The Brook: From Concept to Completion – Sensory-Informed Design in Practice

Synopsis

This session shares the journey of The Brook at Langdon Hospital, an inpatient facility for adults with a learning disability and/or autism, from early concept design through to completion. The presentation explores how a strong project brief, getting the right people round the table, meaningful co-production and a sensory-informed approach helped shape an environment that feels safe, calming and supportive for service users, staff and families.  

We will discuss the importance of early strategic decision-making, alongside the practical realities of balancing safety, robustness and clinical requirements with creating a therapeutic environment. Real project examples will demonstrate how small design decisions can have a significant impact on how spaces feel and function in practice — recognising that the first step of recovery is to feel safe.