The Brook design

The Brook has been co-designed by users and carers with lived experience at all levels and will have ongoing evaluation after opening by those with lived experience.

Alongside our senior specialist clinicians, nursing staff, estates and facilities reps we have experts by experience being consulted on every detail of the design, which has been highly commended at the Design in Mental Health Awards 2024.  Visits to other new exemplar units have been undertaken and their advice incorporated into our design.

The enhanced therapeutic environment has been considered in great detail.  Every patient has a Living/Bedroom space with an ensuite and a kitchenette.  This opens onto their own private garden area.  There are also a Quiet/Sensory Garden, a Visitor Garden, and an Activity Garden within The Brook.

The Brook is aligned so no bright direct sunlight reaches into patient rooms but there is plenty of natural and soft/warm electric lighting throughout including roof lights and windows in corridors.  The underfloor heating provides warmth in winter and helps cool the building in summer.

It resembles a residential building and will be set in a quiet, safe, landscaped space with trees and wild flower planting to enhance the beautiful row of already-established horse chestnut trees.  This will provide a great setting for patient recovery and staff wellbeing.

The space available will enable a large range of occupational therapies supported by two sensory rooms and a sensory gym.

The interior design has received a great deal of attention to ensure the colour palette is low stimulus with warm, welcoming, natural colours and the paints used are in a matt finish so do not reflect unwelcome light.  The furnishings incorporate a lot of natural wood finishes.

The space available will enable a large range of occupational therapies supported by two sensory rooms and a sensory gym.

The interior design has received a great deal of attention to ensure the colour palette is low stimulus with warm, welcoming, natural colours and the paints used are in a matt finish so do not reflect unwelcome light.  The furnishings incorporate a lot of natural wood finishes.