Pictured above: left to right: Anne Denness, senior matron
of the children's hospital, Sam Tickner and Rebecca Peacock, mural
artists, and Jane Montague, interior designer for Matthew Montague
Architects
A Derby architect's practice has been involved in making
surroundings more comforting for patients at the city's new
superhospital.
Matthew Montague Architects were commissioned by Derby Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust to enhance the newly-built children's
emergency department and the Nightingale MacMillan continuing care
unit at the £334m hospital.
"In this current environment our team is very busy maximising
their specialist creative skills within the interior design sector
of the business," said Matthew Montague, director of the Friar Gate
practice.
Jane Montague, interior designer within the practice, said: "In
the case of the children's emergency unit we aimed to make the
visiting experience a less frightening one and to give the children
plenty of visual distractions."
The brief was to reflect the level of design in the existing
children's hospital while introducing a contemporary theme that
would appeal to both children and teenagers alike.
Working alongside a dedicated team at the hospital, focus groups
were held with teenagers and younger children to ascertain their
views and ideas which resulted in a seaside theme using uplifting
pastel colours.
This included murals, flooring that included starfish as
routefinders, seahorses and dolphins, a seaside clock plus stained
glass windows designed by youngsters.
There is also a courtyard which can be used as an extension to a
waiting area with a pirate ship and treasure chest by Crow Design
of Derby.
It was totally different for the Nightingale MacMillan unit.
"Our brief was to create a homely environment that would make
patients and families feel at ease within their surroundings" said
Jane.
"It was important there to enhance the natural daylight, and to
use colour and artwork to create a relaxing and calm environment
both for patients, their families and other visitors."
Works of local artists from Banks's Mill were used to good
effect. There is a dedicated wall covering showing news cuttings
and photographs about the setting up and history of the unit,
formerly in London Road. A feature within the area is an
aquarium wall designed to create a calming focal point on the
waiting area.
In the unit's own multi-faith chapel there is specially designed
furniture plus a stained glass window by Philippa Holland of
Derby.
"It's been a privilege to work alongside the team at the
hospital to achieve an environment that both staff and patients are
happy with," Jane added.
Anne Denness, senior matron of the children's hospital said the
enhancements in the new children's emergency department looked
wonderful. They had received so many compliments from patients and
visitors.
The hospital work came on the back of other interior design work
by the company.
This included a new design for the Centre of Excellence for the
aerospace industry at Cranfield University in Milton Keynes, and
similar work involving an interior fitout and corporate identity
for the learning and resources centre at the University of Derby on
Kedleston Road.
Matthew Montague set up his own firm in 1998. Over 10 years the
practice, which now employs 11 people, has won five Civic Society
design awards for a variety of office buildings, apartments, and
works to theatre and church buildings.