Jura and Isla Wards

Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow

This challenging project won the Health Facilities Scotland 2014 Design Excellence Award.

We were appointed to prepare proposals for the refurbishment of existing wards 45 and 46 at Stobhill General Hospital with a view to providing state of the art wards designed to provide accommodation for Old People with Dementia and Adults with mental health problems. The existing wards had been vacant for some time and required extensive refurbishment. The existing layout had a central spine corridor with no natural lighting, cellular spaces and multi-bedded wards. Refurbishment was selected over new build for sustainability and cost reasons.

We attended the Iris Murdoch Centre at Stirling University to learn about the key design issues which affect people with dementia. Our design solution has made significant enhancements to daylighting, colour & contrast, orientation, external space, safety, and stimulation.

We engaged the users of the facilities in the design process at all stages from the initial layouts to the smallest design details. We started with a blank sheet of paper and discussed with staff what their ideal model of care delivery would be, and looked at how the buildings could be developed to offer dignity, interest and privacy to the patient group and usability to the staff.

The Client fully embraced the intent behind Designing for Dementia and are to be congratulated for encouraging such a full engagement with all parties towards the success of the development.

Acknowledgements are also due to NOMAD for their contribution to the interior design and use of photographs and to Keith L Wood, Landscape Architect.

Role: Project Architect
Client: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Status: Completed