Bethlem Royal Hospital medium secure unit

Facts and figures

• Client: South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
• The garden is traversed by mosaic walkways, created by the service users themselves, which run like rivers and represent the journey of recovery

Delivered under the ProCure21 framework for South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Interserve's design and construction of this 89-bed medium secure unit formed part of a larger scheme, which included a similar unit at Lambeth Hospital.

Located in the grounds of the Bethlem Royal Hospital, the project continues a long tradition of mental health provision on the site that stretches back six centuries.

The creation of a building with the focus on service, user wellbeing and recovery was an integral part of the design brief. The internal atmosphere has been deliberately imbued with a residential feel to enable therapeutic care to be delivered in a relaxed manner. Areas for social interaction are balanced with clearly defined personal space to accommodate the need for both community and privacy.

A two-storey glazed linking threads through existing trees, creating secure access to the two-storey therapies building, incorporating the sports hall, visits and tribunal suite; and on to the six ward areas, which are around a large cloistered central space.

This courtyard forms the 'healing garden', which remains the centre of the building's focus. This open space maximises natural daylight into the building and symbolises the aim of the facility – to aid recovery and lift the spirits of those who walk its paths.