Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability:
Designing this courtyard garden for the healing and rehabilitation of recovering patients involved an assemblage of innovative design elements and extensive cutting-edge neuroscience from around the globe.
Mo’s master design encompasses pioneering blue & green therapy elements, an immersive omnipresent combination of plants and water. Replacing the old fences with waterfall features interlaced with multi-climber varieties, bringing together vital sensory stimulating recovery powers.
Another vital part of this design was bespoke wheelchair inclusive seating areas dotted throughout the garden. Giving wheelchair bound patients the ability to be as close as possible with their loved ones, an indispensable part of enhancing their recovery.
On the edge of each patient’s garden door, the in-between spaces enhance connection with nature. Mo placed key plants on the inside and outside of the garden doors creating a seamless transition between the indoors and outdoors. Followed by assigning able-bodied patients the responsibility to refill the bird feeders and care for the pollinator attracting plants. Humans thrive when given the opportunity to care and nurture other forms of life.
Completing the design with a Shinrin-yoku therapy inspired mini forest. Encompassing a private seating area with densely planted tall plants, evoking the healing ways of forest therapy, a cornerstone of preventive health care and healing in Japanese medicine since the 1980s.
Gardens have the potential to be as important as the state of the art medical rehabilitation that goes on within hospitals. Reflecting on all the amazing research being done around the world, the blending of science and nature is still in its post fledgling stage, but it is showing a promising future for both humans and nature.
