Lane Fox REMEO Centre

Built on the edge of an acute hospital site, but orientated to maximise views of neighbouring Ancient Woodland, the Lane Fox REMEO Centre provides a therapeutic retreat, with a homely atmosphere, supported by cutting-edge technology and world-leading clinical expertise. The unit is a high-tech 20-bed satellite centre to the world-renowned Lane Fox Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, London - The National Centre for Management of Chronic Respiratory Failure. It is the UK’s first purpose-built centre to wean respiratory patients from invasive mechanical ventilation, thereby improving recovery rates and enabling patients to ‘return home’ (translation of the Latin ‘remeo’).

The building has been designed to provide a positive healthcare experience, both internally and externally, that promotes the wellbeing of all building users. This involves consideration of the physical, psychological, emotional and therapeutic effects of the building environment. 

The architects and project team's design challenge was to combine the facilities of a high-dependency unit with an environment that promotes rehabilitation and has a more domestic look and feel. The building also needed to reflect the vision for a highly sustainable design and operational standard through efficiency and passive measures. 

Patients and their families and carers joined members of staff in working with the design team from the very outset. In the spirit of collaboration and teamwork, a wide range of options were explored culminating in a holistic, all-encompassing design solution. The group collectively explored issues of patient observation to ensure reassurance without compromising patients’ privacy and dignity. An artist was commissioned to provide a series of four bespoke murals in the key social spaces. 

The centre maximises views of the surrounding landscape - an innovative 4-bed bay layout has been developed so that every bed bay has its own window overlooking the woodland. Extensive glazing with large folding doors, shaded terraces and a central courtyard, blur the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, promoting a calm and therapeutic atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor areas are discretely provided with medical gases, nurse call buttons and power outlets to maximise accessibility for all patients.