INCH Architecture has launched what has been described as Scotland’s first dedicated care interiors business.
INCH Interiors will focus on the UK care sector, with a mission to provide enabling environments for older people as demand for services and the UK’s ageing population continues to grow.
Celebrating a decade of dementia-design expertise, INCH believes its evidence-based approach to designing enabling environments can help in reducing falls, anxiety and social isolation.
INCH Interiors is spearheaded by interior designer Lynsey Hutchinson and advanced nurse practitioner Gayle Henry. The firm is currently working on its first dementia design project for Blueleaf Care.
Elizabeth Butcher of Blueleaf Care said, “As experts in the care sector, we understand how important it is to support those living with dementia. Thoughtful, dementia-friendly design choices can reduce anxiety, promote independence, and create environments where people feel safe, comfortable, and empowered. Partnering with INCH has been incredibly valuable, and their expertise has been integral in helping us embed dementia design principles into our interiors and product selection.”
Previously, Lynsey was a senior interior designer at the Dementia Services Development Centre, University of Stirling, where she advised on dementia and ageing design internationally.
Lynsey Hutchinson, INCH Interiors said, “Designing environments that enable goes beyond designing for care. It means that we design from an evidence-base, working in collaboration with our academic colleagues to draw upon cutting-edge research that is underpinned by empathy and understanding.”
An advanced nurse practitioner and dementia care specialist, Gayle Henry added, “Our unique approach of blending expertise from architecture, interior design and clinical practice means that our designs are rooted in design research and clinical best practice.”
Alisdair Clements, INCH director, commented, “We are excited to bring a decade of academic and dementia-design expertise to the UK care market, with the launch Scotland’s first care focused interiors business headed by academic experts Lynsey Hutchinson and Gayle Henry. We offer design as a practical tool that is evidence based and can actively improve health, safety and wellbeing for older people. This builds upon the practice’s existing experience in workspace and education interiors.”
