landscape proposals
A £10m award winning Impatient Unit to support adults with autism. The Mitford Unit, at Northgate Hospital, has been purpose-built and designed for people with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who need highly specialist care. The new building provides 15 en-suite bedrooms, which can be made “low stimulus”.
The Adult Autism Inpatient Unit provides accommodation for the assessment and treatment of adults with severe autism where people, places and sensory experiences can cause them considerable anxiety. With Autism being on a spectrum, the characteristics may vary from one person to another and from time to time. Individuals may also experience some form of sensory sensitivity to any one or more of the five senses from the hypersensitive to hypo-sensitive.
ONE Environments were responsible for the landscape design to accompany the new building. It is recognised that the external environment can provide a positive outlet to reduce stress and anxiety however the landscape design is nonetheless challenging with every individual being affected in different and often changing ways.
In response to these challenging issues, the landscape proposals have been developed to encompass a number of key design objectives including the creation of a ‘sensory neutral’ setting to provide a calming outlook for residents and a gradual transition from inside to outside.
Within the safe confines of the building envelope, courtyard gardens are provided for each resident designed to be flexible & adaptable to cater for an individuals needs and to facilitate sensory management.
The project received critical acclaim in 2017 when awarded ‘Best mental Health Development’ at the Better Building Healthcare Awards and Highly Commended in two categories, ‘Mental Health Design’ and ‘Design for Health and Wellbeing’ at the European Healthcare Design Awards.
facts & figures
CLIENT: Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
LOCATION: Morpeth, Northumberland
PARTNERS: Medical Architecture, Kier Construction
SERVICES: Landscape Architecture S2 – S6
PROGRAMME: 2013 – 2016
