Woodland View

Woodland View is located in Irvine, close to the coast, on a site surrounded by nature, which provided inspiration for its non-institutional design. The facility provides recovery, rehabilitation and re-enablement for all patients whilst encouraging social interaction and recreational opportunities in a safe environment.

The development provides organic and functional services for elderly mental health, specifically dementia care, its design drawing upon best practice guidance from Stirling University’s Dementia Services Development Centre on meeting dementia patient needs. Good design for dementia can help improve quality of life, as evidence shows that problematic behaviour is strongly related to the degree to which patient needs are fulfilled by their environment.

The design of Woodland View adopts a holistic approach to the wellbeing of adults and older people that considers their psychological, emotional, physical and physiological needs. Innovative design ideas included shared hubs which enable patients to go off ward or come in from the community for therapy, sport, alternative therapies and fun. Supportive design features include corridor seating areas overlooking beautiful landscaped gardens, each designed with the particular cohort’s needs in mind; dementia-friendly signage; opportunities for outdoor play; and raised planting beds. Colour, artwork and wayfinding were also carefully considered in the facility’s interior design in order to create calm and enjoyable spaces with distinct identities.

Specific considerations around all of these aspects come together within the design to create the overall therapeutic environment.