The new building will house 16 inpatient bedrooms alongside facilities for the provision of day care and therapy services, a community café, and an administrative support hub.
The project comes following East Coast Hospice merging with St Elizabeth Hospice in 2023, with the charitable organisations having a shared ambition to develop an achievable and sustainable palliative and end-of-life care service for the communities of Great Yarmouth and Waveney.
LSI Architects have supported the client group with the detailed design of a new community hospice building following changes to the project delivery model and available funding. The new building directly responds to a local need for palliative care, with population trends highlighting a 35% increase by 2040.
The design of the new community hospice is designed to emulate a typical Farmstead building, drawing inspiration the rural landscapes of Norfolk and Suffolk and creating a calming and approachable environment that resonates with the surrounding architecture.
The outpatient building is designed to appear like a family home in scale, making it feel more personal and less institutional, with the inpatient buildings appearing as subsequent additions. This design hierarchy ensures a smooth transition from public to private spaces.
Biophilic design has been a key driver, with the goal of establishing a deep connection between the interior spaces and the outdoors. Throughout the building, there are plenty of views out to the surrounding landscape to support a sense of tranquillity and well-being.
A significant feature of the new hospice is the landscaped gardens, which have been designed to concentrate activity and formality around the building, transitioning from the building into a natural setting with circular walks.
Every element of the design works together to create a compassionate, functional, and visually cohesive environment that enhances the well-being of all who experience it.
Construction of the new hospice is expected to commence in 2026.
