The Bedroom Evolved: the Thought, Theory and Lessons Learnt From a Collaborative Project to Further Mental Health Spaces

Synopsis

The Bedroom Evolved was Darwin Group’s exhibition at DiMH 2023, constructed by Darwin Group in collaboration with numerous exhibiting consultants including Safehinge Primera, Medical Architecture, Polar and Tough Furniture.

With the ambition of progressing discussion around Mental Health bedroom design, the project went from being a concept to a physical space in a matter of weeks. Initial meetings started in February 2023, construction commenced in May, and the final project was successfully unveiled at the Design in Mental Health conference on June 7 2023.

Everyone who worked on the project had the same vision – to create a ‘real’ room that felt homely and less like a clinical setting, but at the same time, was as safe as we could possibly make it.

The result was a fully realised prototype; a 12 tonne, 32sqm space including a bedroom, en-suite and connecting corridor constructed entirely by Darwin Group in their Shropshire factory, elevating the potential of Darwin Group’s approach to MMC within the Mental Health sector. With everything fitted off site, the completed room made the short trip to Coventry where it was craned into place.

In this presentation, Louis Sullivan, Principal Architect at healthcare construction specialist Darwin Group, will chronologically walk through the design of this project, exploring some of the thought process behind decisions, recollect on some of the insightful discussions we had over the two day conference, and finally share the lessons learnt and good design we will take forward into future projects.

It is hoped that through this presentation, we will be able to share some of the insightful feedback we received from fellow architects, consultants, Trusts, and experts-by-experience, with the hope that learning from the Bedroom Evolved will make its way into future built projects.