"Our overall design was to create a hospital that did not feel clinical, and we utilised the bright colours from the palette of John Coburn's artworks to achieve this," Alarna Cotton, Peddle Thorpe interior designer, said.
The floor surfaces chosen were to complement these bright colours, as well as to provide appropriate surfaces for each specific area; the hard-wear of trolleys, exercise equipment and feet, day in and day out. It is polyurethane reinforced for easy cleaning and maintenance.
In the ward rooms (bedrooms) – mostly single rooms with ensuite bathrooms – Forest FX is again used, this time in European Oak, to achieve "a relaxed, open and fresh appearance".
Ensuite bathrooms need sustainable slip-resistant flooring to prevent elderly patients falling and injuring themselves.
Cotton selected Polyflor Corona safety flooring in the Drystone colourway.
The contrast in colour provides Corridors and general areas were given vinyl flooring, and "as this was such a large area, we required a vinyl flooring that would bring warmth to the design.
"We chose the Polyflor Forest Fx product to achieve this," she said.
Forest FX is a heterogeneous vinyl sheet flooring that uses authentic reproductions of popular wood designs.
"American Oak was used in the corridors, general areas, physiotherapy/gymnasium and occupational therapy area to suggest a more welcoming 'day spa' feel than a clinical hospital one," Cotton said.
Despite this, it can take a clear way finding signal to the bathroom for the patient who might be a little confused.
"The coffee shop needed to be an area where patients, family and staff could relax, talk and take a break," Cotton said.
"The floor needed to be different from all other finishes, so that it did not resemble or have a connection with any other areas in the hospital.
"We utilised the Design Fx in the soft grey effect, Fog, for the main café floor area, finished with Mosaic safety vinyl in Grey Fusion, which also differentiated between the different slip-resistance required."
