Inpatient Accommodation
the features that had worked particularly well at other locations, with the whole scheme characterised by a real open-mindedness on the Trust’s part. “The location is beautiful, surrounded by
The main entrance area.
woodland on Green Belt land, and another priority was to create a building that came out of the land’s natural contours. We also strove to incorporate good external space, such as the active and passive courtyards, a larger open space where patients can play sport, and, inside, to use features such as fitted wardrobes and window seats, as well as small alcoves in circulation and communal areas, where service- users could sit alone comfortably, or with a friend, carer, or relative. The Recovery Model of Care suggests shared therapy spaces, all of which we designed to feed off the main circulation spine to give a ‘village-like’ feel.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS “We worked with Landscape Partnership to develop the various external spaces, while early collaboration with mechanical engineers, Troup Bywaters+Anders, enabled us to identify sun paths, prevailing winds, and how to ensure good natural ventilation inside the building – one method being use of contrasting high and low roof sections, along with passive vents. “Many of the bedroom windows are Britplas
One of the day rooms.
with a sizeable heat and hot water distribution pipe network running from it. Stripping out the existing building services had to be undertaken in sections, and proved quite labour-intensive.”
EARLY MEETINGS HELD Mike Trigg added: “One of the many benefits of the very collaborative planning and construction process was that we had several early meetings with the planning authority, St Albans District Council, who gave us straightforward, forthright feedback. Initially, for example, we proposed a three-storey building at the front, which the planners quite clearly didn’t like. By the time we submitted the planning proposal, there were no objections, because we had already been through many of the key considerations with the council and other stakeholders.” Alongside preserving the various ‘protected’
tree species, Osborne also had to cater for bats roosting in some of the existing buildings – by installing bat boxes up in several trees, and incorporating a number into the building’s design.
TRUST ‘VISION’ Jacky Vincent said: “Our vision is to be the country’s leading provider of mental health and specialist learning disability services. Accordingly we are in the process of improving
‘The project team, and indeed all the clinicians and nurses who will work here, are very excited about the new facility’
18 THE NETWORK January 2015
much of our our estate as part of our five-year ‘Transformation Programme’, to get other buildings to the fantastic standard you see here. “The project team, and indeed all the
clinicians and nurses who will work here, are very excited about the new facility. Three existing mental health wards – one at Watford General Hospital, two at the QEII Hospital in Welwyn Garden City, and our learning disability unit – are set to close, with the staff deployed here, while we are also recruiting for new staff for the frail functional ward here.”
THE ARCHITECT’S VIEW Heading the architectural side of the project at the London offices of P+HS Architects was director, Wendy de Silva, who said: “The Trust is very ambitious and clear about what it wants from new developments. Here the brief included creating a ‘best-in-class’ facility, with all service-user accommodation on the ground floor, and with a really therapeutic, non- institutional environment. Service and stakeholder involvement in the design process was considered fundamental, and saw the Trust, us as architects, representatives from the entire construction team, and a wide range of external bodies, including The Samaritans and Mind, plus service-users and carers, sit down in several meetings early on to discuss the key design priorities.
PLENTY OF EXTERNAL SPACE “This discussion highlighted a desire among many users, and care staff particularly, for external space, places to meet, socialise, relax, wait, and just contemplate, and secluded areas, where visitors and carers can go away from the ward. We undertook considerable research into
Safevents, which allow in air via a mesh grille, which is then extracted via dampers on the opposite wall. Corridor spaces incorporate Tech dampers linked to a building energy management system, which open and close based on pre-set temperatures to maintain good air circulation. “Another notable feature has been artwork –
much of it created in collaboration with service- users, carers, and the local community, and commissioned by the Contemporary Arts Society. Artistic features include small bronzes by Nicky Hirst, who has also used photographs from homely environments to give a feel of what might be on service-users’ mantelpieces in some of the circulation areas, and larger bronzes, inspired by trees (three feature in the main entrance area), as well as pillars, sky and sunset colours, and glazed panels, from a second artist, James Ireland. The whole ethos has been to make the building as non- institutional, light, airy, and contemporary, as well as relaxing and therapeutic, as possible.” •
DIMHN members’ part
The following DIMHN members were involved in the scheme: P&HS Architects – Architecture. Jenny Gill – Healthcare planning. Wallgate – Seclusion room anti-ligature WC and recessed handwash unit. Kingsway Group – Lime green, anti-ligature DDA grab bars. Safehinge – En suite doors with bespoke design anti-ligature /anti-barricade hinges. Knightsbridge Furniture – Tables and chairs. Britplas – uPVC and aluminium Safevent windows, glazed doors, and bespoke anti- ligature window pelmets.
Courtesy of Osborne/David Churchill
Courtesy of Osborne/David Churchill
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