Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire
Following the decline in popularity of Spa Towns during the 1970’s (due to the increasing use of health clubs), the medical and therapeutic benefits of their thermal baths are receiving recognition again. They are being used to treat patients in rehabilitation from surgery or people with muscular, joint and mobility problems. The high salt content in the water means that the body can float and by slowing any movement, it makes those motions more easily controlled.
Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, home to the UK’s only operational brine spa, is very popular with private and NHS hospitals in the area offering block bookings for patients to use the baths. This increase in demand meant the Hospital required two extensions: one a knee clinic extension, the other a theatre extension.
Peter Dann were responsible for designing the structure with the aim to match in with the existing buildings. An extension to the theatre block providing an additional theatre and associated facilities housed in a one storey building constructed using loadbearing masonry and a precast concrete flat roof. The knee clinic extension was a 2 storey extension with consultants rooms on the ground floor and wards on the first floor, a steel frame was utilised with precast concrete hollow plank floors and a trussed steel roof.
