The Beacon Centre for the Blind, Wolverhampton
Client: Bromford Housing Association / The Beacon Extra Care Centre for the Blind
Status: Completed August 2009 |
The Beacon Centre is a new-build, bespoke development for residents over 55 with visual impairments. We were commissioned at an early stage to develop the critical interior design of the centre to ensure that the users could use the centre to its full potential. The commission was one at a competitive interview over two other practices.
The scheme consists of 71 apartments, bar, restaurant, communal lounges, guest rooms, assisted bathrooms, and a village street with a triple height atrium. The spaces have a luxury hotel feel to them whilst subtly incorporating the necessary "care" aspects. The design process included extensive resident liaison "user group" workshops and textured art workshops to encourage the residents to take ownership of the proposals.
key points
- use of texture to define routes and allow residents to use their memory of touch to navigate
- careful specification of colours to ensure a 30 point difference to the light reflectance of adjacent surfaces
- project in 2 phases with an evolving scope of service and level of involvement
- our service included the specification and purchasing of interior products as well as dressing the showflat
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