“When most people think of a hospital setting, they picture plain, light-coloured hallways and rooms from which all colour seems to have been banished.
“However, it is now generally accepted that art can play a significant role in the healing process, with the ability to have a positive effect not only on patient wellbeing, but also on their length of stay and pain tolerance.”
Mitch Dean, wall protection national sales manager at Gradus, reveals that hospitals are increasingly specifying wall protection solutions which incorporate artwork.
This is because it provides the proven benefits of art while protecting the walls from damage, keeping maintenance costs down, and creating an impervious, hygienic surface.
Choosing your cladding
And there are now many wall cladding solutions available, each offering a balance between functionality and design.
“In any healthcare environment, it is important that cladding offers robust protection and is easy to clean, but this does not mean that it can’t be visually attractive at the same time,” said Dean.
It is now generally accepted that art can play a significant role in the healing process, with the ability to have a positive effect not only on patient wellbeing, but also on their length of stay and pain tolerance
“Many solutions offer a range of attractive colourful designs, as well as different wood or metal finishes that will introduce a fresh look to the interior of a building.”
There is also the option of bespoke printed finishes that enable specifiers to create any design they wish.
This makes it possible to introduce unique designs that are perfectly tailored to the needs of a particular space – whether a calming pastoral scene, an abstract piece in rejuvenating colours, or designs that are special to the history of the building or wider area.
“The design you choose will be dictated by the context in which it will be placed,” said Dean.
“Rooms containing patient beds may call for soothing or hopeful artwork, while children's wards or family rooms may be better served with fun, cartoon designs.”
Gradus' SureProtect Design wall cladding can be finished with bespoke designs
Creating positive healing environments
The Gradus Supply and Fit service recently installed a range of bespoke art worked wall cladding at the East Midlands Heart Centre, helping to create an engaging, child-friendly atmosphere while making the building interior more hygienic, easier to clean, and cheaper to maintain.
“As the project was a children’s hospital, a fun and colourful design was needed to create a tone that would engage children in a way that standard clinical environments do not”, said Dean.
“We therefore installed our SureProtect Design wall cladding, which was finished with a bespoke printed design that depicts the solar system.
“As well as lending the corridors a fun and friendly feel that contrasts with the wider hospital environment, the bespoke design is printed onto the back of a clear, textured sheet, meaning the cladding is easy to clean and that any impact and abrasion will be concealed.”
Gradus has also installed SureProtect Design wall cladding at the Grange University Hospital in Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran.
This bespoke custom solution incorporates a stunning range of designs that are different across each floor of the hospital, creating a positive healing environment.
Both solutions are easy to clean, making them perfect for areas where hygiene is paramount.
It is important for specifiers to have a team of expert advisors who can provide them with a free building survey service which sees them use their product expertise and healthcare sector specification tool to identify the most-vulnerable areas within a building and recommend protection where it is required
Because designs are printed on the back of a clear, textured sheet, Sure Protect Design creates a robust environment that futureproofs the hospitals against everyday damage for years to come.
A comprehensive package
But artistic wall cladding is just one element of a comprehensive offering for hospitals, care homes, and other healthcare environments, alongside a range of Gradus corner, barrier, and bumper wall protection, entrance barrier matting, and stair nosing’s for internal and external stairs.
“It is important for specifiers to have a team of expert advisors who can provide them with a free building survey service which sees them use their product expertise and healthcare sector specification tool to identify the most-vulnerable areas within a building and recommend protection where it is required,” said Dean.
“For total peace of mind, our supply and fit service can also support specifiers from initial enquiry through site survey and manufacture, and all the way to installation at a facility.”