St David’s Hospice Newport, Welsh Healthcare Architecture Project, 2013 Day

St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit

New Healthcare Building Development Wales design by KKE Architects, UK

26 Jul 2018

Design: KKE Architects

Location: St David’s Hospice, Newport, Wales, UK

St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit, Newport News

photo : Ståle Eriksen

St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit, Newport, Wales

Jury Report

The 15-bed, in-patient hospice is a development of the original 2013 Day Hospice, itself a shortlisted project. The new building owes much of its special quality to unusually insightful clients.

Their brief for the new building applies evidence gathered in the operation of the charity’s other centres and awareness of international best practice. Lessons learned have been applied in the clinical and operational aspects but also, most importantly, in the nature of the ideal aesthetic environment for end-of-life care.

photo : Ståle Eriksen

Those of us who attend on a family member during their last days will not forget the character of their surroundings at that time, surroundings that are far too often both chaotic and austere. For those who have reason to visit St David’s hospice the experience is very different and, in so far as it is possible at such a time, in many ways really uplifting.

Nothing matters more to the patient than the feelings of the family that they leave behind, so it follows that the focus of design should be on the experience of visitors as much, if not more, than on the patients themselves.

The hospice is beautifully calm and serene. It achieves an air of spirituality while avoiding any implication of judgmental sanctity. The colours and materials are restrained: a tightly controlled palette of warm natural tones. The consistency is thoughtful and deliberate, a specific requirement of the client that patients and visitors should not be distracted by any implied differentiation between occupants.

photo : Ståle Eriksen

Spaces for withdrawal and contemplation follow the secular spiritual approach. Natural materials are used contrary to sterile clinical convention. Hygiene control may require more effort, but the environmental aesthetic benefits take precedence over any added operational burden.

The patients’ rooms have a gentle domestic character. Clinical fixtures are unobtrusive. Furniture and built-in fittings are refined, smoothly co-ordinated and well constructed. Careful consideration has been applied to every element: nothing is left to irritate or to jar the senses. For such a complex facility this level of design control is a terrific achievement.

photo : Elaine Lewis

St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit, Newport – Building Information

Title: St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit
RIBA region: Wales
Architect practice: KKE Architects
Date of completion: November 2017
Client company name: St David’s Hospice Care
Project city/town: Newport

Contract value: £4,450,000.00
Internal area: 1,665.00 m²
Cost per m²: £2,673.00 / m²
Contractor company name: Andrew Scott Ltd

photo : Elaine Lewis

Consultants

Quantity Surveyor / Cost Consultant: Rhomco
Structural Engineers: Structural Solutions
Environmental / M&E Engineers: Whiteheads
Environmental/M&E Consultants: Holloways Partnerships
Interior Design: Elaine Lewis Designs

Awards
• RIBA Regional Award
• Regional/RSAW Client of the Year
• Regional Award Short List

St David’s Hospice, New In-Patient Unit, Newport, Wales images / information received 260718

Location: St David’s Hospice, Newport, Wales, UK

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