Clearer wayfinding for a mental health centre

This research based and user centred design is all about how a spatial environment can support people, that need mental health support, in orientaion, wayfinding and comfort. A project with a small budgets but with a high impact. The client’s initial idea was to replace the old core with a new stairwell. However, we showed them the potential of renovating the existing stairwell and the surrounding traffic zone. This would allow us not only to improve the wayfinding, but also to free up the budget for an entirely different ambience and look in this part of the building. 

With a number of architectural interventions, Studio id+ laid the foundation for simplicity and structure in building A. Several of the empty shafts were connected to the corridor area and transformed into a pantry and copier corner. This freed up space in the transition area of the corridor. Also, all the waiting areas on the floors were positioned in the same space: near the pantry and immediately in view when entering a floor, and with extra daylight in the indoor corridor. Lastly, the fire barriers were relocated so that the access area around the central stairwell was uncluttered by doors and partitions. 

In addition to interventions in the architectural structure, the concept centred around clear-cut design and materials. Conceptually, we approached the cores as a central 'object' that serves as a memorable focal point and helps users orient themselves and navigate easily. The greyish, mid-green tone of this central element is partly continued in a strip of the ceiling and the floor. New, light-coloured flooring and a new ceiling create a sense of calm and cohesion, and the access area looks much brighter and fresher. This mood is enhanced by the new lighting. We replaced the existing fixtures with white-toned LED lighting. Combined with yellower lighting in the waiting areas, pantry and copier corners, this unifies the whole into a clear main route with support services and residential areas. 

Different elements distinguish the residential areas from the service zones. The waiting areas are playful, friendly and colourful environments, while the traffic areas are more restrained. As a final layer in the design, a special plan was developed for (part of) the signage. The routing is indicated at the entrance to the staircase; like the different wood tones, geometric symbols – triangles, circles or rectangles – help to identify individual floors. The different shades of wood finish appear in the pantries, the copier facilities, and the staircase cladding, too. The graphic elements also feature in the waiting areas, clustering the zones where announcements and brochures are held. The result is a legible design that makes it easier for users to find their way around, and enhances feelings of calm, warmth, and familiarity to create a conducive treatment environment.