Output details

Columbia Ward, Mile End Hospital, Dementia Assessment – design conversion of a ward.

Location – Bancroft Unit, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road

Commissioning Body – NHS East London, SonnemanToon, Architects

In 2011, NHS East London Foundation Trust commissioned Architects Sonnemann Toon to convert an old ward at Mile End Hospital’s Bancroft Unit into the new Columbia Dementia Assessment Ward. Based upon a recommendation by the Trust’s Service Director, Sonnemann Toon engaged Dalke to lead the interior design refurbishments by addressing the needs of three mental healthcare units in East London that would be moving to the new facility.

The NHS hospital context presented distinctive research challenges for Dalke following her initial audit of the old ward which revealed that some areas would need re-defining for users with cognitive and other disability issues. Re-design objectives here also had to consider three cumulative contingency factors: the accommodation of retained aspects of the existing ward’s environmental infrastructure including wall protection and flooring; donated furniture (of varying quality, durability and suitability) from three sites; and an expanded user group with a demographic profile consisting of subsets of cognitive disability variables brought together in one project involving males and females of different ages with multi ethnic backgrounds and maximum assessment periods of 6-8 weeks.

Building upon previous research (output 1) Dalke engaged staff, patients and external visitors on three sites in evaluations of her re-design proposals. Key innovations included Dalke’s specifically devised colour zoning, visual signage and imagery systems and the innovative use of materials trialled and tested on site in accordance with the above contingencies. For a new ward of multi-differentiated users these solutions functioned as stimulating cues by aiding way finding and orientation. Post occupancy studies also provided fresh research insights into the beneficial effects of Dalke’s sensory design interventions when applied to psychophysical issues of culture, comfort and ‘homeliness’ linked to gender, age and ethnicity, and improving staff morale within the context of dementia healthcare environments.