Forest Road Health Centre is a new health centre in North London built under the LIFT initiative. Sam Stork was project Architect and designed this award winning primary health centre.
Sam Stork was principal Architect for a number of health projects including new hospitals when working at Dransfield Owens de Silva and YRM.
Designing for healthcare has its own particular challenges. The building has to function for its purpose, but also be easy to navigate, and provide a therapeutic environment. Funding is always a challenge as most health buildings are now built by developers under LIFT or PFI and these companies whilst wishing to provide good buildings have to ensure they will be profitable. As an Architect these challenges can be frustrating but the goodwill and determination of the healthcare team always provides an incentive to work hard and meet the challenges.
My approach to heatlhcare design is to provide a very clear organisational structure
to the building with public and private areas clearly separate. Areas such as waiting
rooms in healthcentres and entrances to hospitals need to be inviting and comfortable
with daylight and natural surfaces. Treatment, consulting and therapy rooms should
have natural light, privacy (visual and acoustic) and good lighting. If the rooms
can be furnished in a non-
Wards and bedrooms need to allow sufficient space for the patients and visitors and staff to avoid intruding into the space of other users. Good views are proven to be beneficial to recovering patients.
Images of other health centres Sam Stork was project Architect for.
