Princess Alexandra Home

Princess Alexandra Home Stanmore is a facility for elderly residents and includes a care home, healthcare facilities, community and day centre, as well as independent living apartments and communal amenities.

The site (approx 6.75ha) lies within the Green Belt and within an Area of Special Character. The surrounding woodland is associated with two SSSIs: Harrow Weald SSSI to the west and Bentley Priory SSSI to the east. Many of the trees on the site are the subject of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO).

The outdoor spaces were developed as secure courtyards and gardens including horticultural facilities. The design incorporates BS8300 – Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people, along with special design and detailing to aid persons with dementia.

Key features:

• external breakout spaces for group events and activities, including a paved area and anchorage points for a sukkah (or succah), a temporary hut for use during the Jewish festival of Sukkot
• a hierarchy of grass areas; wildflower meadows in woodland path verges; and woodland glade areas
• a horticultural area with espalier fruit trees, raised beds and vegetable trugs for vegetable, fruit and flower cultivation
• sensory/tactile planting within courtyards and garden areas
• safe access routes with handrails, upstands to paving, serving as cane guides for the partially sighted and wheelchair guides
• safe, circuitous routes to accommodate wandering, delivering people back to a safe destination
• paving choices carefully considered to avoid disruptive or disturbing patterns