WHE Intranet website: howis.wales.nhs.uk/whe 27

he Llanfair Unit lies within the southernboundary of the Llandough Hospital grounds,occupying a steeply terraced site that benefits

from panoramic views over the Vale of Glamorgan.The accommodation is split over 2 storeys with the

principle entrance on the first floor, providing a

harmonising response to the site conditions using robust

materials in a natural setting sited to minimise the impact

within the larger context and with a focus on the creation

of a healing environment for the patient.

The main entrance is accessed via a bridge link from the

northern plateau. At this level the main reception and

waiting area leads to the therapy suite occupying the right

hand wing and centrally located staff and ancillary

accommodation.The left hand wing of

this floor is reserved as expansion

space.The Therapy suite has access to

a landscaped roof terrace overlooking

the gardens.

The in-patient wards are located on

the ground floor with access to the

grounds and secure garden to provide

relaxing areas for patients with soft

landscaping complementing the

existing natural context.The two 19

bed wards form the wings off the

central core and both are subdivided

into two smaller units with their own

day facilities.The variety and size of

bedroom and day spaces generate a stepped footprint and

facilitate a faceted arrangement which allows the plan to

curve in response to the site constraints.This plan form

provides visual interest both externally and internally and

removes any sense of an institutional feel from the

building.

Particular emphasis has been given to the creation of

stimulating spaces with the sensitive selection of finishes

to ensure a relaxing and calming environment for the

users.This is carried through to the exterior of the

building where a combination of buff coloured facing

brickwork and white render over 1 and 2 storeys help to

create a domestic scale whilst combining with a

dramatically curving standing seam roof to give a

contemporary aesthetic appropriate to the setting.

Acknowledgement

This feature is based on information kindly provided by

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust.

Llanfair Unit - Adult Acute MentalHealth Unit – Llandough Hospital

T

Llanfair Unit

Llanfair Unit

Project DetailsClient: Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust

Architect: PDA (Novated to Cowlin)

Structural Engineer: Bradley Associates

(Novated to Cowlin)

M & E Engineer: White Young Green

(Performance design)

M & E Engineer: Mitie (Detailed design)

Quantity Surveyor: Franklin and Andrews

Contractor: Cowlin Design and Build

Start on site: July 2004

Completion date: June 2005

Opened to patients: July 2005

Floor area: 2,823m2

Construction costs: £4.6m

For further information contact:

Peter Wiles on 029 2031 5542 or

e-mail: peter.wiles@whe.wales.nhs.uk

Cour

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Courtesy of Cardiff & Vale NHS Trust