Addenbrookes Pediatric Day Unit
Transforming a day room and storage space into into a relaxing hub for teens and young adults at Addenbrookes Paediatric Day Unit, a six bed ward for children and young people aged 3-16 who need a bed for a day.
The challenge was to create a space that was multifunctional and enabled teenage patients to relax away from the ward environment, which is geared more towards the younger patients. Occasional consultations, minor treatments and clinical procedures could also happen within the room, where it might be preferable for the young person, so the materials used had to be compliant with infection control, without being too unwelcoming.
The inspiration for the design originated from abstract interpretations of cellular-inspired shapes. The wall cladding clearly reflects this theme and adds interesting features to the warm wood panelled walls. A range of heights and styles of seating encourage different uses, from sitting and chatting to lying back and watching TV. Integrated within the design scheme is a functional desk where a young person could sit and use a laptop or do homework. We also added lockable storage for clinical staff, so the desk allows for one to one consultation time with young people in an informal setting. Hidden storage ensures games can be easily cleared away by staff to save on time and aid cleaning.