In the summer of 2023, The States of Guernsey approached us in preparation of opening Guernsey’s first sexual assault referral centre. This space was a tricky building to convert as had previously been used for many different clinics and businesses over the years. This is an incredibly sensitive area, and we wanted the design to feel timeless and welcoming to whoever needed to use the space.
A high level of professionalism and respect was a central value to this project. In order to achieve this, we used lots of rich earth tones and plenty of soft, natural textures. There were many challenges that arose with this project, largely related to the scale and proportions of the building. Many of the core principals of trauma informed design revolve around cosy, open spaces, as rooms that are too big can feel daunting and overwhelming. So, we knew that we would have to find solutions for the vaulted ceilings and extended hallways in this building. Clever placements of coloured paint and window finishes help make these spaces feel less intimidating.
Another issue that arose was the lack of soundproofing and sound deadening in some of the rooms. To solve this problem, we installed a large static curtain made from sound deadening fabric. Not only does this help massively with the soundproofing issues, but it also adds some soft textures and colour to an otherwise relatively plain space.
The clinic style room was one of the most important in the space and as it needed to be a sterile environment we worked with local artist James Colmer to create a wrap-around mural to make patients feel as if they are in a forest scene. The brush stroke details, and subtle colours make an otherwise harsh space feel slightly softer and more comfortable while retaining the sense of professionalism.
Willow house is a brilliant new resource for the island which will hopefully encourage people to feel safer coming to the police to report instances of sexual harassment and assault as there is now a dedicated safe space for people to go.
"Clermont Interiors ensured that the building design perfectly reflected the service we offer to clients. Not only were they able to manage complex requirements due to the nature of our work but ensured that most importantly, clients who use the building entered a warm, trauma informed space where they feel safe. We are complimented on the design by every visitor and client we have to Willow House. The Clermont team made the whole process easy to manage and was adaptable to changing needs as the service evolved." - Charlie Cox, Sexual Assault Referral Centre
