The grand scale refurbishment project also included construction of a two storey playdeck in an interior courtyard and interactive feature lighting.
Devereux Architects and ArtCare, the hospital’s in-house ‘arts in health’ team, worked with hospital staff and more than 1,100 local schoolchildren and students from a nearby college to design a healing environment that brings together clinical requirements and also distracts and delights children of all ages during their hospital stay. The unit is exceptional not just acceptable and this enhanced environment was made possible by funding from the hospital’s charity the Stars Appeal who receive huge local community support.
Altro products including AltroSmooth Synthesis™ heavy duty smooth flooring, Altro Marine™ safety flooring for wet areas, Altro Suprema™ safety flooring and Altro Whiterock™ Digiclad printed hygienic wall cladding were used to make creative design ideas an innovative, practical and high performance reality.
The results are stunning, with bold, bright, fun designs also fulfilling clinical and practical purposes. For example, the turtles incorporated in the Altro Suprema safety flooring not only look great, but aid the Therapy team in their clinical assessments of mobility. Also incorporated into Altro flooring are bespoke, waterjet cut designs that help with way finding around the building.
Collaboration with local children and young people was an integral part of the design process and has been combined with the latest products to contribute to the success of the project. Altro Whiterock Digiclad hygienic wall cladding designed by ArtCare incorporates images created by 40 AS Level Photography students from a local college as part of their exam portfolio.
Altro Whiterock Digiclad is a unique service that allows you to print your choice of image directly onto Altro Whiterock, a semi-rigid PVC wall cladding range which has superb hygienic properties and has become the first internal wall finish in the world to receive an A from BRE (Building Research Establishment) Global environmental rating in conjunction with a timber stud, plasterboard internal wall specification. The Altro Whiterock Digiclad washable murals use durable, cured inks to provide enhanced resistance to wear and tear in busy, hygienic areas. It is available in either a high gloss or satin finish and with extra coatings available for very busy areas to ensure walls stay looking good for longer.
Julian Davies of Devereux Architects felt confident that Altro Whiterock Digiclad was the right product choice, having used it on a number of successful projects in the past. He said “You can rely on Altro’s products; they give us what we want. They are a proactive company.”
Penny Bayliss-Robbins of the hospital’s ArtCare team took the step of undertaking training with Altro to be able to install the Altro Whiterock Digiclad panels herself. “Having an understanding of the installation process really helps when it comes to designing,” she explained. “We could adapt the design to suit the layout of the panels and prevent awkward installation challenges along the line.
“The end result is far superior to any other medium we could have worked in. A painted mural would not have looked as good, and would have created difficulties for cleaning. Printed glass would have been another alternative, but it’s more expensive and would not have coped with on-site installation challenges in the same way Altro’s products can.
“Altro were really supportive throughout the project. We felt in safe hands. We didn’t have to worry if there was a problem – Altro were always keen to help solve it.”
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