Bendheim is the proud decorative architectural glass partner to Patient Room 2020, a next-generation healthcare design prototype of a safer, more streamlined, restorative, and engaging environment for patients, families, and caregivers.
Patient Room 2020 was developed by NXT Health, a nonprofit organization dedicated to collaborative design innovation for the improvement of the patient experience and the optimization of caregiver performance. The Room draws on the resources of architects, designers, healthcare professionals, and building product manufacturers to solve some of the greatest functional and aesthetic challenges facing in-patient healthcare facilities. The prototype hospital room is now open for viewing at the DuPont™ Corian® Design Studio in New York City.
As one of NXT Health’s partners, Bendheim worked with David Ruthven, principal designer of Patient Room 2020, to find innovative solutions for the project’s Open Bathroom, a key component of the design. The adaptable bathroom features a sliding Houdini™ Glass door system, which can be reconfigured to meet unique care needs. Houdini is a specialized Bendheim decorative glass simultaneously delivering the benefits of privacy and daylight. The low-iron glass lets in maximum light, while its fine, micro-ribbed surface reduces glare and effectively obscures the shapes and activities behind it. Laminated with a white interlayer to complement the contemporary palette of the room, Houdini Glass adds brilliance to the space. Its refined linear pattern emphasizes the project’s streamlined aesthetic.
The bathroom’s shower enclosure was designed with Bendheim’s translucent teal colored safety tempered-and-laminated glass. Ruthven selected the elegant color from a variety of custom hues Bendheim developed specifically for the project.
The low iron, crystal clear mirror above the sink cabinet is another custom Bendheim creation. The mirrored glass doors feature a selective etching technique allowing for a special back-lighting effect. The cabinet shelves are Bendheim low-iron glass, a material with an ultra-clear, brilliant quality.
“Patient Room 2020 takes full advantage of the beauty, durability, and natural hygienic benefits of our glass,” said Steven Jayson, Vice President of Bendheim. “As we look at this exceptional design, we are proud of the range of functional, elegant solutions we were able to provide – from Houdini’s ‘magical’ obscuration properties to the custom teal glass and ‘special-effects’ mirror.”
In addition to maximizing daylight and the aesthetic quality of architectural design, glass is exceptionally maintenance friendly, making it ideally suited for the demands of healthcare spaces. Its nonporous surfaces easily withstand daily cleaning and sanitizing with most commercial cleaners, helping healthcare staff prevent the spread of infection.
