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| CABE to raise standards of healthcare building design CABE, UK government's advisor on architecture, urban design and public space, is launching a new campaign to demonstrate the impact of high quality design on local healthcare facilities. The campaign is being launched with the publication of a new report, Designed with care: Design and neighbourhood healthcare buildings. This examines 15 of the best neighbourhood healthcare buildings in the country. A doctor's surgery, a dentist, a birth centre and an NHS Walk-in Centre all show how high quality facilities reduce stress and meet the needs of patients and staff. All of these healthcare buildings go beyond simply providing a place for the delivery of nursing and medical care. These buildings all create a human, inclusive and reassuring environment, just when people need it most. With 3, 000 refurbished GPs surgeries promised in the Labour Party manifesto, CABE is calling for the appointment of Design Champions in every local authority, health authority and trust, as well as encouraging strong leadership from the clients procuring these new buildings and spaces. The campaign will include the first built environment Health Week (15-20 May 2006), aimed at GPs, health managers and the commissioners of healthcare buildings. Design and neighbourhood healthcare buildings proves what can be achieved when enlightened clients work alongside accomplished architects and designers to produce buildings that have: used space and light to create a calming atmosphere and relieve stress (eg the Hove Polyclinic with its atrium and toplit corridors) challenged existing ways of working (eg Small Heath Healthcare Centre, Birmingham gives mental and physical health equal weight) understood the needs of their neighbourhood (eg Idle Medical Centre, Bradford with its community service from minor surgery to parentcraft groups) created a human and reassuring environment (eg Chiddenbrook surgery, Crediton Devon harmonises the building with the natural landscape and provides pleasant views). write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Construction News :: home page |