The Art of Distraction - use of Colour and Art
HLM Architects
Sustainable Architecture, Interiors, Landscapes and Masterplanning practice with a Thoughtful Design ethos at its heart
Healthcare architecture has historically been associated with institutionalised establishments, with many medical waiting rooms painted the unpleasant shade of watered-down pea soup. Yet there is plentiful evidence that colour can have a beneficial psychological effect.
Ensuring that the use of art and colour is implemented into schemes is integral to the design process if we want to capture opportunities to create better healing and therapeutic spaces. Often, an arts strategy is seen as an extra, and is the victim of value engineering. With wellbeing high on the agenda as society deals with a post-Covid fall-out, it has never been more important for architecture to address and modulate the vast array of feelings common in healthcare settings.
Well considered art, colour and light all drive changes in perception, especially where human responses can be negative. Children can be calmed or engaged by interactive activities; worried parents can be reassured; busy or tired staff are less likely to feel stressed if they can take a break in a bright, vibrant and stimulating environment.?
Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Tallaght University Hospital
CHI at Tallaght has expanded and improved the existing Outpatient Department, as well as providing additional services of: Child Sexual Assault Unit (CSAU), Urgent Care, Fracture Clinic, Physiotherapy and Diagnostics. By integrating these multiple services into one comprehensive facility, the Children’s Hospital Satellite Unit at Tallaght provides a child-friendly healing environment in one place which will reduce pressure on central A&E services
The design was developed with the end users in mind, with interior finishes at a lower level to provide a more relatable environment for children. In addition, positive distractions have been incorporated through artwork, wayfinding, and branding, to occupy children’s minds with alternatives to the potentially traumatic experience of being within an unfamiliar healthcare facility.
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Linear Accelerator (LinAc) and Admin, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh
One of the key design features is to remove the clinical feel of the building as much as possible while still providing a compliant healthcare facility. This helps to reduce patient anxiety while being cared for or receiving treatment within the service. The LinAc treatment rooms include a ceiling grid resembling a bright sky with trees overhead that encourages patients to mentally remove themselves during treatment. The rooms are designed with calming colours and timber accents, as well as warm tones to provide as much comfort and tranquility as possible.
The end result features bright, light spaces undercut by warm, natural tones and lively colours to add a human touch. Biophilia is also a prominent feature, incorporating symbolic references to patterns, textures and colours commonly found in nature.
Staff spaces have been designed to be bright and bold to contrast with the clinical spaces, including softer more tactile spaces to support mental health and provide a break from the clinical environment.
Thoughtful design and the desire to make spaces and places that improve lives sits at the heart of everything we do.
Get in touch via the links below, and find out more about the work we're doing to make better places.
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1 年I absolutely love this, colour is so important to health and well being
Assisting food & beverage outlets highlight allergens in their menus to ensure compliance with key food safety regulations & customer /patient safety.
1 年Look great and I agree as nothing worse if staying in hospital with nothing to look at. We design & customise our products to be more uplifting in clinical settings. Get so many positive reactions and enquiries from those who see them too!!