the mental health & dementia facilities magazine January 2026 ADAPTIVE SENSORY ENVIRONMENTS We take a look at what’s on offer Inside the Pears Maudsley Centre Reimagining Youth Mental Health COMMENT How empathetic design can transform mental health and dementia environments
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mhdf magazine 3 The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People, London Contents 5 News A round-up of the latest news and events in the sector. 10 The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People Helen Adkins speaks with Graham Harris, principal at Arcadis, about The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People – a joint project by South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, King’s College London and the Maudsley Charity, which brings together clinical services, research and an on-site school under one purposebuilt roof. Editor’s note January 2026 Redefining urban mental health design When the Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People opens in 2026 (page 10), it will mark a new chapter in how mental health environments are conceived. Bringing together outpatient services, inpatient care, research and education in a single high-rise, the centre represents a model not yet seen at this scale anywhere in the world. What makes it noteworthy is not height for height’s sake, but how the vertical form is used. Mental health buildings have traditionally been low-rise, prioritising ground-level access to daylight and outdoor space. In dense cities, though, that approach is increasingly unsustainable. The Pears Maudsley Centre answers this constraint directly, as terraces and planted green spaces are distributed throughout the building, ensuring that every major service area has access to outdoor respite, views and fresh air. Rather than treating nature as an optional amenity, the design embeds it as an operational necessity. The programme is arranged for clarity and continuity. Outpatient services sit where families can reach them easily. Inpatient wards are designed for safety, predictability and comfort without an institutional feel. Research teams share proximity with clinical spaces to accelerate the translation of evidence into practice – an approach that could become a reference point for integrated mental health hubs internationally. This is a building designed to work hard. Its compact footprint forces precision, while shared spaces aim to reduce fragmentation. Rather than replicating past models, the Pears Maudsley Centre offers a prototype for future urban mental health infrastructure that is dense, connected, clinically rigorous and built to support young people’s recovery in a city where space is scarce but need is high. As the sector looks ahead, this centre stands as a test case, showing that thoughtful design can elevate mental health care even in the tightest urban conditions, and that innovation in architecture can support innovation in treatment itself. Helen Adkins Editor Helen.Adkins@stable-media.co.uk the mental health & dementia facilities magazine Publishers Stable Publishing Limited SBC House, Restmor Way Wallington, Surrey SM6 7AH, England. t. 020 8288 1080 f. 020 8288 1099 e. sales@healthcaredm.co.uk healthcaredm.co.uk Editor Helen Adkins Production Nicola Cann Design Gemma England Media Sales Manager Terry Stafford Head of Sales Julian Walter Managing Director Toby Filby The publishers do not necessarily agree with views expressed by contributors and cannot accept responsibility for claims made by manufacturers and authors, nor do they accept any responsibility for any errors in the subject matter of this publication. 15 Adaptive sensory environments As sensory rooms become standard in UK mental-health settings, a new generation of adaptive, technologydriven environments is reshaping how patients regulate, recover and engage in care. We take a look at what’s on offer. 18 Comment Architect and researcher Alessandro Caruso explores how empathetic, evidence-based design can transform mental health and dementia environments. 5 18 10 15
Healthcare Specialists Axis has over 37 years of experience and expertise working across all sectors and has earned a serious reputation as a market leader in healthcare solutions with the company’s end-to-end abilities to: • Innovate & Design • Manufacture & Test • Supply & Install • Service & Maintain Axis is an active member and contributor to the Architects for Health network and also has the coveted award of a place on the ProCure23 Recommended Suppliers List enabling the company to continue contributing to new build, refurbishment & maintenance projects within NHS properties, across the UK. Transforming Healthcare Delivery Axis manufactures the innovative Flo-Motion® manual sliding door system, developed specifically for the healthcare sector. The Flo-Motion® door system was first conceived, designed and developed in-house by Axis, while working with architects BDP and main contractor Laing O’Rourke on the new, state-of-the-art, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, which opened in 2015. The doors have extruded aluminium profiles, a self-supporting goalpost frame and use re-circulating ball guides on a low resistance linear track with an ingenious damper, which absorbs the energy of the heavy doors for fingertip control. The operation force of 10N is astounding for doors of this size and weight. The Flo-Motion® range, which now includes single, bi-parting and telescopic doors, was an instant success with David Houghton, the Project Manager for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, stating: “The extra-large, easy opening, glazed sliding doors have transformed the way single rooms work to deliver healthcare.” Multi-Award-Winning Awards for Axis and their Flo-Motion® door range also followed, including: • Laing O’Rourke Award for Innovation • IHEEM Product Innovation Award • BBH Best Internal Building Product Award • European Healthcare Design Award EPD Verification for ‘Top 10’ Doors In 2024, the Top 10 most specified doors in the Axis Flo-Motion® range all received the Environmental Product Declaration, from the Building Research Establishment (BRE). “We’re very proud of the sustainable benefits of our doors, which help specifiers too, with the increasing responsibilities they have, for delivering buildings more sustainably.” Explore Flo-Motion Doors Online Architects, specifiers and main contractors can explore Axis Entrance Systems and their Flo-Motion range online, on the BIM Object and the NBS Source platforms, as well as the company’s own website: www.axisentrances.com World Class Partners Perfectly complementing their Flo-Motion® range of manual sliding doors, Axis is proud to also have UK distributor partnerships with both Doorson and Manusa – two world class innovators and manufacturers of advanced automatic sliding doors and access systems. See the Doors in Action Visit the Axis team and see the latest product developments and innovations in healthcare doors at Healthcare Estates Exhibition 2025, at Manchester Central, in October – you’ll find Axis on STAND F20. More and more architects, specifiers and main contractors on healthcare projects are reaping the benefits and outcomes of working with Axis Entrance Systems and their world class range of: “Making an Entrance” • Manual Swing & Sliding Doors • Automatic Swing & Sliding Doors • Hermetically Sealed Doors E: sales@axisentrances.com www.axisentrances.com For enquiries & more information: T: 01604 212500 Axis MD, Rob Brunero
mhdf magazine 5 NEWS Cheylesmore Estates has completed the sale of a prime development site in Hailey, Hertfordshire, to Oakland Care. The site benefits from planning consent for a 75-bedroom premium care home and is positioned on a prominent corner with road frontage onto Ware Road (A1170). The transaction was facilitated by specialist healthcare real estate agent Portunus Associates, with RDT Architects and DLA Town Planning playing key roles in securing planning permission. Located just north of Hoddesdon’s historic town centre, Hailey sits within the Upper Lea Valley. The area is projected to experience significant population growth, highlighting the demand for modern care facilities. Planning permission, granted on appeal, covers a bespoke care home designed to feature rooms with en-suite wetrooms, and a variety of communal spaces within attractive landscaped gardens. The design prioritises outdoor access for all residents, with ground-floor rooms opening onto private terraces and balconies available from upper-floor shared areas. Adrian Ball, director of Cheylesmore Estates, said: ‘This site offers a rare opportunity to deliver a high-quality care home in a location with strong demographics and excellent connectivity. We identified a clear gap in the provision of modern care beds in the area and are proud to have brought forward a scheme that meets the needs of both operators and the local community. Oakland Care’s commitment to quality makes them the ideal partner to realise this vision.’ Richard Dooley, director of Development at Oakland Care, added: ‘We’re delighted to expand our portfolio with this development. The site’s proximity to amenities and transport links benefits both residents and staff. The design aligns with our ethos of creating vibrant, supportive environments that offer access to nature alongside high-spec facilities. With three other homes currently under construction, this project further strengthens our pipeline of luxury, purpose-built care homes.’ The site was sold for an undisclosed sum. • As dementia cases in Scotland are projected to increase by more than 50% by 2044, Health is One, a leading health and wellbeing organisation, has launched a specialist Brain Health - Dementia Pathways service from its headquarters in Uddingston, near Glasgow. The service aims to provide rapid diagnosis and comprehensive support to people affected by dementia, with plans for a UK-wide rollout. With NHS waiting times for dementia diagnosis reaching record highs – some patients facing waits of over two years – Health is One offers faster access to diagnosis. Unlike many private providers, the service delivers continuous, highquality support that extends beyond diagnosis, encompassing wraparound assistance for families and carers. Health is One launches pioneering dementia service in Scotland A multidisciplinary team of psychologists, nurses, doctors and therapists supports families in managing the complex challenges of dementia, including emergency planning, financial management, emotional support and legal guidance. Professor June Andrews OBE, an internationally recognised expert in dementia and elder care and lead for Brain Health and Dementia Pathways at Health is One, said: ‘Currently, more than 90,000 people in Scotland live with dementia, and this number is set to rise substantially over the next two decades. Often, people wait over two years for a diagnosis, risking accelerated decline which can lead to costly care home fees and significant pressure on family members to leave work. Families need help now, and the real strength of this service is its comprehensive, hands-on support—from managing distressed behaviours to ensuring access to local authority benefits.’ Kevin McGeever, CEO of Health is One and a pioneer in integrating counselling services into NHS Primary Care in Scotland, added: ‘The launch of our first Brain Health service in Scotland marks the start of a phased expansion across the UK. For years, we have provided psychological support to individuals and families affected by dementia and understand the daily personal costs to carers. We aim to bridge the gap between medical diagnosis and longterm family wellbeing, offering practical assistance with legal decisions, finances and family dynamics. We’re here every step of the way, which sets us apart from other private providers.’ The Brain Health service is now open for referrals. Individuals can arrange a free, confidential discovery call via the Health is One website. • Cheylesmore Estates sells care home site to Oakland Care
6 mhdf magazine NEWS The UK care home market has reached record levels, with deal activity at its highest ever, according to Christie & Co’s Care Market Review 2025. The report highlights strong investor interest, rising private fees and growing demand for care services driven by the ageing population. Healthcare remains an attractive investment, supported by long-term demographic trends, ESG credentials and inflation-linked leases. The over-80s population is projected to more than double by 2050, and overseas investors are increasingly active in the sector. Deal activity surged over the past year, with smaller care homes under 20 beds now accounting for 38% of instructions, up from 12% in early 2024. First-time buyers are also more prominent, representing 17% of deals, while larger homes over 60 beds remain scarce. Occupancy levels have returned to pre-pandemic highs, with private fee rates rising across all regions. The report notes ongoing planning and development challenges, including scarce consented sites, under-resourced local authorities, and complex policies. Developers are adopting joint ventures and value-engineered designs, while ESG and BREEAM standards remain central to new builds. Richard Lunn, managing director of Care at Christie & Co, said: ‘This is a ‘Goldilocks period’ for senior care providers. Strong demand, limited quality supply and investor interest are driving a record pipeline of deals and developments across the UK. The full report is available at: Christie & Co Care Market Review 2025. • UK care home deals hit record high as demand set to soar
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8 mhdf magazine NEWS Construction has begun on Hallmark Luxury Care Homes’ first fully electric care home, Melrose Grange, in St Mellons, Cardiff. The £23.5 million development will provide 85 luxury beds and integrate sustainable technologies, including air source heat pumps and photovoltaic panels. Set on a 1.8-acre site on Cypress Drive, the care home will deliver residential, dementia and nursing care while embedding environmentally friendly practices. Sustainable travel will be supported with EV charging points, cycle parking and easy access to local bus services. Landscaping plans include a wildflower garden, dementia-friendly garden, and dedicated habitats for local wildlife such as bats and dormice. Nye Brown, CEO of Hallmark Luxury Care Homes, said: ‘Melrose Grange represents an exciting step towards a more sustainable future while continuing to deliver the highest standards of care. By expanding our award-winning homes in South Wales, we can help residents in St Mellons live active, fulfilled lives.’ The home is being built by Cardiff-based Langstone Construction and is expected to welcome its first residents in 2027. Melrose Grange will become Hallmark’s fifth luxury care home in Cardiff, supporting the company’s growth target of 15 homes by 2030. • hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk/ MelroseGrange Hallmark breaks ground on first fully electric luxury care home in Cardiff The £3 million project has involved a full redesign of the ward layout to provide 17 en-suite bedrooms, an accessible bedroom, calming deescalation facilities and a state-of-theart landscaped courtyard garden. The team also installed new supplementary drainage, new windows and doors, and upgraded mechanical and electrical systems throughout the building. Patient safety was central to the renovation works, with several essential areas created or enhanced as part of the project, including a quiet space, dining room, staff rest area, lounge, clinic room and dispensary. The ward provides vital assessment and treatment services for individuals experiencing a wide range of urgent mental health needs. Adele Sabin, head of Capital Development and Therapeutic Environments at Sheffield Health Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Projects like this are complex and sensitive, and it is testament to the skill and professionalism of everyone involved that we have reached this milestone so successfully.’ The project was procured via the Procure Partnerships Framework. As part of this, Henry Boot Construction delivered key social value outputs through the use of a local supply chain and on-site construction training initiatives. • Henry Boot Construction has completed Maple Ward at the Longley Centre in Sheffield
10 mhdf magazine PROJECT The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People, a joint venture between South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, King’s College London (KCL) and the Maudsley Charity, is due to open early this year. Graham Harris, principal at Arcadis, talks to mhdf editor Helen Adkins about the project HELEN ADKINS: Your team has organised the complex mix of functions on a constrained urban site and incorporated green spaces and terraces throughout a high-rise structure. Can you talk about how you did that? GRAHAM HARRIS: We handed the building over in 2024, and they’ve had about a year to get it operational, which is quite a long time, but that’s because the building has several elements – inpatient and outpatient areas, and a university research element. It was built during Covid, so some service delivery changed dramatically in that time. The different specialist services offered nationally and locally from a clinical perspective have increased, particularly for young people after Covid. When we first started the building, the intensive therapy programme (ITP), for young people with eating disorders, was a fairly small service, occupying just a few rooms. By the time the project had completed, the area had grown to support that service. Can you outline the main elements and thinking behind the building’s design? The building is tall because it’s a tight urban site. In the lower levels, including a half-basement, we have a research element focused purely on scans. It’s built heavily around research into young people and possible neurological issues that may affect mental health. Then, on the lower four floors – ground, first, second and third – we have the outpatient service. On these levels we also have all the university research offices. So the clinical and research office spaces and outpatient interview rooms are all on these lower floors. On the fourth
mhdf magazine 11 PROJECT and fifth floors is the Snowsfields Adolescent Unit, a dedicated CAMHS unit that has always been at the Maudsley Hospital. This provides 12 inpatient bedrooms. We organised it so that over these two floors you have inpatient bedrooms and all the things associated with home or leisure on one floor, and therapy spaces on the other – medical consulting rooms, exam rooms and functional therapies like occupational therapy in a home kitchen, art rooms and interview/consulting/group rooms. So, both inpatients and outpatients on the intensive course use the school? Yes. We had to be very careful with that design, because you don’t want inpatients and outpatients to cross paths. One of the school science labs is a shared space, so outpatients access it from one side, and inpatients from another, allowing separate timetabling. Heavily serviced rooms are shared to maximise utilisation. Can you talk about the outside areas you’ve created, and why you felt these were important? When we started, we held three workshops with young people who had used or were using the service, as well as their parents, guardians and staff. We asked which aspects of the existing service were less enjoyable, and what they thought could improve it. Certain themes emerged. The service users wanted a building that felt non-institutional, with access to nature – not fake nature – such as real plants, landscapes and usable outside spaces. They also wanted natural daylight, as the existing building had areas with limited daylight. We developed the concept of stacking the building. The site was small and densely developed. It previously accommodated an estates building known as The Post Building, along with a single-storey 1930s structure containing hospital estates backup rooms. Administrative offices >> ‘The service users wanted a building that felt non-institutional, with access to nature – not fake nature –such as real plants, landscapes and usable outside spaces’
12 mhdf magazine PROJECT for clinical services were also housed in Portacabins. All of these were replaced to bring together the accommodation from Mapother House and the Michael Rutter Centre. Putting all this on a tight site meant going tall, but we also needed to consider the neighbouring buildings. Next door is Aubrey Lewis House, which houses inpatients. We wanted to avoid overshadowing those buildings and gardens, as the south sunlight comes from that side. The final concept was a terraced building, stepping back to create terraces for the school, inpatient areas, staff and outpatient spaces. The terraced form and materials were chosen to suit the conservation area, and referenced the Victorian houses near Denmark Hill station. We worked closely with landscape architects Growth Industry to integrate landscaping with the building design. Terraces include planted landscapes; the third floor is the staff terrace for dining and seating; the fourth floor the inpatient home terrace; the sixth floor the plant room; the seventh floor the school garden and terrace; and the eighth floor the rooftop area accessible to pupils. Despite the building’s size, we needed to increase biodiversity and meet the Urban Greening Factor required by the GLA for tall buildings, which was part of planning approval. Can you talk about the interior design, and how you made the spaces homely and welcoming for the children and young people? We used colour specifically, with each floor having a dedicated palette. Because we are dealing with children with sensory issues, ADHD and other special needs, we focused on clear, calm pastel colours which were not overwhelming, with some areas stimulating and others calm. Project: The Pears Maudsley Centre for Children and Young People, South London Size: 10,000 m² Cost: £65 million Completed: April 2024 Client: Integrated Health Projects (IHP)/South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (SLaM) Architecture and interior design: Arcadis Landscape architects: Growth Industry MEP: Troup Bywaters and Anders Project managers: AECOM Contractor: Integrated Health Projects (IHP), a joint venture between VINCI Construction UK and Sir Robert McAlpine BREEAM: Excellent The ground floor, unlike a hospital, is open and exposed – more like a café (Starbucks or Costa). The young people we had spoken to said they didn’t want a mental health building that felt like a hospital. Also, the parents and carers didn’t want a place that felt like a prison with locked doors. They understood security was needed but didn’t want their children to feel punished. The emphasis was on making the building welcoming – a place young people want to be. Most outpatients – mainly teenagers – wanted somewhere ‘cool’ to hang out with friends. The intensive therapy programme has a large kitchen, part of the treatment. There are nine microwaves, which seems excessive, but with groups of young people and families, mealtime is part of therapy. Families bring food and warm or prepare it. Normalising this group experience is important, so we focused on spaces where families can prepare and eat together in a therapeutic setting. What challenges did you face along the way, and how close is the final building to the original plans? The 3D visuals sold the dream early on, and the building as built is very close to those visuals. We worked through challenges such as fire regulations changing after Grenfell, an evolving service and NHS cost pressures. I think we delivered something close to what ‘It’s the first time these groups have been brought together under one roof, which has been one of the biggest challenges as the service is unlike any elsewhere in the world’
mhdf magazine 13 PROJECT we envisaged, and the hospital is very pleased. Getting operational now is their big challenge. The Trust brought two buildings online simultaneously, which is difficult for estates teams to manage. The different national and local services have evolved, so workforce planning had to be retrained for the new building. After handover last year, there was about six months of commissioning and regulatory checks, then delays moving teams in. The Trust has realised some services have changed since construction, so are making minor room alterations – knocking two rooms together or dividing others, for instance. It’s all part of the learning curve, partly due to the building’s uniqueness. It’s the first time these groups have been brought together under one roof, which has been one of the biggest challenges as the service is unlike any elsewhere in the world. One art coordinator described it as a difficult building to design because one side represents dreamers and aspiration, while the other side deals with young people in crisis – two often conflicting priorities. So, bringing together two of the greatest organisations – South London and Maudsley, and King’s College London’s neuro team – world leaders in neurodiversity, psychiatry and mental health care – in one building is phenomenal. You don’t stop to breathe during a project like this. Now we’ve had a year to look back, and we’re getting positive coverage. It’s been great taking people on tours – buildings like this don’t come up every day in the NHS. It’s been an amazing project. • www.arcadis.com
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mhdf magazine 15 UTILITIES In modern mental-health care, the question is no longer whether sensory rooms have a place, but how far they can go. Once considered specialist additions, these spaces are now a core part of therapeutic environments across the UK, particularly for children and young people. What is changing is the level of sophistication they offer. The sector is moving away from static ‘bubble-tube rooms’ toward adaptive sensory environments – dynamic, reconfigurable spaces that shift according to emotional state and clinical purpose. The idea is simple but powerful. Instead of a sensory room delivering a single, fixed effect, an adaptive environment can slide easily between low-stimulus calm for de-escalation, gentle sensory engagement for therapy, or immersive ambience for regulated social or educational use. That flexibility matters in a population where trauma, anxiety, sensory-processing differences and neurodivergence often intersect, and where the ability to dial the environment up or down can directly influence a young person’s capacity to participate in treatment. This shift has been made possible by a wave of UK companies rethinking what sensory spaces can be. Experia has been a major force, developing programmable multi-sensory rooms where lighting, sound and projection can change instantly through digital controllers. Their approach treats the sensory room almost like a therapeutic instrument – something clinicians can tune in real time. Rhino Sensory brings an emphasis on safety-focused design for clinical settings, producing rooms and equipment that satisfy the risk and durability standards required in inpatient care. Their work in sensory-integration environments – complete with movement, tactile and >> As sensory rooms become standard in UK mental-health settings, a new generation of adaptive, technology-driven environments is reshaping how young people regulate, recover and engage in care. We take a look at what’s on offer ‘The sector is moving away from static ‘bubble-tube rooms’ toward adaptive sensory environments – dynamic, reconfigurable spaces that shift according to emotional state and clinical purpose’ SENSORY EQUIPMENT Adaptive sensory environments
16 mhdf magazine SENSORY EQUIPMENT WHO’S DOING WHAT EXPERIA Experia manufactures and installs multi-sensory rooms, immersive spaces, sensory pools, soft-play environments, sensory furniture and portable sensory equipment. They offer fully bespoke design services, including free 3D layouts – useful when integrating a sensory suite into a larger mental-health facility. Their interactive sensory rooms offer wireless, multi-sensory equipment that supports stimulation, learning, sensory integration or de-escalation depending on needs. www.experia.co.uk RHINO Rhino specialises in bespoke sensory- and sensory-integration rooms for schools, care homes and therapeutic settings. Their sensory integration rooms include safety-conscious designs (soft padding, easy-clean surfaces) and equipment for vestibular or proprioceptive therapy – swings, soft-play modules, ball pools, gentle movement tools. Rhino also offers multi-sensory rooms, designed to stimulate or soothe all five senses: sight, sound, touch, and when appropriate, movement. Rhino publishes guidance (for example for high-risk mental-health inpatient settings) that recommends lower-risk equipment and installation approaches. www.rhinouk.com INTEGREX LIMITED Integrex supplies bespoke sensory rooms and immersive environments tailored to care homes, hospitals, schools and other settings. Their offering includes soft-padded calming rooms, interactive sensory walls and floors, bubble-tube and fibre-optic lighting, tactile panels, and immersive projection or interactive-floor systems. They also offer de-escalation sensory rooms, designed to support emotional regulation and provide low-stimulation environments. Their approach stresses custom design, working closely with healthcare or educational professionals to tailor each room to the users’ needs and the facility’s constraints. www.integrex.co.uk MURRAYS MEDICAL UK Murrays Medical – while better known for mobility aids – also supplies a modular sensory solution known as the Sensory Pod. The Sensory Pod is a compact selfcontained unit (roughly 8ft by 4ft) offering adjustable LED ambient lighting, built-in audio, and an optional screen – a ‘calming space’ for individuals with autism, sensory-processing differences, anxiety or stress. Because it’s relatively small and self-contained, it may suit settings where space is limited, or as a secondary sensory provision (e.g. for quick regulation, breaks or short interventions) rather than a full multi-sensory room. www.murraysmedical.co.uk proprioceptive elements – expands what these spaces can support therapeutically. Integrex, meanwhile, specialises in immersive, tech-driven environments, such as interactive floors, walls and projections that can be calming or stimulating depending on the programme running. They also design de-escalation rooms that foreground softness, simplicity and controlled sensory input. And at the compact end of the spectrum, Murrays Medical offers modular ‘Sensory Pods’, self-contained calming units that can be slotted into circulation spaces, ward corridors or family rooms when square footage is tight. These pods aren’t substitutes for full sensory rooms, but they offer quickaccess regulation, especially valuable in high-rise hospitals or dispersed clinical departments. What unites all these suppliers is a recognition that sensory environments now form part of the care pathway – not an optional break-out space, but a tool that can influence mood, engagement and behavioural stability. In a well-designed mental-health unit, you might see a full multi-sensory room for structured therapy, a low-stimulus deescalation space for crisis moments, and smaller pods or alcoves that offer pockets of calm throughout the building. As new facilities emerge – particularly urban, space-constrained or vertically organised ones – the case for adaptive sensory design becomes even stronger. A single room that can serve five functions over the course of a day is far more sustainable than a handful of singlepurpose spaces. •
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18 mhdf magazine COMMENT Mental health and dementia care environments are more than functional spaces; they are catalysts for wellbeing. Poorly lit, noisy and confusing settings can amplify anxiety and disorientation, while thoughtfully designed environments foster calm, dignity and hope. Architecture, when approached with empathy and evidence, becomes a form of preventative medicine. FIVE PRINCIPLES FOR TRANSFORMATIVE DESIGN 1. Person-centred approach Every project should begin with listening. Stakeholder engagement (patients, families and staff) reveals unmet needs and inspires solutions beyond aesthetics. For example, creating homely spaces with tactile objects and vintage art can evoke comforting memories for dementia residents. 2. Harness nature Biophilic design reduces stress and improves cognitive performance. Views of landscaped environments, access to outdoor spaces and natural materials are essential. Where direct access is limited, nature-themed images and organic textures can evoke calm. Practical tip: Apply Terrapin Bright Green’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design and the WELL Building Standard. Even small interventions, such as a living wall or nature-inspired colour palette, can deliver measurable benefits. 3. Sensory harmony Mental health and dementia environments Architect and researcher Alessandro Caruso explores how empathetic, evidence-based design can transform mental health and dementia environments Designing for mental health and dementia: from empathy to evidence must engage all senses positively: • Light: Maximise daylight and use circadian lighting. • Colour: Greens for calm, blues for orientation, yellows for stimulation. • Sound: Minimise reverberation – introduce gentle nature sounds. • Touch and smell: Warm materials and familiar scents evoke positive associations. Avoid sensory overload and balance stimulation with quiet zones. 4. Autonomy and social connection Recovery thrives on choice and community. Layouts should support intuitive navigation and offer varied spaces, from private rooms to communal hubs. Household models with open kitchens and lounges foster social interaction and belonging. 5. Flexibility and future-proofing Mental health recovery is not linear, and dementia care needs evolve. Modular
mhdf magazine 19 COMMENT Alex Caruso is the author of Design and Meditation: Improving Health, Healthcare and Quality of Life and co-founder of Alessandro Caruso Architects, an award-winning practice dedicated to designing environments that improve health and quality of life. His work blends neuroscience, biophilic principles and empathic design to transform healthcare spaces into sanctuaries of healing. partitions, standardised openings and multipurpose rooms enable adaptability without costly overhauls. PRACTICAL STRATEGIES • Early immersion: Observe behaviours and workflows in existing settings. • Virtual reality mock-ups: Test emotional responses before construction. • Evidence-based frameworks: Align with ANFA research, the Dementia Services Development Centre and the WELL Standard. • Collaborative culture: Partner with clinicians, carers and artists for culturally resonant environments. DESIGN AS PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE A well-conceived environment can reduce reliance on medication, shorten recovery times and improve staff wellbeing. In dementia care, it can prolong cognitive function and preserve identity. In mental health settings, it can instil hope: the bedrock of recovery. Our focus is to help the industry move beyond compliance and embrace design as a catalyst for wellbeing. We believe that sharing insights, challenging conventions and collaborating across disciplines can help create spaces that heal. • www.aca-i.com
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