The North London Nuffield Hospital is a private hospital with 45 bedrooms offering a range of services and special clinics from acupuncture and bone densitometry through to vasectomies and X-Rays. While its primary focus is on providing excellence in the clinical and medical care it offers, the hospital is keen to make its patients’ stays in the hospital as pleasant as possible too and careful consideration is given to the design and ambience of patients’ rooms.
When it was decided to turn an unused internal space into four additional day care rooms at the hospital, managers were keen to explore how natural light could be brought into this otherwise gloomy area formerly illuminated by fluorescent lighting.
Initially, managers considered using traditional skylights but had concerns for potential security and safety in having an expanse of glass immediately above patients’ beds. Furthermore, their installation would be quite expensive, time consuming and disruptive. They then explored the possibility of using tubular skylights and were quickly convinced that these were the ideal products for their project.
Ten Solatube Ø 53 cm Daylighting Systems were installed, each fitted with a remote controlled daylight dimmer to allow patients to control the light during the day if they wished.
As soon as I spoke to Solatube it was obvious that they were much better informed than other companies in this field. They listened to the issues we were trying to address and were keen to help us find the right solution. We are very pleased with the effect the Solatubes have had in the day rooms in which they have been installed and are considering how we could use them at other Nuffield Hospitals to gain similar benefits.
Daylight in healthcare is of enormous importance for employees, visitors and residents. For example, older people need more light than younger people. This has to do with the fact that the visual capacity decreases as people get older. A lot of daylight is indispensable, as, to a greater extent than in adults, it is related to the biological clock of the elderly. Daylight has also been considered in the Ter Urselinen retirement home in Brussels.
The Ter Urselinen rest home in Brussels has been around for more than two hundred years. The nursing home is in the hands of the CPAS of Brussels. The idea to make a retirement home of this large building came from Napoleon in 1805. He gave the building to the city. The building currently homes 120 elderly people and there are 80 employees.
The demand for more daylight entry comes from the director of the retirement home. Director A. Kenis: "It is a classified building that is protected by the city of Brussels. It is being renovated into a modern and contemporary retirement home. As it concerns the healthcare sector, there is a minimum requirement of daylight provision per room.
Director A. Kenis:'' To bring in as much daylight as possible with as few modifications as possible, Solatube was chosen. This has happened, taking into account the fact that it is a protected building with a French roof made of zinc. The appearance of the building was important to preserve. This could be achieved through Solatube!
The daylight is very pleasant, and it certainly doesn't look too cold. The daylight is diffused throughout the room without being blinding and yet it feels soft and cozy. In our next renovation work, rooms will also be provided with Solatubes where necessary!
With a gym, theatre, hotel, shops and almost eighty spacious care apartments, De Volckaert is the model of elderly care in the 21st century. Both residents and non-residents can make use of the countless facilities, from playing sports to enjoying a theatre performance.
The fitness room and a connecting corridor were provided with a green roof by architect Oomen (Breda) and contractor Heijmans Bouw. To maintain the energy gain, the most efficient form of daylight entry was sought. The Solatube turned out to be the perfect solution to provide the fitness room and the corridor with natural daylight without affecting the indoor climate. This is due to the extremely favorable ratio between diameter and length with a reflection value of 99.7%.
The Solatube systems are very beautiful. You can hardly imagine that in that part of the building you walk under a thick layer of ground, that's how light it is.
The North London Nuffield Hospital is a private hospital with 45 bedrooms offering a range of services and special clinics from acupuncture and bone densitometry through to vasectomies and X-Rays. While it’s primary focus is on providing excellence in the clinical and medical care if offers, the hospital is keen to make its patients stay in the hospital as pleasant as possible too and careful consideration is given to the design and ambiance of patients rooms.
When it was decided to turn an internal space into four additional daycare rooms at the hospital, managers were keen to explore how natural light could be brought into this otherwise gloomy area formerly illuminated by fluorescent lighting.
Initially, managers considered using traditional skylights but had concerns for potential security and safety in having an expanse of glass immediately above patients’ beds. Furthermore, their installation would be quite expensive, time consuming and disruptive. They then explored the possibility of using tubular skylights and were quickly convinced that these were the ideal products for their projects.
Ten Solatube Ø 53 cm daylighting systems were installed, each fitted with a remote-controlled daylight dimmer to allow patients to control the light during the day if they wished.
As soon as I spoke to Solatube it was obvious that they were much better informed than other companies in this field. They listened to the issues we were trying to address and were keen to help us find the right solution. We are very pleased with the effect the Solatubes have had in the day rooms in which they have been installed and are considering how we could use them at other Nuffield Hospitals to gain similar benefits.
The Haga Hospital is constantly thinking about the future; aspiring to create a transparent hospital where employees and patients feel at home. By focusing on care and patient-friendliness, people are considered paramount, which creates better care and a healthy environment.
When renewing the heart department in the hospital, we looked at what could be done about the care environment for patients and staff. It had to become lighter and more colourful, as well as more homely. Moreover, the workstation of the staff is at the centre of the department, where there are no direct windows.
The joint seating area has been addressed. Space has been given a homely feel by replacing old furniture. This central place is very important because it makes a positive contribution to patients and their healing process
In addition, the decision was made to create extra daylight in the department with Solatube daylight systems. After all, a natural environment has a vitalizing and calming effect on the patient as well as on the staff.
The insulating effect is another positive feature of the daylight system. This is a big plus for the climate control and energy efficiency of this department. A good indoor climate in hospitals can prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
We notice that people like to stay in the living room. The extra addition of daylight is experienced as positive, also by the staff.
