St David’s Hospice
St David’s Hospice
LocationBangor, North Wales
Project Duration10 weeks
Project Size4,600 sqft
SectorHealthcare
Project Background and Objectives
St David’s Hospice tasked us with transforming their space into a welcoming, warm, and homely environment that met the practical needs of the hospice. The goal was to create a dynamic space that supports families, patients, and staff while maintaining a comforting and inclusive atmosphere. The project needed to balance a tight budget and timescale, ensuring that both aesthetics and functionality were prioritised.
Solutions and Approach
We delivered a CAT A & B design, refurbishment, fit-out, and furniture installation with a focus on comfort and practicality:
- Mechanical and Electrical Adaptations: Modified and upgraded the existing mechanical and electrical systems where necessary to optimise functionality within the budget.
- Aesthetic Enhancements: Incorporated biophilic installations, bespoke joinery, wall and floor finishes, and warm feature lighting to create a welcoming and homely environment.
- Specialised Facilities: Provided a coffee bar area, spa facility, private patient/medical rooms, and other spaces to support both comfort and care.
- Inclusive Design: Focused on disabled access, installing automated DDA-compliant doors and ramps to ensure accessibility for all.
- Open and Private Areas: Designed open-plan areas with bespoke joinery to create distinct yet cohesive zones while ensuring ample private spaces for patients and families.
- Energy Efficiency: Installed new LED lighting throughout to improve energy efficiency and sustainability.
Challenges and Solutions
The tight budget and timescale presented significant challenges, which we addressed by:
- Focusing on modifying and upgrading existing infrastructure to minimise costs while ensuring functionality
- Prioritising essential upgrades and leveraging cost-effective yet high-quality finishes and furnishings.
- Collaborating closely with the hospice team to ensure the design aligned with their needs and vision.
Results and Benefits
The completed project delivered:
- A warm and welcoming space that provides comfort and support to families, patients, and staff.
- Practical facilities, including spa areas, private rooms, and a coffee bar, to meet diverse needs.
- Improved accessibility through DDA-compliant features such as ramps and automated doors.
- Aesthetically pleasing environments that promote well-being, incorporating biophilic elements and bespoke design.
- An energy-efficient lighting system that reduces operational costs.
Key Takeaways
- Patient-Centric Design: Created a comforting and functional space tailored to the needs of hospice patients and their families.
- Practical and Inclusive Solutions: Ensured accessibility and usability through thoughtful design and compliant features.
- Budget-Conscious Creativity: Delivered a high-quality, dynamic space while adhering to tight budget constraints.
Working with the Opus4 team was incredibly refreshing. The team were keen to create a dynamic space that supported families and those with life-limiting illnesses, as well as a comfortable and safe place for people in a similar situation to talk and share experiences.
Glenys Sullivan Matron at Hafan Menai
St David's Hospice
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