St. Michael's Hospice

St. Michael's Hospice in Hereford is a charitable organisation that offers palliative care in an inpatients and outpatients capacity to the local community, county and beyond. We were appointed for the project based on our enthusiasm, passion for good design, local understanding of the area and ability to listen to the client and building users requirements, succeeding others who brought extensive experience of Hospice and Palliative Care design and delivery.

Location

Hereford, UK

Area

5,130 m2

Status

Completed

Year

2016

Client

St. Michael's Hospice

Architype have brought a fresh approach, with all plans, concepts, spatial relationships and functionality being unique and bespoke to the hospice requirements; developed through in-depth research and care to get it right.

We worked closely with the client team, nursing and maintenance staff, patients and their family members and friends, to develop a key understanding of how the new facility would run most effectively. The project converts the existing 16-bed ward-orientated inpatient hospice into 20 single bedroom ensuite units grouped into 5 ‘clusters’ around shared social spaces.

By injecting their sustainable expertise into the overall plan, Architype have made our new Hospice into what we believe will be a ‘landmark design’ for future Healthcare environments. Clear communication, creative design, partnership delivery: that’s what sets Architype apart.

Nicky West, CEO, St. Michael's Hospice

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Climate

How do we put actions into words when it comes to the climate emergency?

Climate Resilience

Vision

All vision

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Optimising internal environments is critical for the health and well-being of occupants.

Healthier Buildings

Health & Wellbeing

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A fresh approach to care

Working alongside a client group with a strong vision, Architype was able to establish a fresh approach to care at St. Michael's Hospice.

Design

The concept enables an optimum balance between interaction/activity and privacy/dignity (with individual control for each patient), whilst acknowledging the importance of discrete observation and convenience/practicalities for nursing staff. The inpatients unit offers assessment, symptom control, rehabilitation and terminal care. The current existing build is being renovated into a day hospice, where patients are referred to by palliative care professionals such as the Community Macmillan Nurses, GP’s or hospital consultants. Medical, social care, spiritual, complementary therapy, Lymphodema and psychology treatment and advice is available during these sessions and all have been accommodated within the re-design of the spaces.

Coming back and seeing this new building is breath-taking. It is obviously a clinical environment, but with the Cedar shingles and Douglas Fir cladding on the outside and the beautiful finish of the oak on the inside, it feels really warm and friendly. I want to stay living at home for as long as possible, but if a time comes when I need more help, then I can’t think of anywhere else I would want to be than here at St Michael’s Hospice.