Signage Placement


Execution & Future Planning


Establishing Rules for the Wayfinding Scheme


Stakeholder Presentation


Comprehensive Design Features List


Colour plays a crucial role in shaping our perceptions of space, and this is especially true in environments like hospitals, where stress levels can run high. For the Children and Young People’s Outpatients Department, we chose a calming and biophilic colour palette that caters to neurodiverse individuals. Soft blues, greens, and yellows dominate the space, creating an environment that is both calming and engaging for young patients. These colours were selected as low chromas to minimise sensory overload, which can be a trigger for children with autism or other sensory processing conditions. Colour psychology has been extensively


studied in the context of healthcare design. Dr. Sally Augustin,3


an environmental


Prioritization of Phased Works


THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2024


Example Theme Development


IPC-Compliant Unique Identifiers


A wayfinding strategy diagram for the new children and young people’s outpatient unit.


psychologist, notes that ‘soothing colours like blues and greens are proven to lower heart rates and reduce anxiety’. By incorporating these colours into healthcare settings, designers can create spaces that encourage relaxation and improve patient wellbeing. Furthermore, strategic use of colour can facilitate wayfinding and delineate various functional areas. For example, soothing blue floors and yellow doors are specific to the consultation rooms, while mint-coloured doors indicate


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