The Alder Centre
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Project Overview
Located within the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital campus, The Alder Centre is a unique facility that offers bereavement care and counselling to families following the death of a child.
Designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) and delivered by Whitfield & Brown, the space has been sensitively configured to balance functionality with emotional consideration. Featuring a range of counselling rooms, communal lounges and a memory garden, the centre represents a significant step forward in providing therapeutic, non-clinical environments to support families during their most difficult moments.
In keeping with this thoughtfulness, LBT Brick & Facades worked closely with the design team to supply the Marziale facing brick to create a gentle and calm setting.
Design Concept
While hospitals can sometimes feel cold and alienating during times of trauma, the design vision for the Alder Centre was to provide the opposite of that.
Therefore, to create a space that felt most comforting to its users, the architects at AHMM designed the centre to reflect the features of a typical domestic house. Each ‘home’ features a living room at its centre with bedrooms unfolding from there and a private garden situated at the rear.
To complete the domestic vision, facing bricks were specified for their timeless nature as well as their tactile qualities.
Project Completion
Alongside AHMM, the LBT team worked hard to find the right brick for this notable project and the needs of its future occupants. Considering both their visual and sensory experience, the team focused on finding a facing brick with natural tones and a subtle texture.
The Marziale brick was therefore the perfect choice for the Alder Centre project and has been used both internally and externally to create a tranquil ambience throughout. Installed in a simple stretcher bond, the brick’s light buff tone brings a soft warmth to the space without creating distraction.
Since its opening, The Alder Centre has received widespread acclaim for its sensitive and inclusive design. It is a place of safety, warmth and support, where families can shed tears as well as laughter and joy.
Awards
- 2021 - European Healthcare Design Award
- 2022 - Brick Award, Public Category
- 2022 - WAF Award Completed Buildings: Health category
- 2024 - RIBA North West Regional Award
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