Architecture


architectural attributes: 100 per cent wet room ensuites and a separate spa with holistic therapies for each household; and separate staff entrances and exits with easily-accessible changing rooms to manage cross-infection. It has a non- institutionalised design that is homely and compliant with infection prevention controls including large, 21 square-metre bedrooms suitable for isolation, with meaningful views of the surrounding landscape.


Importantly, our design creates safe,


level and uncluttered internal and external environments to support residents by reducing the risk of inactivity and falls. Moreover, a choice of homely and welcoming lounge and day rooms with sound-absorbing materials reduce over- stimulation and the non-institutional interior design scheme enhances quality of life. Our interior designers carefully select multi-sensory materials to provide a calming atmosphere and to withstand an intense sanitising schedule. Above all, we designed the building


to maximise daylight and views of the garden and nearby lake. Furthermore, home hubs and dining areas benefit from large, glazed windows providing garden views. Similarly, the ground floor bedrooms boast glazed orangeries and the floors above have bow windows allowing residents to be fully immersed in the landscape and enjoy the seasonal changes. Considering the embracing nature of


the existing woodland setting, positive risk-taking was at the heart of the design for outdoor areas. So, there are communal areas and ground floor bedrooms with bi-


Alex Caruso


Alex Caruso is director of Alessandro Caruso Architects (ACA). Alex is an architect with 20 years of experience as a specialist in the design for dementia and mental health and leads the design team at ACA. He is also a member of the Housing and Dementia Research Consortium and a director of the Design in Mental Health Network, where he leads the international workstream in the sharing of knowledge, innovation and best practice. Several years ago, Alex suffered an almost fatal motorbike crash and spent a long time in hospital. The environment was functional, but poorly designed, especially for the


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folding doors allowing patients to interact with nature.


TCHE:How did the public consultation for the proposed design go?


Brydges: Included with ACA’s package of services (architecture, landscape and interior design) to create a truly holistic environment, ACA produced a 3D video, which has been amazing and so compelling in translating a complex vision into a common language that everybody can understand. We’ve found it to be really useful as part of our discussions and firmly believe it’s had a big role to play in helping shape discussions with our stakeholders.


Caruso: It was important to capture early conversations about the model of care, which will be converted into meaningful activities via the development of the interior and landscape design. As we are aiming to create an environment that positively engages everyone using the building, it was important to listen to all parties.


Beth Brydges


mental health and wellbeing aspects of recovery. Alex promised himself, when he recovered, to improve people’s lives through his designs.


Beth Brydges is the executive assistant to the managing director at Millennium Care. Having worked for the care home operator for almost three years, she has ten years of experience in assistant positions. Beth has been instrumental in both the Langtree care home development, and what will become the Standish Care Village, leading in the public consultation strategy and gaining support from Wigan Borough CCG. She will continue to have her hand over large amounts of both projects and is hugely excited for the development to come to fruition.


So, we carried out consultations with the clinical team, staff, residents and neighbours, taking on board the views expressed. It was particularly important for us to examine the results of a survey of the existing facilities to understand where the quality of the award-winning facilities could be replicated and others improved according to the residents. Thus, the residents’ views became critical ingredients to create a positive social environment. This can also be seen by the relevance given to some of the residents’ stories on Millennium Care’s social media. n


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com February 2022


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