Trinity Lodge, St George’s Park, East Sussex.

Motionspot joined Augustinian Care's project team early in the design process, inputting into the bathroom and kitchen design at both concept and technical design stages.

Developing a standard 

Motionspot helped overcome the challenges associated with Trinity Lodge being a refurbishment. This meant the rooms were a range of different sizes and shapes rather than uniform. This was achieved by creating a bathroom ‘standard’ which worked across all bathroom types (a mixture of en-suites and second bathrooms) and nine different apartment layout types, while maintaining the core principles of:

• Beautifully accessible
• Future-proofed
• Adaptable
• Supporting residents as their needs evolve
• Facilitating independence

For example, all taps, shower valves, toilet flushes, and door and drawer handles specified require minimal dexterity and strength to operate so that they remain useable as arthritis progresses.

Motionspot oversaw the accessible design of the project during the entire construction phase to ensure that the inclusive design brief for bathrooms and kitchens was carried through at all stages of the build.

Bathrooms

Motionspot helped to set the accessible design standards for bathrooms before providing:

• Detailed floor plans
• Elevation drawings
• Product specification documents

The key bathroom features that Motionspot specified and supplied to create future-proofed, design-led accessible bathrooms in all Trinity Lodge apartments included:

• Thermostatically controlled shower valves which are anti scald, featuring clear markings and large looped handles to minimise dexterity challenges
• Supportive L-shaped shower risers which prevent the risk of scalding and support balance, both of which can be concerns for older residents
• Wall plates which enable additional grab rails to be added for extra support or to mount a shower seat onto
• Fixed panel shower screens which can pivot 180 degrees to increase access into the shower, improve circulation space in smaller bathroom types, allow space for carer support and feature a frosted band to aid visual perception and privacy
• Level access shower floors with slip-resistant porcelain floor tiles to minimise fall risks
• Semi-recessed counter-top wash basins rather than more typical wall-mounted basins for easy access to essential daily items and the option for seated access underneath as required
• Comfort lever taps
• Wall mounted toilets, set at an optimised height for ease of use
• Easy-to-operate mechanical flush plates
• Supportive L-shaped grab rails next to toilets, which is the area that people typically need the most support
• Low surface temperature electric towel rails, which maintain heat at a maximum of 43 degrees, designed to prevent scalding if grabbed or touched accidentally
• Tall LED side-lit mirrors to provide plenty of task lighting and prevent disorientating shadows
• Plentiful easy-to-access and operate closed and open storage throughout, which is optimal for residents living with dementia
• High contrast finishes throughout to aid visual differentiation as eyesight deteriorates in older age  

Kitchens

Motionspot provided an accessible design brief and recommended the product solutions pack for kitchens. This was later used by the kitchen suppliers as a guide to ensure that their detailed kitchen proposals were in line with Motionspot’s core accessible and future-proofed design principles.

The key kitchen features and products Motionspot recommended include:

• Slide and Hide ovens to aid movement of pans in and out, plus matching built-in microwaves at easy to reach heights
• Ceramic hobs with easy-to-use button operation and clear markings
• Integrated fridge/freezers to optimise easy-to-reach areas
• Sinks with easy-to-use lever mixer taps featuring clear temperature markings
• Lowered wall-mounted  cupboards to provide additional storage at an easier reach height, as well as options for lower storage to provide choice
• Plentiful easy access storage solutions including pull out drawers, corner cupboard carousels, pull and twist larders and pull-down baskets to help bring contents towards a user and reduce extended reach distances
• High contrast finishes between flooring, cupboard units and countertops, to aid visual differentiation as eyesight deteriorates in older age  
• Contrasting large lever cupboard handles
• Open shelving and space available for storage of daily essentials which can benefit people living with dementia

Communal facilities

Motionspot also extended the principles applied in the residential apartments into the communal areas that will be used by residents, guests and staff. These include:

• Wheelchair accessible toilets
• Ambulant accessible toilets
• Guest toilets
• Accessible visitor’s suite

Assisted bathroom

Motionspot also provided a design for the assisted bathroom, which was carefully designed to create a calming ‘spa’ look and feel which would still deliver enhanced access for people with general bathing requirements, through to those requiring carer support. Features include:

• A height-adjustable bath
• Peninsular accessible toilet
• Bespoke supportive SurfaceHold basin with integrated handgrips
• Ambient lighting settings

Project delivery team

The interior design of the remaining apartment and communal spaces such as the bedrooms and dining/lounge areas was overseen by Park Grove Design Ltd. In addition, the project delivery team included MacConvilles Surveying who provided detailed inspections and feasibility studies and main contractor Pilbeam Construction.  

Photography credit: MacConvilles Surveying 2023.