Referred to as the ‘Garden Hospital’ for its pastoral setting and 17 courtyards and gardens; the new district general hospital in Dumfries provides an uplifting, therapeutic and person-centred environment for patients, staff and visitors.
This project has provided a world-class 65,000sq m replacement hospital for NHS Dumfries and Galloway and includes 344 single en-suite patient bedrooms, daycase and inpatient surgical suites, an emergency care centre, ambulatory care centre, and specialist oncology, maternity and paediatric facilities.
The design provides an uplifting, therapeutic and person-centered environment for patients, staff and visitors as well as a high-quality setting for the delivery of effective clinical care.
The building form and materials have been developed to reflect the rural setting and to optimise views and natural daylight.
Strategic vision
Hospitals are increasingly focused on creating environments that improve the experience for patients, families and members of staff.
And, with the themes of comfort and wellbeing foremost in the client and design team's minds, they designed a therapeutic and inspirational new hospital serving as a prototype for other healthcare developments in the future.
The design considers best practice, optimal operational efficiency, and emphasises the need for a positive working environment.
Examples include naturally-lit spaces with views to the landscaped areas outside; and the provision of staff areas which provide restful and private downtime.
Materiality
The building form and materials were developed to reflect its rural setting and to optimise views and natural daylight.
The high-quality palette of materials featuring reconstituted stone panels provides a richness of texture across the three principal components of the hospital: the inpatient pavilions; the diagnostic and treatment bar; and the women's and children's centre.
The honey colour of the reconstituted stone is similar to the Glasgow Blonde stone that is familiar across the west coast of Scotland. This provides a backdrop to the lighter treatment of the inpatient pavilions and the women's and children's centre.
These components feature a white reconstituted stone with a mica inclusion to pick up light and give a sparkle to the stone surface in sunlit conditions in a way that resembles the indigenous Galloway White granite.
Innovation
The design utilises Laing O'Rourke's unique Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA) offsite approach to construction and integrated one-team supply chain.
As a result, the new facilities were delivered ahead of the board's original programme, enabling it to undertake commissioning, decant and occupation and to bring the hospital into operation.
Sustainable solutions
The hospital is placed in its optimum position to maximise the benefits of the site.
The layout of the hospital and car parking has been carefully integrated with the natural slope of the land to minimise disturbance to the ground during the cut and fill operation and to reduce the visual impact of the development.
The position of the building takes advantage of views and sunlight while providing shelter from prevailing winds at entrances and optimises the visibility of the key entrance points on arrival to the campus to provide clear wayfinding to the main entrance plaza and the emergency entrance.
