Chris Sneesby, some of us know of him through work, has set up a company making ‘Archipods’. The pods can be used for a variety of functions such as home office, leisure or play spaces. The archipod web site has more information and details www.archipod.co.uk

Barnsley LIFT has received Planning Approval! P+HS are currently working towards financial close on two LIFT projects in Barnsley - Hoyland and Athersley, New Lodge. Hoyland will provide excellent Healthcare and Council facilities including space for GP, PCT, library and Social services. Athersley, New Lodge will provide GP and PCT services. Both schemes will achieve a BREEAM excellent rating and form part of a wider regeneration for each locality.

Malpas Rd – Mowbray House Surgery (view case study)

• Client input important. Traditional procurement enabled greater control.
• Building designed for context and cost effective solution.
• Spend money where is counts.
• Glass blocks and colour create joy.
• Client has taken ownership and cared for building well.
• NHS love the building.
• First floor set back to create domestic scale.
• Underfloor heating removes clutter.
• Concern over too much glazing and overheating – need more sophisticated heat recovery and heat extraction system.

‘Inspire’ Hornbeam Business Park Harrogate (view case study)

• Client wanted iconic building and led the design development.
• Detailing had to be precise.
• Glass to glass junctions  - no curtain walling.
• Simple detailing driven by the client.
• ‘Coolite’ glass reduces heat gain.
• Single stair building pushed to the limit.

‘One life’ – Middlesbrough (view case study)

• Building brief grew over time – client led the process.
• Major changes to suit budget.
• Traditional contract allowed more freedom of design.
• Fulfils what primary care building should be.
• Detailing affects programme – Detailing of ceramic black tiles and rainscreen cladding could have been simplified to reduce pressure on programme and costs.
• Natural lighting enhance spaces and waiting areas.
• Traditional materials are effective and look contemporary.
• Café spills out onto pavement to create interest to street.
• Underground parking added large costs to scheme but added value to building.

Vermuyden Centre (Thorn, Doncaster Lift)

• Very little control on job due to type of contract.
• Poor details in places as cost drove everything.
• Need to develop flexibility of approach to constraints forced upon us.

• Colours – Each colour has a psychological effect that should be considered as part of the overall colour scheme.
• Examples:        
• Orange – Social space
• Blue – Calming
• At Walkergate the wayfinding strategy is enhanced by the use of colour to differentiate departments and uses within the building.
• Colours are chosen for each department that complement the type of healing taking place or the patient needs in each area.
• Colour helped to differentiate the departments’ identities that had come together in the building
• The colour of a department is expressed on the signage via a coloured disk.
• Colour can be expressed in paint – or through a coloured material e.g. wallpaper
• All finishes within Walkergate are co-ordinated e.g. floors; walls; seating; duvet covers; curtains and IPS units. Do not let one colour dominate a colour scheme in a room.
• Bright colours, e.g. behind reception, attract eyes and demand attention.
• In bedrooms, strong colours are positioned behind the bed so they do not demand attention all the time.
• On long corridors, WC areas are expressed with colour to help with identification.
• When choosing colour tones, consideration should be given to orientation of rooms. In north facing rooms colours will appear darker.
• Client brief important e.g. Nuffield Hospital wanted boutique Hotel look.
• Look at precedents and fashions on the high street for inspiration – what do Mr and Mrs Jones want?
• Colour wheel – opposites on colour wheel are complimentary.
• Accent colour – choose one accent colour in each room.
• Dulux diamond matt – hard wearing and water based and is therefore a useful product.

Can you guess what it is yet? 

Walkergate Hospital in Newcastle, designed by P+HS Architects, is nearing completion and this is an image of the Art installation within the main entrance. The sculpture ‘Aurora’ was designed by International Artist Kisa Kawakami and consists of a series of coloured hanging rods with reflective disks attached. The ‘floating colours’ are designed to merge into more complex shades and densities and Kisa describes it as ’a wonder of lights in abstract form’. The sculpture was manufactured by Clifford Chapman in Washington, Tyne and Wear.