IHP proud sponsors of the European Healthcare Design Awards

3rd November 2021

IHP (the alliance between VINCI Building and Sir Robert McAlpine) have been proud sponsors of the European Healthcare Design awards for the last 5 years. The entries for these awards highlight the very best in design thinking and innovation to improve healthcare outcomes and the experience of all using the facilities. As ongoing sponsors, Alan Kondys, VINCI Health Sector Director and IHP Framework Director, has reviewed this year’s winning entries to consider the aspects relevant to the NHP and healthcare developments, which include:

• Standard/repeatable (platform) blocks can be used to produce stunning bespoke facilities that meet the requirements of the brief.
• A city centre clinically driven functional facility can also create a healing environment with the use of natural light, colour and artistic themes.
• Healthcare facilities provide a role in the community and the need to maximise sustainability gains to reduce operational carbon.
• Posed with the question on “choosing between designing open spaces for the city and designing 21st Century care spaces?” and the answer was “You design for both”.
• The design concept of “establishing a unique urban village which normalises mental health treatment in a community setting”.
• Engagement with service users, families, and care teams as part of the design process, to create spaces that physically manifest and support project objectives.
• Leveraging the benefits from the dynamics and processes that enabled the sector to respond to emergency COVID19 requirements so quickly and efficiently.
• Reusing existing buildings can provide sustainability advantages aligned with principles in the NHS Net Zero Carbon Building Standard.
• Lessons learnt for where a vertical hospital is the best solution for the NHS.
• The value of Evidence Based Design.
• Research to support the design process for the best design in dementia and the broader healthcare setting.
• The consideration of special spaces to provide the “invisible care” when looking at a hospital redevelopment programme.

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