Iverley View, Barchester Healthcare’s new care home near Stourbridge, features fifty-five ensuite bedrooms with a wide range of facilities and outside space to enrich the residents’ day-to-day life at the care home.

The brief was to maintain a domestic scale and this intent has been carried through to ensure the residents are more relaxed and comfortable in a building that has a home-from-home ambience within a less-institutionalised environment.

The care home is predominantly two and a half storeys due to having rooms in the roof with rooflights and dormer windows and features a varied dropped eaves height to add visual interest and be in keeping with the surrounding residences. The design draws references from vernacular forms within the local area whilst presenting a contemporary approach to the use and detailing of the materials.  Materials include a blend of brick finishes which contrast against the dark cladding and window frames creating a modern aesthetic.  The home has large windows to flood the interior with natural light.

The interior has been well considered and includes a number of social areas including a collection of dining rooms, lounges and a café. To foster further interaction there is a dedicated activity room and, for those who wish to catch up on the movies, an in-house cinema.  To further enhance the residents’ wellbeing a relaxing spa bathroom is located on each floor of the home along with a hair salon and wellness zone above the entrance, destinations that can be utilised by all residents.

The beautifully landscaped gardens benefit from good orientation for daylight enabling residents to enjoy being outside on fine days. A range of mature trees offer natural shelter and lend privacy to the gardens from the neighbouring properties. 

A courtyard and patios provide areas for residents to enjoy being outside and they can become involved in caring for the gardens by helping with the growing area and raised planter.  A destination seating space has features of visual interest including sculptures, as well as bird feeders to tempt wildlife into the garden. Bedrooms on the ground floor have level access to the patios, leading to circulation footpaths. On the upper floors terraces to both the street and quiet garden sides provides variety in vital external amenity.

Staff and visitors are encouraged to cycle to the home and there are stands and shelter to secure up to six bicycles.

An articulated flat roofed building presents a bold, simple, rhythmic form using a light and subtle palette of materials which gradually reveal a finer level of details and textures as the building is approached.

Articulation is achieved sculpturally by breaking large forms into smaller elements which result in a more natural form defined by light and shadows rather than using heavily contrasting materials. This allows for a lighter and more subtle palette of materials to be adopted which presents a robust simplicity at a distance whilst revealing an increasing level of tactile textures and considered detail as the building is approached.

Terraces have been arranged with directional louvred slatted balcony treatments which focus view lines from balconies, limiting the overlooking of neighbouring gardens while permitting views of the care home’s landscaped gardens and more distant surroundings.

Increased planting has been introduced to the boundaries including the car parking area, with screen planting minimising views of parked cars while leaving clear primary views of the building frontage.

The site benefits from beautiful natural scenery, including a 59-acre nature reserve and wonderful meadows.

Find out more about Saxon Manor at Saxon Manor

Images courtesy of Avery Healthcare

The layout of the interior excels in giving residents something meaningful to do each day with a wide variety of events taking place in the home. There is a range of facilities and activities to engage residents to enable them to not only lead fulfilling lives but to enhance their wellbeing and ensure they are also comfortable.

There is an extensive choice of places for residents to spend time or to take part in multiple activities, from ‘knitter natter’, games and the ‘dementia café’. They can also enjoy the generous gardens, go to the spa, coupled with taking part in the variety of on-site events, all these opportunities are available to stimulate the residents and keep them active.

The building has balance and symmetry which is enhanced through the use of blocks of materials that add contrast and definition. The focal point is the warmth of the stone with the highlights of the intermittent rendered areas and the large expanses of glass adding interest and contrast.

As Taylor and Taylor’s first Smart Care Home, technology plays a key role in improving and defining residents’ lives at Esmere Gardens whilst enhancing staff efficiency The real-time location monitoring from Arquella Move allows for easy identification of resident location and whether staff are present to help manage staff loads. The automated clearing of call bells on staff entrance through Arquella Move ensures the removal of repeat calls on the system improving staff efficiency.

Arquella Connect provides automatic alerts of resident falls allowing faster response times. In addition, Plus Ten Care delivers an automated platform for alerts from the various technology systems providing prompts to highlight negative health in residents.

The Circadian lighting system installed across communal areas changes the wavelength of light outputted. The environmental benefit of this is that whilst natural light exposure through windows and glazed doors is maximised throughout the home, residents also receive the benefit of time correct light wavelengths from the circadian system. This reinforces inputs from natural light to create a healthy day/ night rhythm.

The building’s design exceeds the building regulations in term of its insulation and the operational efficiency of the mechanical and electrical plant. This will reduce long-term running costs.

“Esmere Gardens is quite simply wonderful. The location, rooms, furnishing and the quality of staff are five star. The personal touches are over and above any other homes. I visit many homes as a Pastoral Administrator for our church and this one excels.” (Visitor)

“Esmere Gardens looks and feels like a modern, upmarket hotel, but with high levels of professional care and support going on unobtrusively in the background. We can visit my mother whenever we like, have lunch with her, join in with the various events and activities or take her out, as we wish. We are very happy that she is at Esmere Gardens.” (Relative)

“I came to Esmere Gardens for a complete rest. The room is spacious with ensuite facilities and has access to the gardens so that it is possible to sit and go outside without having to walk too far.” (Resident)

Find out more about Esmere Gardens at Esmere Gardens  

Externally, the new building footprint creates an open space intended to resemble a traditional courtyard, landscaped in a manner reminiscent of country estate gardens. The design maximises the commanding views of the surrounding rural landscape to the south and east and responds more sensitively to the historic context of the site.

The building forms are set further back from the church, allowing the old to blend with the new so as not to overpower the church’s architectural significance. The scheme is relatively neutral, employing two contrasting palettes of natural stone and artificial slate to help articulate the building to form a natural backdrop. Modern, simple, vivid shapes define the communal spaces, standing proud of more traditional forms built from materials matching and complementing the existing church. Throughout the design, the intent was to achieve an overall composition which feels organically developed and does not compete with the church.

Most ground-floor bedrooms have direct access to outside space and external first-floors terraces offer seating arrangements for enjoyment of the outstanding views that celebrate the heritage of the setting and look out to the parklands and beyond.

With the new scheme, the carefully considered use of external space has maximised the connection between the interior and exterior, allowing residents, staff and visitors to enjoy the outdoors even during inclement weather. This fabulous, stimulating space promotes a sense of freedom but also fosters movement and activity for residents, an enormous benefit to both mental and physical health.

Planting and landscaping provide sheltered areas around the garden with planting kept away from the building to avoid overshadowing and loss of light during winter months. The development includes a recyclable waste storage area to facilitate the collection of appropriate waste.

Highfield offers its residents immense comfort in all areas. The cosy and modern lounges offer relaxing settings that encourage socialisation. The tasteful décor and thoughtful design in all communal areas promote interactivity.

Bedroom spaces are equally well considered and are larger than the required minimum. Other comfort and wellbeing-enhancing areas include an activity room, massage room, sensory room and salon.

The transformation of Highfield Care Home is an example of architectural renewal and thoughtful conservation.  The care home now features a more elegant and harmonious exterior, with careful consideration of materials, scale, and form that complement the church’s historical architecture. The use of traditional stonework, a soft colour palette, and architectural details like large windows and well-proportioned features create a sense of balance and respect for the neighbouring church. Additionally, the approach to the Listed church has been significantly improved. The care home redevelopment respects the church’s heritage by providing clear sightlines, incorporating landscaping that complements the church grounds, and ensuring that the design does not overshadow or detract from the church’s significance.

Testimonial

Luke Owens, General Manager at Highfield Care Home, said: “It is an absolute joy to see our residents spending time with their friends and family in the courtyard and gardens, or finding a calm space to sit quietly or to read a book. It is wonderful to offer such a versatile outdoor space, and it is often one of the deciding factors for many families when choosing our care home for their loved ones, knowing how much they will benefit from being outdoors and enjoying the views around the local area.

As well as giving residents a place to relax it is also perfect for a little light exercise as they can safely walk around the gardens with plenty of resting points along the way.

When the weather is cold or wet, they can still enjoy the views from the many window areas on both floors. It is a real tonic and such a boost for our residents’ wellbeing and it is really appreciated by their visitors and staff too.”

Find out more about Highfield at  Highfield Care Home in Tadcaster | Barchester Healthcare

Cue the new café extension that not only accommodates 70 covers but also includes a fabulous servery and kitchen area where Brenda and her team create the most delicious offering of cakes, paninis, soups, all-day breakfast, oh and did we mention the cakes?! In fact, the official name of the café is Café and Cakery!

Using materials that are sympathetic to the original buildings, the extension has a sky garden roof and air-source heating system.  With an expansive glass wall with bi-fold doors, coupled with brightly painted furniture, the new café area is light and incredibly welcoming. It’s the place were people return to time and time again for a meal, or just a coffee, a natter and to enjoy the sociable atmosphere, and, naturally, to savour the cakes!

The project also involved the design of a new stunning timber-clad bike hire hub and workshop, which helps to satisfy the increasing demand for e-bikes which have taken off dramatically.  The outer area includes a large courtyard area providing much-needed space for bike preparation, storage and washing down. This also creates a cycle/pedestrian-only zone giving an open feel to the space.  Additionally, there are showers for day visitors and more parking. Furthermore, this development offers capacity to cater for the growth in cycling groups in their 50s to 70s who have more free time.

Stu and Brenda, who own the Dales Bike Centre, have an enviable business model whereby although they are primarily a bike hire and repair outlet, many of their customers have no interest in cycling.  The Bike Centre attracts guests from all walks of life and all ages, some visit to enjoy the outstanding refreshments, others call in as they take in a local walk and enjoy the great outdoors, whilst of course many are there because of the infinite cycling opportunities on the doorstep across the Dales’ landscape. In addition, for those who wish to stay for a night or more, there is bunk and breakfast accommodation.

The new extension and bike hire hub and workshop have delivered a greatly enhanced visitor experience and helped introduce many people to the joy of the Dales’ heritage and countryside.  As well as catering for visitors to the Dales, the Bike Centre has the local community firmly at its heart.  Residents flock to the extended café to meet up with friends and family and the Centre also hosts several local community groups, including Reeth Fire and Rescue Service Crew and Reeth Young Farmers.

Throughout the year, there are numerous biking events, including the famous Ardrock Enduro Mountain Bike Festival. Welcoming around 4,500 riders, the new café extension and Centre facilities are well equipped to support the event.

There are further expansion plans in the pipeline, the first stage of this will see four timber-glad glamping pods being added to the suite of accommodation.

We have loved working on the Dales Bike Centre project, proven by the frequency that our staff return as customers. It’s a venue that has successfully explored and implemented a business strategy that has a diverse range of customers and does not purely rely on a single target market. Uniting a mix of demographics and interests the Dales Bike Centre appeals to everyone, offers fantastic employment opportunities in the community, makes a positive impact on the area, boosts the local economy and delivers some of the best mountain biking in the country, all supported by amazing refreshments ……………. and did we mention their cakes?!

Find out more about the Dales Bike Centre at Dales Bike Centre

The care home was built on the site of a garden centre, so the footprint was reconfigured to accommodate the new-build home and landscaped gardens. The site benefits from surrounding woodland areas which help to frame the new exterior area and enhance the sense of nature and countryside. Many of the communal zones in the home lead to direct access to the landscaped gardens.

For those who wish to appreciate the views from above, there is a link bridge which connects to generous terraces where residents and their visitors can relax together and still experience the benefits of the great outdoors.

To help reduce the perceived height and scale of the building, the design was developed to present the elevations as 1.5 storey in height. The roof was extended past the line of the external walls to put the first-floor rooms into dormer. This also contributed to lowering the eaves line of the building and provides each ground floor room with its own private covered patio. This design decision fed into the creation of the home’s unique double-gable ends to the front and rear of the building, helping to soften the visual appearance and present a more domestic homely feel to residents, visitors and staff.

The external appearance includes the use of decorative stack bond brick bands to contrast with the vertical faces of brick. These create a horizontal line that ties in with the cedar timber fins providing shaded areas to the covered patios. Columns and brick piers create a cloister around the perimeter of the building allowing residents access to a sheltered external space.

The internal layout, decoration and space planning was developed to provide open-plan spaces at key destination points on each floor. Focused on wayfinding, the shared spaces are located to take advantage of the views from the building whilst also helping to break up corridors between the care groups.

Dementia design is a key focus of the internal layout and decoration, providing multiple routes around the building linking the internal and external spaces.

Dacre Lassauniere, General Manager at Burwood Grange, said: “Nothing in the design of the building and grounds at Burwood Grange has been overlooked.

There are so many thoughtful design touches which provide the perfect backdrop for us to deliver specialist resident care and experiences whilst also helping to make life easier, more comfortable and pleasurable for our residents.

“Ease of access at all levels and areas of the building, coupled with multiple spaces for social interaction ensure that residents can move around and connect with others, fostering a real sense of community and belonging.

“Within our dementia wing, the ‘memory lane’ is a standout design feature for me as every day I see the immense support and joy it gives our residents. Here they can enjoy visiting the cinema or spending time in the games room or with the ‘rainbow table’, which creates an immersive interactive experience.

“We are dedicated to providing quality residential care to a high standard, as well as ensuring our staff are well supported and visitors feel welcome, and the outstanding design of the building and its exterior space enable us to do this whilst delivering the luxury and comfort our residents deserve.”

Find out more about Burwood Grange at  Burwood Grange

Images courtesy of Barchester Healthcare

Hamberley Neurocare Camberley is a dedicated facility providing expert neurorehabilitation and complex care services for individuals with brain injuries, spinal injuries, and complex neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s.

There are 58 modern, ensuite bedrooms, a two-bedroom independent living apartment, and a spacious therapy gym equipped with the latest rehabilitation technology to support those in rehab and recovery or long-term residential care. In addition, to assist safe lifting and transferring residents who have difficulty moving independently, overhead hoists are available in the rehabilitation areas as well as in 22 of the bedrooms and bathing facilities.

The design has been tailored to offer a therapeutic environment for all users combining well-considered form and function to create a space to foster recovery, resilience and renewal.

With a large physiotherapy gym, there is a wide choice of equipment for residents to use and begin their process of recovery, under the watchful eye of neuro physiotherapists and other experts. The accommodation delivers operational flexibility to ensure that residents have access to the most appropriate care for their specific needs.

A change in material colour was introduced to the top floor, which also coincides with some localised drops in height to two storey, the use of terrace, and changes in wall direction. This helps visually to add interest and reduce the perceived height of the building. Along with the strong building lines, this has produced a building which is simple and elegant in appearance, and contemporary whilst retaining a domestic aesthetic.

Waterhouse Manor Care Home is a leading example of how considered design, with collaboration between a close team of professional designers at an early stage, can deliver a building that is rational and cost-effective whilst also being beautiful, a pleasure to live and work in, and able to meet high standards of care. This is achieved through early visualisation of the spaces created, an efficient building plan, making the most of the site and orientation, and a careful attention to detail throughout.

The site layout is developed around the angled U-shape building footprint. This creates an intimate courtyard that reaches out towards the wider community of new housing to the south. This enables the generous garden spaces surrounding all sides of the building to be broken down into to smaller, individual areas. In the same way that the care groups are flexible within the building, the grounds are similarly capable of change to suit the care needs of residents, and future modification.

A passive design strategy initially, leading to the integration of energy-efficient and carbon-reducing technology during the subsequent design phases, were key considerations. This provided opportunities for utilising solar gain and using the main form of the building to maximise the benefit of passive design, minimising the need for mechanical cooling in the summer and heating during the colder months.

Sustainable energy source solutions were considered as a part of the energy strategy, with the use of air source heat pumps integral to this, and the flat roof assessed for future photovoltaic panels installation.

Communal shared spaces were planned from an early stage to hold significant locations within the plan, enabling views towards the reservoir to the north, and into the garden courtyard, whilst also helping to break up corridors between the bedroom groups.

For the façades, brick of different colour and detailing, including stack bond and recessed brick panels, have been used. The change in brick colour to a contrast provides a strong horizontal line at the top of the first-floor level, and the use of detail  panels help to create an interesting hierarchy of forms and articulation within the façades where it is used in combination with fenestration.

The restrained palette of materials and considered attention to detail and proportion help to provide a building that is modest yet has character, is sympathetic to its surroundings whilst successfully presenting a clear identity. This considered palette creates an environment that aids familiarity, helping residents, staff, and visitors to connect with the building offering ease of navigation and comfort.

“As a General Manager I have the pleasure of working in this beautiful purpose-built care home. When this home was designed there was nothing that wasn’t thought of. The home has everything that a resident needs for their forever home or just a short-term break. You can sit and drink coffee and a slice of cake in our reception area, have your hair and any beauty treatments or relax in our cinema room. We receive many compliments from the community and families, of how the home is like a homely five-star hotel and there is a lot of attention to detail, and it has a warm welcoming feel as soon as you walk in the door.

“The residents have shared that they have beautiful spacious bedrooms, light and airy with access to a lovely courtyard, where they can sit and watch the world go by. There are lots of rooms where they can read and relax. The home brings many social interactions, and we often have the community to visit for different events in our various dining rooms.”

Natalie Maxwell – General Manager

Find out more about Waterhouse Manor at Waterhouse Manor | Avery Healthcare

Images courtesy of Avery Healthcare

In response to site-specific constraints, the building was carefully zoned to distinguish between public areas, operational back-of-house spaces, and private residential quarters. This zoning approach not only defines each area with clarity but also guides the flow of movement, establishing intuitive circulation routes throughout. Corridors have been thoughtfully designed to open out at key points along their lengths, such as primary lounge areas that draw natural light deep into the core, creating vibrant, airy communal spaces.

The design of York Manor carefully responds to the site’s climatic and environmental conditions, with particular attention given to managing solar gain. To optimise comfort and energy efficiency, most of the residents’ rooms are oriented east or west, ensuring that excessive solar gain is minimised during the hottest parts of the day. This thoughtful orientation helps maintain a comfortable indoor environment while reducing the need for mechanical cooling.

On the south-facing roof, integrated photovoltaic (PV) panels harness solar energy, contributing to the building’s sustainability efforts by generating renewable power. Additionally, air-source heat pumps are incorporated to enhance the building’s energy performance, efficiently providing heating and cooling while further reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

As a result, the overall design achieves an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A, reflecting a commitment to sustainable design and energy efficiency. This aligns with best practices and ensures long-term operational efficiency and comfort for residents.

A seamless connection between indoor and outdoor environments is emphasised, with numerous residential areas offering direct access to landscaped gardens or generous terraces. This design strategy promotes a strong connection to nature and ensures that outdoor spaces are fully integrated into daily life.

Dementia-friendly principles were fundamental in shaping the internal layout and design details. Thoughtful planning has created a network of multiple, clear circulation routes, linking the building’s interior to the external environment. These carefully considered pathways enhance wayfinding, providing clear, accessible routes that reduce confusion and support independent movement. By blending functionality with sensitivity to residents’ needs, the design creates a harmonious flow between spaces, optimising both the aesthetic experience and the quality of life for all, particularly for those living with dementia.

The design of York Manor prioritises simplicity and clarity in both form and function, resulting in a building that is cost-effective and is easy to navigate and maintain. The overall form of the building is restrained, featuring clean lines and a cohesive layout that avoids unnecessary structural complexities. This simplicity in design contributes to both aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency, creating a welcoming environment that feels open and accessible. Key areas are logically arranged, ensuring that residents, staff, and visitors can move between spaces with ease.

Overall, the simplicity in York Manor’s form and design serves multiple purposes – facilitating ease of use, reducing operational costs, and ensuring the building’s longevity and resilience.

Rachel French, Home Manager at York Manor, said: “It is wonderful to see our residents so happy at York Manor and the design of the home assists in making their lives here so enjoyable. The interior is elegant and airy yet has a cosy and welcoming feel which is very settling for our residents, and this also creates a pleasant environment for our team to work in

“The design of the outside grounds is equally impressive, and the landscaped gardens provide a secure and safe setting for our residents, as well as their family and friends, to enjoy spending time together. In addition we have beautiful balconies where residents can appreciate the outdoors. There are many areas inside and outside for social interaction, and we are developing a lovely, engaged community who are content and stimulated living here.

“Our ultimate aim is to provide exceptional care to our residents. We are also mindful that the design, ease of accessibility, excellent facilities, and beautiful surroundings, support our team to deliver exceptional care and support to our residents.”

Find out more about York Manor at  York Manor Care Home | York, North Yorkshire

Find out more about Torsion Care at About us – Torsion Care

To access The Hub, corridors have been designed utilising natural light and wide spaces, and the landscaped ground-floor garden provides a connection from the area to the ground-floor day space.

Throughout the building, natural light is maximised and large second floor bedrooms have integrated en-suite bathrooms and spacious dormer windows. Embracing the challenge of a 9m slope from front to back, upper-level garden areas enhance the living experience for residents and optimise the site’s natural landscape.

The ground-floor garden provides planted borders, a patio, seating areas, and a central grassed area. The first-floor garden is split into eastern and western areas, providing level access from the first floor, and offering raised planters and seating areas to the east and a more sensory garden to the west.

On the upper second floor, a modest-sized patio area is provided for residents, with views down into the first-floor eastern and western gardens.

Find out more about Melwood Grange at  Melwood Grange

Find out more about Frontier Estates at Frontier Estates

The U-shaped plan has two wings which surround a generous central courtyard garden. With direct access to landscaped safe external spaces, residents, visitors and staff can enjoy being outside. For cooler or wet days, low-level sills allow views outside for those who are sitting or lying in bed whilst allowing more natural light to enter the rooms reducing the need for artificial lighting. Additionally, the terraced areas are important spaces for residents to access fresh air, and views of the gardens, reinforcing the sense of place for residents. These also offer amazing views over Telegraph Woods and act a as strong focus and connection to nature.

Mature trees around the site provide natural screening and privacy from the main road and a connection with nature for the residents.  This sense of privacy has been enhanced with the planting of additional trees.

There is a variety of well-lit and inviting communal day spaces to encourage socialisation, relaxation and activities for residents. These include spacious lounges, dining areas, a café, a cinema, and a hair and beauty salon. Each floor has a nursing station and two assisted bathrooms, with assisted WCs located closely to day spaces and communal areas. The overall feel of the interior is light and bright, and corridors are broken up by natural light.

Overall, the design aims to create a relaxing and easily recognisable environment through the avoidance of strong symmetry and repetition coupled with building proportions that are restrained to maintain a domestic scale.