Warren Lodge, designed by DWA Architects, is a £3.6 million, purpose-built Bupa dementia care home in Ashford, Kent. Orbis Premier stainless steel door furniture and accessories from Laidlaw Solutions was used throughout the flagship facility which provides 64 en suite rooms for residents in addition to a host of other facilities such as a cinema. Laidlaw also scheduled door signage and accessories as well as grab rails, soap dishes, toilet roll holders and brush holders.

Due to the high profile of the project, interior décor colour and appearance were particularly important as the architect’s brief was to provide a 'vibrant environment'. Bupa Care Services’ Head of Design Services Rob Needham commented, “Our interior design had to create a homely environment with all modern comforts. In terms of the door hardware, we needed to combine aesthetics with guaranteed long-term performance. Laidlaw’s advice at the design stage led not only to the use of the Orbis Premier range but helped us schedule effectively through what was a very tight fit-out period. Their experience of managing healthcare projects and supplying a wide range of door furniture and accessories proved invaluable, as this is the first of a number of similar internal fit-outs planned for construction”.

Laidlaw Key Account Manager David Hill commented, “Laidlaw was ideally placed to schedule a project of this nature due to our wealth of experience of healthcare projects. The use of a high quality ironmongery range such as Orbis Premier, with its 15-year performance guarantee, illustrates the value attached to this element of interior design. The project also involved bespoke requirements such as the supply of newly designed matching rails with concealed fittings”.

Bupa is the UK’s largest provider of dementia care and over 70% of its care home residents are state-funded. It is investing increasingly in the construction of new homes as well as extending and upgrading others. A large proportion is now being focused on facilities for dementia sufferers. At Warren Lodge, the care teams consist of nurses and highly-trained assistants dedicated to providing specialist and personalised 24-hour care.