Belfast Central Mission plans to create its flagship dementia, nursing and residential care facility with the help of NorthStar – a specialist healthcare design and development consultancy - outside Millisle, on the Donaghadee Road, overlooking the Irish Sea.
BCM’s head of development Nicky Conway, says: "Copelands will provide market leading care for Northern Ireland. It will provide a calm and picturesque setting for 60 residents, with dayspace provision at more than twice that of a normal care home.
"In addition to the many indoor facilities on offer, the building also has a spacious roof top garden with stunning sea views that can be used for outdoor events and activities, or simply a place to sit and relax.It involves breaking down the traditional care home structure into households of 10 residents, so that each household has its own front door, kitchen and living area, as well as access to a communal outdoor area," he adds.
The design takes advantage of the stunning views and topography, but also maximises the use of natural daylight and offers a clear and legible layout, with a mix of social areas to encourage interaction as well as quiet areas for calm contemplation. There are numerous opportunities for residents to access the outdoors and benefit from fresh air and sunlight via gardens, balconies, patios and the large, central roof terrace.
The benefits of resident horticulture therapy programmes was also a key factor in the design of the gardens with glasshouses, potting sheds and raised planter beds available, allowing residents the chance to get involved as much or as little as they want in outdoor activities.
The building is designed to operate as a series of households delivering person-centred care but is also keen to encourage social interaction in the many communal areas and gardens. Each household has its own front door and the wayfinding from the central areas is assisted with clear signage and views to the outside to aid orientation.
Northstar director Danny Sharpe, says: "From the outset it was determined that the proposed design would be a place of refuge, that it would reflect a well-known, traditional and established local building typology and that, as a result, the new building would become a place of comfort and safety for its residents.
"The setting certainly lends itself to this approach – that of a haven on the hillside overlooking the stormy sea. For a person to feel ‘at home’ it is important that we understand what that means in their particular context. A building that evokes early memories of ‘home’ is far more likely to become a place of refuge for someone who is starting to suffer from the stress of memory loss and diminished cognitive ability."
The planning application is with Ards and Down Council for consideration with a decision expected towards the end of the summer.
