A Sheltered Retreat for the Specialist Treatment of Eating Disorders: Kimmeridge Court

Synopsis

Eating disorders are responsible for more loss of life than any other mental health condition and are becoming increasingly common. Treatment can be challenging, with patients often reluctant to receive effective care. This can lead to covert interference behaviours, ‘sabotaging’ treatment.

This presentation will explore how considered planning and design can create specialist facilities that enable patients to re-establish a positive relationship with food and exercise. The newly completed Kimmeridge Court Eating Disorders Unit at St. Ann’s Hospital, Dorset, will be used as a case study to demonstrate this principle, with insight on the clinical model from Dr Carla Figueiredo (Dorset HealthCare) and the building design from Laura Delgado (Medical Architecture).

Kimmeridge Court is not a typical NHS mental health facility. Located in a protected wooded site, the building has been designed to preserve the quality of its natural setting and to create a uniquely private and therapeutic environment for the treatment of patients with eating disorders; many of whom have limited mobility. The size, positioning and detailing of the building have been carefully crafted to minimise its impact on the surrounding mature trees, enabling their retention remarkably close to the new building and offering spectacular views out to gardens, the surrounding woodland, and tree canopy to maximise their therapeutic benefit.

Service users were consulted on all aspects of the design including effective therapy, safety and privacy, and the interior design. Integrated art, seating and rooflights create informal places for therapy and contemplation. Observation is integrated to be effective and discrete. Therapy and activity spaces are designed to be flexible, using sliding screens, to be either social or private.

This new facility treats patients with dignity and respect; a tangible demonstration that the service, staff and patients are valued.