Bespoke Development for The Blind The Beacon Centre in Wolverhampton
The Beacon Centre needed a new-build, bespoke development for residents aged over 55 with visual impairments. We were commissioned at an early stage, winning the commission at competitive interview over two other practices, to develop the critical interior design that would let residents use the centre to its full potential. The brief covered 71 apartments, a bar, restaurant, communal lounges, guest rooms, assisted bathrooms, and a village street with a triple-height atrium, all needing a luxury hotel feel while subtly incorporating the necessary care aspects for visually impaired residents.
The Challenge
Our Response
The design process included extensive resident liaison through 'user group' workshops, alongside textured art workshops that encouraged residents to take genuine ownership of the design proposals. This close collaboration shaped a scheme with a luxury hotel feel throughout, from the apartments to the triple-height atrium, while quietly integrating the tactile and sensory considerations essential for residents with visual impairments.
The Outcome
The completed scheme replaced eight ageing buildings on the seven-acre site with two linked buildings providing bespoke support for residents over 55 with a visual impairment. It was officially opened by Princess Anne, and the development won first place in the Meeting Needs of Vulnerable People category at the 2010 UK Housing Awards.
