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- Mai Fitzgerald
Mai
Fitzgerald
Backbone Spinal Injury Rehab Centre
Backbone Spinal Injury Centre is a purpose-designed rehabilitation facility that provides patients with the physical and emotional support they need before returning home after hospital care. The core aim is to create supportive and restorative spaces that seamlessly blend clinical care with everyday comfort.
Drawing inspiration from my own rehabilitation experience, I identified the need for a more gradual and thoughtful transition for patients. My vision for the Ballysteen Spinal Injury Centre is a place where patients feel welcome, understood, and empowered in their recovery journey– both mentally and physically, with dignity and respect.
Located in a large Georgian home in Ballysteen, Askeaton, Co. Limerick, the centre retains the essence of the original architecture, featuring fanlight doors, arches, and sweeping landscapes, while transforming it into a fully accessible, healing-focused environment. Situated on 100 acres of natural beauty near the River Shannon, the location offers peace, privacy, and space for patients to reconnect with nature and themselves.
The design concept is inspired by the fluidity of water and the grounding presents of nature. Soft curves, natural materials, and expansive windows frame the surrounding landscape, promoting calm, clarity, and healing energy.
The core design principles are accessibility, comfort, and thoughtful aesthetics, ensuring that every detail contributes to recovery, confidence, and overall well-being.
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