Innovative sensory-friendly pods provide functional refuge and local flair in hospital’s new design.
Dorset’s brand-new hospital has opened with a vibrant, human-centred touch, thanks to the introduction of Nook pods in key locations across the site. Designed to support focus, calm and connection, the pods are now playing a visible and versatile role in the daily life of staff, patients and visitors alike.
Positioned front and centre in the hospital’s main reception area — and styled in bright colours echoing Bournemouth’s famous beach huts — the pods create an immediate sense of welcome and local character. But it’s far more than a visual flourish. Nook pods are proving to be a powerful tool for supporting wellbeing and productivity in healthcare environments, where moments of quiet and privacy can be hard to come by.
David O’Coimin, founder of Nook, said:
“We’re proud to have supported this important project, helping bring Nook pods into a space where calm and comfort really matter. The Nooks offer a warm welcome and a quiet moment in the heart of a busy hospital, where they’re needed most. This really meets our mission of improving the kindness of our built environment on the front line in society”.
Beyond the entrance, Nook pods have been integrated throughout the hospital in locations chosen to meet very different needs. Daniel Murray, Programme Manager for Strategy and Transformation across Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch, explained:
“We’ve placed Nook Solos in both of our Hospital Libraries to promote spaces suited to quiet working. They also enable trainee doctors to complete exams and other focus-intensive tasks without distraction. One Solo is positioned just outside a clinical MDT (Multidisciplinary Team) meeting room — where clinicians often need to step out and take urgent, confidential calls. Having a Nook right there makes that process far easier and more secure.”
“Our IT department, based in a large open-plan space with no private rooms, now has a Nook Huddle to support one-to-one meetings. Additional Huddle and Solo pods have been installed in our Atrium, the social and functional heart of the hospital, providing accessible breakout space for staff and visitors alike. Even in the main entrance, we’re seeing staff use the pods for 1:1 catch-ups and the public taking a moment to pause or connect. Across all locations, the feedback has been really positive, and the range of users is impressively broad.”
These observations were echoed by Knowledge And Library Services Manager, Sam Thomas, who said “The Nooks are brilliant and just what we needed to improve our space offering to colleagues at the Trust. They are already being well used and appreciated”.
Certified by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES) as a sensory-friendly support space for neurodivergent individuals, Nook pods are already found in a wide variety of settings, from schools to offices to event spaces. Their blend of acoustic shielding, soft lighting, mobility and inclusive design is helping to shape more human, adaptable environments in healthcare and elsewhere.
High-resolution images available here: