Refurbishment Property

Broomfield is a long‑established private residential care facility registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The home provides specialist care for elderly residents, including those living with dementia. In 2018, we were appointed as lead designers for a comprehensive programme of reconfiguration and refurbishment. The goal: to raise the standard of accommodation, creating larger bedrooms complete with private ensuite wet‑room facilities.

Project Overview

Our design approach focused on enhancing accessibility, navigation, safety, and the overall experience for residents, visitors, and staff. A key part of this was creating a clearly identifiable entrance and improving movement throughout the building—which contains several internal level changes.

The upgraded entrance design ensures improved accessibility for all users, including those with disabilities or impairments, while also supporting efficient fire evacuation and emergency service access.

Design Principles for refurbishment

Our reconfiguration of the interior layout was guided by four main objectives:

1. Controlled Access & Resident Protection

Implementing secure access points to prevent unauthorised entry and safeguard vulnerable residents.

2. Improved Building Accessibility

Creating level or improved mobility routes to help residents and visitors avoid stair‑dependent areas.

3. Clear and Efficient Circulation

Straightening corridors to minimise blind spots, improve visibility, and support the movement of staff, equipment, and residents.

4. Enhanced Wayfinding

Introducing intuitive wayfinding to help users better navigate the building and improve their overall experience.

In addition, the design considered essential environmental factors including:

High‑quality lighting
Effective acoustic control
Comfortable temperature and humidity
A welcoming, homely aesthetic
Easy‑to‑maintain finishes

All areas—indoors and outdoors—are fully wheelchair accessible and carefully designed to meet the needs of individuals with physical, sensory, or cognitive impairments.

Security, Access & Safety

Managing and controlling who enters the care home is a crucial part of building safety. Residential care environments have a constantly changing population of residents, visitors, and temporary staff, making protection of people, valuables, and confidential information a priority.

To support security while preserving safety:

Entrances are fitted with electromagnetic locks and swipe‑card readers.
Emergency exit systems ensure safe evacuation routes without compromising security measures.

External Works

As part of the refurbishment contract, the car park layout was completely resurfaced. Levels were adjusted and localised regrading was carried out to improve accessibility and drainage.

2020 Ground Floor Refurbishment

In 2020, attention turned to upgrading the ground floor of the original Victorian building. Key improvements included:

Installation of new ensuite shower rooms
Removal of redundant internal walls
Replacement of the flat roof
Installation of modern, energy‑efficient windows

Design Standards & Guidance for refurbishment

Throughout the project, the design team consulted guidance from:

The Care Inspectorate
The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Relevant planning, building regulations, fire safety, and health & safety standards

Refinements During Construction

As work progressed, several areas—including the commercial kitchen, assisted bathroom, and hair salon—were continuously refined to optimise layout, functionality, and value.

A seating area was also incorporated into a circulation corridor to take advantage of natural light and provide access to electrical switchgear.