and the interior designer began working closely together very early in the project.

First of all, we had to understand the needs and day-to-day activities for each department or section in the building. We had to ask such fundamental questions as who would live where, who would walk where, and who would work with whom. After the needs of the facility were thoroughly understood, the designers could translate the functional needs of the organization into concrete threedimensional terms.

Because of his experience and training the interior designer can utilize various arts and crafts essential to the completion of a

project such as St. Anne Hospice An intimate knowledge of supplies and their sources is one of his most valuable assets. His search for new ideas, products and materials is wide and constant. By reading trade and technical journals and by visiting the laboratories, factories and showrooms of American industry, the interior designer keeps informed of the latest developments in products, ranging from paint and plastics to floor coverings and lighting fixtures.

Budget control is of primary importance to all administrators. St Anne Hospice was no exception The sisters were aware that in purchasing furnishings three basic elements must be analyzed: qual

ity, service and price, weighed in proportion to their relative value. In carrying out the project, it was part of our job to present a good over-all price for all necessary furnishings, to supervise delivery and installation, and to make sure that our purchasing would result in less administrative time spent on the project.

IMPORTANCE OF COLOR

The use of color is a major factor in any design project. Its good or bad use can make or break any interior regardless of the amount of money spent in furnishings. Its psychological effect on people of all ages is well known. Older people tend to like gay, bright colors and to dislike dull, grayed colors.

To create the impression of a dignified, gracious atmosphere in the lobby, which sets the color scheme for most of the first floor because of its open architectural plan, a warm yet grayed pink beige was used for the vinyl wall coverings, a good basic color that allows the use of bright accent colors. Light and dark values were well established by the use of accent rugs and walnut furniture. Because the pattern was rather heavy in the draperies and accent rugs, solid colored upholstery was used.

One color in rubber tile was chosen to flow through the entire building. This is a unifying design solution in most institutions-the uninterrupted use of a neutral

color as a background for all other colors. When a warm, yet grayed beige tile was chosen for the lobby floor, this choice of necessity keyed all other colors in the building to this flooring. The over-all effect is pleasant, much better than in those buildings where color changes in the flooring have been made from room to room. Also, designers generally frown on the use of borders and patterns for flooring because it interferes with other patterns in a given area.

Color selection for vinyl wall covering in the corridors on other floors was determined by the color chosen for the main lounge area in the center of each floor. All of these colors were high in key.

Four color schemes were used in the bedrooms throughout the building: soft grayed values of gold, green, pink and blue, high in key so that the rooms would be pleasant for the many hours spent in them by the elderly.

Brighter color and heavier de

sign were used on the ground floor, where busy active hours of recreation and occupational and physical therapy take place. Color can either stimulate or soothe. This whole area tends to stimulate.

AREAS OF THE BUILDING

The first impression of a visitor entering the hospice sets the tone for the entire building. The impression sought was one of a homelike elegance. The lobby is an L-shaped area of a large room that also serves as a lounge and dining area. In the lounge and lobby, crystal chandeliers sparkle. The warmth of walnut furniture is relieved by white laminated plastic table tops. Colors of the upholstery are keyed to beautiful yet inexpensive Japanese area rugs in henna browns and golds.

Furniture is placed around these rugs in conversational groupings. Chairs and sofas for the elderly must not be too deep and should have arms for support, so that the

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BEDROOM FURNITURE includes bed, chest and night stand totally faced with walnut laminated plastic. The beds are higher than most beds, to make it easier for older persons to get in and out of them. In the living rooms of the suites, color of rug is correlated with colors of the walls and draperies.

or checker players, and there are shuffleboard patterns in the terrazzo floor.

occupants will find it easier to rise from a sitting position. Well designed contemporary rocking chairs near the windows of the lounge provide a comfortable vantage point for watching the activities of passers-by.

The problem of separating the lounge, snack area, and dining room without destroying the architectural sweep of the open space was solved by using tree dividers. These dividers consist of rows of artificial Pittosporum trees in large ceramic planters set off by narrow marble slabs. In the dining area, armchairs with cane backs and seats were selected with seat pads to repeat the henna color in the drapery. The arms on the chairs promote restful dining, plus support for sitting and rising. To add Visual interest and to permit a variety of seating arrangements in the dining room, both 36-inch square and 48-inch round tables were used.

The terrace beyond the dining area is furnished with aluminum patio chairs with arms and straight backs.

In two small parlors adjoining the lobby, residents may entertain

their guests. Because these parlors are sometimes subjected to hard use by youngsters of visiting families, sturdy vinyl upholstery was used.

Also on the ground floor is the "rumpus" room, which serves either as an auditorium when set up with plastic shell stacking chairs, or as a recreation area when furnished with vinyl-covered sofas and basket-like rockers. Tables provide facilities for bridge, chess,

BEDROOMS AND SUITES

Since both the retired elderly person and the bedridden patient spend many hours in their own rooms, design for bedrooms was of major importance. Also, the largest part of the budget for the interiors was spent for this type of room. Each additional $10 spent in a room in this size of building could increase the budget by $1600. Therefore, each item was carefully chosen with reference to cost, durability, and ease of maintenance. Most rooms are private, with a few semiprivate rooms and ten suites-all with bath. Experience has shown that the use of four different color schemes for bedrooms gives the residents adequate variety of color and pattern, and still maintains ease of housekeeping. The colors selected for the bedrooms were soft grayed values of gold, green, pink and blue.

In selecting the furniture for the bedroom, we decided on a simple and well-designed bed, also a chest

A CHAPEL furnishes seating for 68 ambulatory residents and additional space for 12 to 16 wheel chair residents. On the wall of the alcove near the chapel is an Italian ceramic statue of St. Francis.

A RECREATION ROOM on the first floor is furnished with basket-like rockers and vinylcovered sofas, and has facilities for table games, social dancing, and shumeboard. This room has a stage and may be used for programs by residents, students, and local civic groups, and for movies.

and night stand totally faced with walnut laminated plastic. The beds are higher than the ordinary bed, to make it easier for older people to sit on them and to get in and out of bed. The high-backed rocking chair in each room is a real favorite with the guests. A built-in desk is another feature of each room. The same type of chair used for the dining area is used for the desk.

Each suite is designed for a couple, and consists of a living room and bedroom. In the bedroom are two beds, a large chest, night stand, and a chair. The living room furniture includes a light inexpensive sofa with foam rubber upholstery and walnut frame, a rocking chair with leg rest, and a wall-hung unit furnishing desk space, shelves, and a storage cabinet.

CORRIDORS AND SOLARIUMS

To relieve monotony of corridors, colorful patterned wallpaper, treated for soil resistance, was used. Immediately adjoining each nurses' station is a conference room with a large window so that the

nurse is always in control of her station.

On each of the three floors for residents is a solarium located near the elevator and nurses' station. Each has identical equipment, including a built-in kitchenette where residents may enjoy a cup of tea and an occasional snack. The furniture selected was of wrought aluminum in simple design. For each solarium, different colors for furnishings and fabrics were

chosen to introduce variety for

those guests well enough to move about from floor to floor. In these areas, residents gather for snacking, watching television, playing cards, or just talking. At the end of each corridor another pleasant conversational grouping of the same wrought aluminum furniture was arranged as a place to sit and relax or talk.

The use of art in all of its mediums is of primary importance in creating an atmosphere in any institution. At St. Anne Hospice, most of the important areas in the building were planned around major works of art. A fine piece of sculpture in stone of St. Anne, the patron saint of this institution, stands in front of the building. For the chapel, a local artist was commissioned to design the floorto-ceiling stained glass windows that picture the life and works of St. Francis, and Cincinnati artists designed and executed a mural depicting the Stations of the Cross in silver wire, enamel, and copper. This mural is fixed on a stone wall opposite the wall of stained glass. We were eager to provide pictorial interest throughout the

EACH OF THE SOLARIUMS on the three guest floors has identical equipment, but different colors for furnishings and fabrics were chosen to introduce variety for residents able to move from floor to floor.