Our involvement with health, welfare and community design includes doctors’ surgeries, residential care and public amenities. We have developed a clear understanding of our clients’ needs in this rapidly expanding sector and have worked on projects for all age groups from children and youth care to the elderly and sufferers of dementia.

Close attention to detail must be paid to the design of residential care to create a welcoming, sociable atmosphere which is both safe and secure without feeling ‘institutional’. We also recognise that the relationship of the building to the surrounding landscape can enhance both the quality of life for residents and the level of care provided. We adopt, therefore, a holistic approach to the design of each site so that inside and outside interact to produce a harmonious and reassuring environment.

Interaction between a building and those using it is equally important in the design of buildings for community use. Each community has its own character and will place specific demands upon the buildings designed to serve that community. Involvement with local people is essential at the very early stages of design both to establish particular requirements and to ensure that they take possession of the design. Before we go too far with any proposals, therefore, we set up a series of public meetings to show our ideas and to elicit comments and queries. It’s important for us to establish people’s priorities when it comes to the amenities we need to include in our designs.