FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS ARTICLES

Isabel Ferreira, Global head of Products at Pineapple Contracts, which manufactures and supplies ‘mindfully designed furniture for transforming challenging environments’, discusses the positive impact of good product design in assisting de-escalation, minimising feelings of anxiety, and helping to create a calmer, more therapeutic environment and return some autonomy to service-users in a variety of mental healthcare settings.

Tony Huggins, MD of David Bailey Furniture, discusses its expertise manufacturing and supplying specialist furniture and fittings for mental healthcare settings, and some of the key features required – an excellent example being its recent supply of furniture for the new Kimmeridge Court eating disorders unit at St Ann’s Hospital in Poole (The Network – August 2023).

Jason Brown, director of Design and Development at Knightsbridge Furniture, takes a look at some of the key considerations – including the challenge of balancing appealing aesthetics and a therapeutic, non-institutional feel with safety and security – when designing and manufacturing furniture for mental healthcare settings.