Ashgate Hospice

Enhancing Spaces for Comfort, Care, and Community Impact

Sector

East Midlands, Offices, We Are Spaces

Location

Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Size

Duration

Services

Commercial Furniture,Interior Fit Out,3D Visualisation
Ashgate Hospice is a vital sanctuary in its community, offering compassionate palliative care and support for patients and their families. As demand for its services increased, Ashgate set out on an ambitious project to reimagine key areas, including Day Services, the main reception, and clinic rooms. The aim was to create a more accessible, welcoming, and functional environment that fully supports patients, visitors, and staff. We Are Spaces partnered with Ashgate to bring this vision to life, with a focus on meeting both the practical needs and emotional comfort of all who use the space.

Challenges

The hospice’s existing layout presented several challenges. Rooms and communal spaces were underutilised, which limited Ashgate’s capacity to run multiple activities at once or hold private consultations when needed. Accessibility issues posed additional difficulties, especially for patients with limited mobility, while outdated furnishings and finishes made spaces feel less inviting and functional. Moreover, there was a significant need for private and calm areas where patients and families could experience moments of peace. These constraints limited the full potential of the hospice environment and the services they were able to offer to the community.

Opportunities

Despite these obstacles, the refurbishment presented unique opportunities to transform the experience for patients and visitors. By optimising the space, Ashgate could increase its capacity to care for more patients and expand its range of services. A modernised layout would allow for a balance of private and communal spaces, essential for both patient privacy and community engagement. Staff would benefit from an updated, efficient workspace designed to support their work and create an overall atmosphere that uplifts both visitors and the hospice’s community of patients. With a more adaptable, accessible layout, Ashgate could hold multiple events at once, allowing them to welcome more of the community and expand their reach.

Solutions

We Are Spaces led the redesign with a holistic approach that emphasised patient-centred comfort and future adaptability. The newly designed Day Services, reception, and clinic rooms now flow seamlessly, with each space serving multiple purposes to accommodate everything from personal consultations to community events. Enhanced accessibility features were woven throughout, with wider doorways, thoughtful seating, and easily navigable layouts allowing patients and visitors to feel both safe and comfortable as they move through the space. To ensure a serene environment, private rooms were included for those moments when patients or families need space to themselves. This sense of privacy and calm supports Ashgate’s aim to provide a space that respects the personal needs of each visitor. Aesthetic upgrades, including new furnishings and abundant natural light, have transformed the environment, making it a warm, welcoming sanctuary that reinforces Ashgate’s dedication to comfort, healing, and connection. With this redesign, the spaces at Ashgate Hospice are now ready for the future, with flexible layouts that allow for growth and changing needs. Each space is equipped to adapt, ensuring Ashgate’s legacy of care continues to meet the evolving needs of its community.