Designing a sheltered garden area for rehabilitation patients

The brief

The team at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow came to us wanting to create a restful outdoor space for patients of its neuro-rehabilitation centre, to prioritise their wellbeing alongside their physical and mental recovery.

The response

Working with the hospital’s landscape team we created an open-air sheltered garden area that would protect patients while enabling them to sit in the fresh air, taking in the beautiful sights, sounds and smells around them. The sheltered garden area was linked back to the centre by a covered walkway that has become a much-loved route for both patients and visitors.

The wow

While small in structure, this project has been huge in impact and has become central to patients’ rehabilitation – enabling them to enjoy independence and relaxation while still being close to the unit. Roofed with polycarbonate, the canopied structure enables patients to make spontaneous garden outings without the need to prepare with sun cream and protective clothing.

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