Traditional meets modern for tranquil end-of-life care

St Wilfrid’s Hospice is an independent local charity that has existed for more than 30 years, looking after people who are in the last phase of their lives.

The new building had to be ‘homely and inviting and not a place to be afraid of’. It was also vital to secure an asset of immense local significance, providing high-quality services and skills to deliver the very best end-of-life care for patients and their loved ones. In order to sit comfortably within its semi-rural context, the scheme was designed to resemble a farm with contemporary links.

The day hospice and administrative areas are a traditional ‘Sussex barn’, the community services are in a ‘granary’, the in-patients unit is ‘stables’, and ancillary services are in the ‘hayloft’.

The slate and tiled roofs with lead works were installed via traditional methods, while the curved aluminium standing seam was site-rolled in 25 m lengths to an 8 m radius, rolled on ground level, then crane-lifted to roof level for installation.

“This really is a project of two very different halves, highlighting a good example of modern and traditional,” commented the judges.