Yesterday I attended the HCN breakfast about paediatric design. The presentation by Dominic Hook and Katherine Blankley of BDP focused on the design strategies behind the new Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool. It is an imaginative scheme focused on how to provide the best patient experience. Key principles of the design were:

• To create a ‘heart’ of the building through the use of an atrium which connect the entrance to all wards
• To orientate the wards to allow for all bedrooms to have a view of the adjacent Springfield Park
• To bring nature into the site with planting provided internally, on the façades and within the courtyards
• To integrate art within wayfinding, manifestation and within playful installations to provide distraction and delight.

The project is an inspiring reminder of the importance of the NHS and how a holistic approach to design can improve the recovery and experience of all who utilise these spaces.