AN ARCHITECT from Arts University Bournemouth won first prize in a national award for her project on Christchurch Hospital’s palliative care unit.

Jasmine Hunt, who studies interior architecture and design, received the best project presentation prize at the Architects for Health Student Design Awards.

AUB saw eight designers, all first-year students, enter the competition, which challenges design and architecture students to seek contemporary and compassionate solutions in design for health and social settings.

The students worked closely with and health-care professionals from The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RBCH), looking to redesign the palliative care unit, which consists of day-care and in-patient departments that provide end-of-life care for cancer patients.

Ms Hunt said: “Our project was based around how to integrate modern and constantly changing technology features into a healthcare environment, for which we were designing the interior of a new palliative care centre.”

“I was delighted to win the evening’s final award for the best presentation,” she added.

“As a first-year student, being recognised for your work is a motivating and exciting experience.

“I went into the awards being grateful to have the opportunity and, although I was hopeful and was proud of the work I had produced, I was really surprised and ecstatic to win an award.”

Fellow student Lydia Palmer won highly commended for overall project in the competition, which is open to students from all levels, including post-graduate MA students.

Russ Gagg, course leader of BA Interior Architecture, said: “Our first-year students tackled such a challenging brief with great enthusiasm and professionalism that involved liaising with the site architects, the clinical lead and interviewing cancer patients and their families.”

Louise Pennington, palliative care matron of the Macmillan Unit at Christchurch Hospital, said: “Our team developing the design of our new hospice at Christchurch Hospital were thrilled to work with architecture and design students from Arts University Bournemouth.

“They demonstrated an excellent understanding of the brief, and the work they produced was full of fresh and innovative ideas – they have a very promising future ahead.”