Littlemore NHS Trust

The Oxfordshire Mental Health Care Trust at Littlemore, Oxford, required new accommodation to replace the Victorian ‘McKnight Unit’ which was being demolished.

Twenty-four bedrooms, a nurse’s station and a sitting room occupy three wings on the first floor with ancillary facilities, kitchens, a dining room, and lounge areas in two wings on the ground floor. Outpatients facilities, consulting rooms, treatment rooms and a reception area are provided in the third wing.

Our aim was to design a semi-secure unit that did not look or feel institutional. To achieve this, first floor corridors widen in places to create social spaces. Rooflights flood these areas with natural light. A strong approach to colour and materials was also adopted.
Client: NHS Trust
Completion: 2003
Contract Value: £3m

Littlemore NHS Trust