NEWS
14 April 2010
New CAMHS Unit Opens in Northampton
A newly completed Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Unit in Northampton by Dransfield Owens de Silva has just been completed and become operational.
Named ‘The Sett’ in recognition of its local badger population, the unit includes 10 single bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms arranged around a central landscaped courtyard that provides permanently accessible and secure external space. Tall circulation spaces are adopted in conjunction with rooflights in order to emphasize the feeling of space and light and to assist with natural ventilation. A lantern tower clearly and proudly marks the entrance to the building.
The scheme also features a ‘green wall’ as well as roof mounted solar panels that help reduce carbon emissions through the provision of hot water to occupants.
The internal colour strategy has been developed in close consultation with the building users and strong colours feature throughout to help give identity to different areas of the building and to provide individual identity to each of the bedrooms.
As a result of this close collaboration with building users – an approach that Dransfield Owens de Silva always promote – we have been delighted to receive comments from all connected with the project that it has exceeded all client expectations.
Go to project…
13 November 2009
Best Mental Health Design - Building Better Healthcare Awards 2009
The Oak and Beech Units at Harperbury Hospital in Hertfordshire won the Award for Best Mental Health Design at at the Building Better Healthcare 2009 Awards.
The £9.5m building contains a Low Secure Unit (Oak) and a Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (Beech) each arranged around their own private landscaped courtyard that provides freely accessible, yet secure and therapeutic external space.
The judges highlighted that the quality of this year’s entries for this particular category was of an exceptionally high standard. They particularly liked the way in which the winning design was
developed in close consultation with service users and has been designed to relate sensitively to its site, both within the context of the existing considerably sloping site and with the newly formed landscaping. As a result, the well understood therapeutic qualities of nature are allowed to permeate the building and its artwork.
The design responds to the considerable slope by locating each unit at the further ends of the building, thereby setting each with a close connection to adjacent ground levels. These are linked by a central two-storey section that includes the main entrance, staff and shared therapy accommodation. The building features extensive timber cladding, a sedum roof and an excellent energy rating.
Practice director, Paul Tanner, described the project as ‘hugely satisfying and enjoyable.
We’re absolutely delighted with the win which we think recognises the considerable effort of all of those involved with the project and we are particularly pleased to see how proud everyone is of the completed scheme.’
Chief Executive of the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Tom Cahill, described the completed scheme as an ‘outstanding building that sets a quality benchmark for future mental health care developments.’.