the mental health & dementia facilities magazine June 2026 A natural route to recovery Using green roofs to promote healing healthcare How person-centred design can reshape mental health facilities Architecture for recovery Safer, calmer, smarter Mental health environments for patients and staff
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mhdf magazine 3 Catkin House skylight over central waiting area Contents 5 News A round-up of the latest news and events in the sector. 10 Designing mental health environments Matthew Quinton, director at 10Architect, explains why successful mental health architecture must prioritise safety, dignity, recovery and the lived experience of patients, staff, families and carers. Editor’s note June 2026 The challenge of mental health design Mental health design has moved far beyond the question of how a building looks or how efficiently it functions. In the best schemes, architecture becomes part of the care environment itself, shaping how people feel, move, interact and recover. For patients, staff, families and carers, the built environment can either heighten anxiety or help reduce it. This is particularly important in mental health settings where people may be arriving at a moment of crisis, vulnerability or distress. A successful building must therefore do more than meet technical requirements. It must offer safety without feeling institutional, support dignity without compromising observation and create places where recovery can begin. On page 10, Matthew Quinton, director at 10Architect, explores why person-centred design is fundamental to modern mental health architecture. He argues that the starting point should always be the lived experience of those who will use the building, from children accessing CAMHS services and adults in crisis to families visiting loved ones and staff delivering complex care. From mapping patient journeys and involving clinical teams to using virtual reality to test designs before construction, Quinton highlights the value of designing from the inside out. He also considers the growing importance of community-based mental health hubs, alongside the continuing need for inpatient environments that feel calm, nurturing and personal. The challenge is a delicate one – balancing safety, trust, access, nature and choice in spaces that must work clinically, emotionally and practically. But, Quinton makes clear, when architecture is properly aligned with care, it can help create environments that are not only safer and more supportive, but also more humane. 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 Designing for safety Simon Hemming, Pinpoint Ltd, explores how therapeutic design, responsive systems and digital integration can help create mental health environments that support recovery for patients, as well as protecting staff. 5 18 Green roofs: Supporting patient wellbeing Mike Vaczi, technical director at Soprema, discusses the positive impact that access to nature can have on human health, and explores how green roofs can support recovery, resilience and wellbeing. 18 15 10
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mhdf magazine 5 NEWS White Arkitekter designs mental health campus in Niedersachsen White Arkitekter and Telluride Architektur have developed proposals for the Asklepios Mental Health Campus Niedersachsen, a new healthcare campus designed around healing architecture, community and connection to nature. The scheme brings together care, treatment, education and everyday functions for adults, children and young people, with a focus on creating calm, supportive environments for patients, families and staff. The design responds to key principles in mental health care, including participation, functionality, orientation, social interaction, privacy, access to nature, atmosphere and safety. Adult mental health services will be housed in care buildings connected by internal and external walkways, while child and adolescent mental health services will be located in a quieter, more sheltered area among historic buildings and greenery. The child and adolescent facility has been broken down into smaller, playfully designed areas, with close links to parkland, school and preschool environments. Sarai Metten, head of the design studio at Telluride Architektur, described the Asklepios Mental Health Campus Niedersachsen as a ‘fascinating project’. She said: ‘A completely new campus is being created here that consciously engages with the historic buildings, places healing architecture at the centre, and becomes a place of community with a diverse range of therapeutic services.’ Green space is central to the proposal, with courtyards, gardens and specially designed outdoor areas for preschool and child and adolescent mental health services. These spaces are intended to support movement, play and rest. Economic and environmental sustainability have also shaped the design. The delivery strategy includes few construction phases, no temporary buildings, limited basement space, and modular, flexible buildings that can be prefabricated and constructed efficiently. Reuse, material recycling and photovoltaic installations also form part of the overall approach. •
6 mhdf magazine NEWS Christie & Co brokers sale of Surrey care home development Christie & Co has brokered the sale of a turnkey development site in Guildford, Surrey, with planning consent for a 74-bedroom care home. The site, on Clandon Road, was identified by care developer Aspire LPP as suitable for care use. Planning consent for the scheme was granted in January 2026. The proposed care home will include 74 en-suite wetroom bedrooms, alongside communal resident facilities, including a café/bistro with terrace patio, hair and beauty salon, activity room, celebration room, library, cinema, lounge and dining areas, and landscaped gardens. Following a sales process led by Sara Hartill at Christie & Co, the site has been sold to an undisclosed national operator and will become part of its UK-wide portfolio. The home will be built by Aspire Construct, a specialist healthcare contractor with a delivery pipeline of more than 500 beds over the next two years. Chris Podd, operations director at Aspire LPP, said: ‘This project provides a much sought-after asset for the local community. Aspire LPP is again demonstrating its ability to work at local level with the community and key stakeholders to achieve a successful planning outcome in the care sector.’ Sara Hartill, director and head of healthcare development and investment at Christie & Co, said: ‘Once built, the site will provide a best-in-class care home for the area, where there is a significant demand for beds and an undersupply of care bedrooms with wetroom facilities. ‘Aspire LPP’s Portfolio Partner product is currently delivering several newbuild schemes for corporate operators across the UK thanks to the strong identification of care home sites, and this latest deal marks a superb acquisition for the operator.’ The site was sold for an undisclosed price. • Evaran launches care management platform Evaran has launched a new care technology platform, bringing together software providers CareLineLive, MOA Benchmarking and Health Metrics under one brand. The company has been created to help care providers manage services, compliance, reporting and oversight through more connected systems. Its launch comes as providers face growing regulatory pressure and rising expectations around transparency, accountability and quality of care. Many organisations continue to rely on fragmented systems, making it harder to operate efficiently, maintain visibility and demonstrate day-to-day performance. Evaran currently supports more than 1,100 providers and 170,000 care recipients across 2,100 locations globally. Backed by technology-focused investment firm Accel-KKR, the platform brings together clinical, operational and governance systems to give providers a more connected view of care delivery, operations and risk. Tyron Ball, chief executive of Evaran, said: ‘As expectations increase, the ability to connect information and apply AI across care, operations and governance becomes critical, not just for compliance but for delivering better outcomes. That’s the shift we’re focused on enabling. ‘Providers are being asked to operate with greater transparency and accountability than ever before. We think there’s a better way to support that and that Evaran is our answer. ‘By bringing together the systems providers rely on into a unified platform, we’re helping reduce complexity so teams can spend less time managing systems and more time delivering care, coordinating services and running day-today operations.’ The Evaran platform brings together CareLineLive, which supports workforce management, scheduling, and care delivery in home and community settings; MOA Benchmarking, which focuses on compliance, governance, risk and quality; and eCase, Health Metrics’ platform for clinical and resident management. The products are designed to connect frontline care delivery with executive and board-level oversight, helping providers move from fragmented systems towards a more integrated model of care, operations and governance. •
mhdf magazine 7 NEWS Preparing hospitals for Martyn’s Law Hospitals may not be the first venues associated with Martyn’s Law, but their complex estates, high footfall and vulnerable occupants mean Trusts must ensure their security procedures, communications and staff training are ready for the new requirements. Chris Wimshurst, director of sales UK at AddSecure UK, explains Following a 24-month transition period after Royal Assent, the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act, also known as Martyn’s Law, will require those responsible for large-scale venues and events to consider the threat from terrorism and implement proportionate security measures. With the law due to come into force in 2027, much attention has focused on arenas and stadiums. However, hospitals also fall within its scope. Their complex, multi-building estates, high footfall and 24/7 access mean they can easily exceed the 200-person threshold that triggers Martyn’s Law requirements, and may fall into the enhanced tier for venues with capacities of more than 800 people. Healthcare estates face particular challenges because hospitals must protect vulnerable occupants, including patients who may be unable to evacuate quickly or without assistance. To protect the public and comply with Martyn’s Law, Trusts need security procedures and communication systems that can respond to dynamic threats effectively and in real time. All UK hospitals and healthcare facilities already follow the NHS Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response Core Standards, which outline actions for evacuation or lockdown, and communications with the media and stakeholders. While these standards provide a foundation, they do not fully cover the requirements set out by Martyn’s Law. Co-ordinating a consistent, site-wide approach across complex estates is challenging, especially where different departments, operators or third parties are involved. As a result, many hospitals may be partially prepared but not yet fully compliant, creating a risk of legal prosecution, financial penalties and unnecessary danger to public safety. Hospital estates are often made up of multiple buildings, wings, wards, specialist departments, and public spaces such as pharmacies or cafés. Responsibility for these areas may be shared between NHS Trusts, third-party operators and individual departments. The act requires these parties to co-ordinate and co-operate, but split environments increase the risk of inconsistent responses during an incident. Not every person on site can respond to an alert in the same way. The nature and location of a threat will determine whether people should evacuate, invacuate or shelter in place. Some patients, including those in intensive care or with limited mobility, may be unable to move at all, leaving staff responsible for keeping them safe where they are. This makes a single, site-wide response ineffective. Visitors will rely on staff to understand what different alarms mean and how to respond appropriately. Without clear, targeted communication, people could take the wrong action and increase their danger. Addressing gaps in protection is the first step. Trusts should carry out comprehensive risk assessments, identify who is responsible for each zone and develop crisis response plans that set out when evacuation, invacuation or lockdown is required. They should also review communications and alarm systems. Smart systems that send different signals and instructions to different zones can support a more appropriate and co-ordinated response. Training is equally important. Initiatives such as Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) and See, Check and Notify (SCan) can help staff understand the threat and how it applies to their working environment. Staff also need to understand different alarm signals and the actions they require. As hospitals prepare for Martyn’s Law, compliance will require more than existing emergency plans. By investing in effective communication systems, clear procedures and staff training, hospital Trusts can better protect patients, staff and visitors in the event of an attack. • www.addsecure.com ‘Co-ordinating a consistent, site-wide approach across complex estates is challenging, especially where different departments, operators or third parties are involved’ COMMENT
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healthcaredm.co.uk 9 NEWS As demand for mental health and dementia services continues to grow, so too does the need for environments that actively support recovery, wellbeing and resilience. The quality of the built environment is increasingly recognised as a critical factor in improving patient outcomes, enhancing staff wellbeing and delivering more person-centred models of care. Against this backdrop, the mental health & dementia facilities forum (mhdf) returns to The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Warwickshire, bringing together leaders from across healthcare, estates, design, and construction and facilities management in order to explore the future of mental health and dementia environments. The forum will provide a platform for NHS leaders, healthcare providers, architects, estates teams, contractors, designers, facilities managers and specialist suppliers to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. Through keynote presentations, case studies and collaborative discussions, delegates will explore how the built environment can better support both service users and staff. THIS YEAR’S THEME Our theme, Environments that promote mental wellbeing, recovery and resilience, reflects a growing understanding that healthcare environments are far more than simply places where treatment occurs. From inpatient facilities and community settings to dementia care environments and therapeutic outdoor spaces, the design and operation of buildings play an important role in supporting dignity, reducing stress, improving safety and promoting recovery. Key areas of discussion will include: • Therapeutic design • Trauma-informed environments • The role of nature and biophilic design and workforce wellbeing • Inclusive and neurodiverse environments • The transformation of existing estates to meet future healthcare demands • How innovation, sustainability and evidence-based design can help create safer, more effective and more resilient environments ATTEND MHDF AS A SUPPLIER Over one-and-half days, you’ll benefit from a tailored schedule of one-to-one meetings with your chosen mhdf project delegates made up of the architects, contractors, project managers and consultants delivering projects in the UK. What’s included: • One-to-one scheduled meetings • An all-inclusive package (accommodation and meals) • Access to all the speaker sessions Contact Leslie.dehoog@stable-events.co.uk ATTEND MHDF AS A COMPLIMENTARY PROJECT DELEGATE Join us as our guest at the forum and learn about the latest trends and developments in the sector. The event comprises of thought-provoking seminars, and the opportunity to meet manufacturers and suppliers to find out about innovative products and services. In addition, we will provide one to two nights’ accommodation, including all meals and refreshments, plus a drinks receptions and a gala dinner, giving you extensive networking opportunities. For further information and registration details, visit www.mhdf-forum.co.uk. The 2026 mental health and dementia facilities forum will explore how healthcare environments can support recovery, wellbeing and resilience through better design, innovation and collaboration Environments that promote mental wellbeing, recovery and resilience PREVIEW Golf day – 23 November Attend our dedicated Golf Day, providing delegates, speakers and industry partners with an informal networking opportunity ahead of the main conference programme. 24-25 November 2026 The Belfry Hotel & Resort Sutton Coldfield
10 mhdf magazine Designing mental health environments that put people first Matthew Quinton, director at 10Architect, explains why successful mental health architecture must prioritise safety, dignity, recovery and the lived experience of patients, staff, families and carers When it comes to designing mental health environments, we cannot base success purely on efficiency, compliance or aesthetics. A better measure is the safety, dignity and recovery path of people who may be at their most vulnerable. As architects, it is our responsibility to design buildings that respond to a very different set of priorities from conventional healthcare environments. In my experience, effective and intuitive mental health design starts with careful thinking about how people actually experience the spaces around them. This always begins with a conversation with healthcare professionals and, where possible, the building users. When someone enters a mental health facility, they are often experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives. That could be a child and their carers accessing CAMHS support, an adult experiencing a crisis or a family member visiting a loved one in care. Because of that, the design of the building has a real impact on how people feel and behave within it. One of our principal objectives is to ensure that building users have the opportunity for positive experiences on their journey through the building, whatever path they are travelling. STARTING WITH THE PATIENT JOURNEY The process of designing a highly effective mental health environment begins with a profound understanding of how people experience it. This discovery process includes examining how patients arrive at the building, how they and staff move through it, and how families and visitors interact with the space. We map out the journeys different users will take through the building in fine-grained detail. This process allows us to design backwards, focusing on their experience rather than the building itself. In such a sensitive sector, our aesthetic ambitions have to take a back seat. It is External view looking towards Catkin Centre External view of Catkin Centre MENTAL HEALTH DESIGN
mhdf magazine 11 MENTAL HEALTH DESIGN about people, not bricks and mortar. Technology also plays an increasingly important role in our person-focused approach. By using tools such as virtual reality, we can immerse stakeholders in the proposed design at an early stage. This allows clinicians, staff and patients to explore the spaces and provide invaluable feedback long before construction begins. ENVIRONMENTS THAT ACTIVELY SUPPORT WELLBEING A well-designed mental health environment should actively support wellbeing rather than simply contain risk. It is this delicate balance that is critical in delivering a successful scheme. Five key ideas sit behind this design philosophy – trust, access, nature, safety and choice: • Trust comes from creating environments where people feel secure and respected • Access ensures the building is inclusive and easy to use • Nature connects people with daylight, fresh air and outdoor space • Safety protects both staff and service users • Choice gives people appropriate control over their surroundings Together, these principles help create environments that feel calmer and more supportive without compromising patient and staff safety. LONG-TERM CARE VS COMMUNITYBASED CARE Traditionally, many mental health services have been delivered through hospital environments. Increasingly, though, there is recognition that community settings can offer more accessible and less stigmatising forms of support. While the fundamentals for both >> ‘Mental health architecture is not just about designing effective buildings. It is about creating environments that help people recover and rebuild their lives’ View within Catkin Centre looking up two storeys at skylight over central waiting area Central waiting area to Catkin Centre
12 mhdf magazine types of facility are the same, the implementation will differ. The challenge common to both is balancing safety, nurture and support. Safety is paramount, for both service users and the staff providing care, but it cannot be the only story. How do you achieve the level of safety needed without appearing overly institutional, intimidating or undignified? COMMUNITY-BASED CARE Community mental health buildings are becoming something closer to local hubs. They are places where people can seek advice, access services and connect with support networks before issues escalate into more serious conditions. They must feel welcoming and approachable rather than clinical or intimidating. They also need the flexibility to support a wide range of services and user groups, from young children and their carers through to older adults and their families. LONG-TERM CARE At the other end of the spectrum are inpatient environments, where people may stay for extended periods while receiving treatment and support. In these settings, the building is much more than a place of care. It is effectively a temporary home. In addition to the need for increased safety, these settings must include person-centred spaces that are nurturing for service users. Think of your bedroom for a moment. It is a space that is yours, where you feel safe and where you can relax without feeling watched or monitored. That is a huge source of wellbeing. You only have to lose this space for a short time to realise its importance. MENTAL HEALTH DESIGN View looking up at main entrance, showing sculptural artwork View looking up to main staircore from rear of building – Catkin Centre to the right, Sunflower House to the left View across central waiting area in Catkin Centre View to consulting rooms in Catkin Centre, showing built-in furniture and snug spaces
mhdf magazine 13 MENTAL HEALTH DESIGN The Catkin Centre provides outpatient accommodation for a range of specialist services, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, developmental paediatrics, eating disorder services and crisis care support. The adjacent Sunflower House delivers a Tier 4 inpatient mental health unit for children aged between five and 13 with complex mental health needs. We worked as delivery architect alongside Galliford Try during RIBA stages 4, 5 and 6, with the original building design conceived and developed by Cullinan Studio. We focused on translating the original design vision into a fully deliverable healthcare environment without losing the qualities that made the scheme feel calm, welcoming and non-institutional. That involved detailing the technical design across the project, co-ordinating complex structural, mechanical and electrical interfaces, while ensuring compliance with the strict requirements of mental health and healthcare environments. A significant part of our work on the scheme centred on the integration of bespoke elements throughout the building, including fitted furniture, sensory spaces, immersive rooms and wayfinding features. We also worked closely with Cullinan Studio and the appointed artist to develop internal finishes, colour schemes and signage, helping to create an environment that feels understandable, reassuring and supportive for children, carers and staff alike. Notable awards: Design in Mental Health Awards: New Build Project of the Year, UK, 2024, and Healthcare Design Awards: Best Acute Care Design, 2024 Catkin Centre and Sunflower House at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool Within what can otherwise be a highly controlled environment, a space that is yours can be a game-changer. Where appropriate, having the ability to personalise your space can create a sense of familiarity and help to support and express your personality and passions. Beyond the bedroom, the wider environment must support everyday activities and recovery. Access to gardens, outdoor exercise areas and shared activity spaces plays an important role in helping people rebuild confidence, life skills and routine. THE ARCHITECT AS A CRITICAL FRIEND As architects working in a sensitive sector, our role is about much more than building design. At 10Architect, we embrace the role of critical friend to our clients. Mental health estates are complex environments, often involving multiple projects, teams and priorities running simultaneously. Estates teams are frequently under significant pressure to deliver projects within strict budgets and programmes. Because we work across a range of schemes within the same organisation, we are often able to provide a broader perspective. That allows us to challenge decisions, test assumptions and suggest alternative approaches where they may deliver better outcomes. As a critical friend, you have to ask difficult questions when necessary. It is the difference between a friend who always tells you what you want to hear and one who tells you the truth out of respect and concern for your wellbeing. In the architectural context, it means ensuring that the brief truly reflects what the service needs rather than simply repeating what has been done before. LOOKING AHEAD If I had to predict the future of mental health provision, I would say we will see mental health environments increasingly integrated into communities where that is appropriate and possible. Similarly, treatment centres will continue to evolve into spaces that provide broader support and engagement. As architects, we have an important role to play in that. Whatever the step changes are, our responsibility always stays the same – to create safer, calmer and more dignified environments that reduce escalation, support staff, and enable modern and progressive models of care. Ultimately, mental health architecture is not just about designing effective buildings, but about designing environments that help people recover and rebuild their lives. • www.10architect.com Sub-waiting area to consulting and clinic rooms to Catkin Centre View within consulting room to Catkin Centre Internal bay window to Sunflower House, with views over internal courtyard garden
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mhdf magazine 15 Designing safer mental health environments Simon Hemming, Pinpoint Ltd, explores how therapeutic design, responsive alarm systems and digital integration can help protect staff working in mental health settings while supporting patient recovery Staff safety must be central to the design of mental health environments. New facilities, extensions and refurbishments are not only opportunities to improve patient care, but also to reduce risks for the people delivering that care every day. Mental health services can be unpredictable, high-pressure settings. Staff may be supporting people in acute distress, responding to crisis situations, working in areas where observation is essential, or moving between wards, consulting rooms and shared spaces. In these environments, the building can either support safe working or make an already difficult job more challenging. A holistic approach is therefore essential. Effective healthcare design should help reduce escalation, improve visibility and enable rapid response. This matters in emergencies, but also in day-to-day care, where staff wellbeing, morale and retention are closely linked to how safe and supported people feel at work. DESIGNING ENVIRONMENTS THAT REDUCE ESCALATION Therapeutic design is often discussed in relation to patient recovery, but it also has a direct impact on staff safety. Calmer, clearer and less institutional spaces can help reduce avoidable triggers that may lead to frustration, agitation or aggression. Thoughtful layout planning, clear sightlines and intuitive wayfinding all play an important role. Staff need to observe spaces effectively, move safely through the building and avoid situations where they are isolated or unable to call for support. Natural light, calming colour palettes, access to gardens and softer, more domestic finishes can contribute to a more settled atmosphere for both staff and patients. However, therapeutic design cannot come at the expense of safety. The best mental health environments feel calm and humane while quietly embedding the safeguards staff need. SAFETY AS PART OF THE SPECIFICATION Staff safety should be considered from the earliest stages of a project. Room positions, wall construction and door locations, as well as circulation routes and staff bases, can all influence how quickly colleagues can respond to an incident. Staff may need to call for help discreetly and immediately. Safety alarm systems therefore have a critical role to play. Personal alert devices, fixed call points and display units can help staff raise assistance or emergency alerts, while giving colleagues information about the location and urgency of the call. This is particularly important where incidents can escalate quickly. A responsive system allows staff to request help before a situation becomes more serious, supporting de-escalation as well as emergency response. It can also reduce anxiety for staff working in higher-risk areas or away from immediate colleagues. When alarm systems are designed into the building from the outset, they can work more effectively and with less visual impact. Infrastructure, receiver locations, power supplies, display points and links with wider communication systems should all be considered during specification. The aim is not to create an environment that feels security-led or institutional. Instead, safety systems should sit quietly in the background, giving staff confidence while preserving a therapeutic atmosphere for patients. SUPPORTING STAFF WELLBEING Staff safety is not only about responding to incidents, but also about creating workplaces that reduce stress, improve confidence and support longterm wellbeing. Poor layouts, unreliable communication systems, inadequate rest areas and limited access to support can all add pressure. Designers should consider the full staff journey through a building, including entrances and exits, staff bases, interview rooms, break spaces and areas where staff may be >> STAFF SAFETY
16 mhdf magazine SUPPLIER SNAPSHOT Pinpoint Ltd Staff safety and panic alarm systems for healthcare and mental health environments. www.pinpoint.ltd.uk Intercall Nurse call and staff attack systems, including solutions for mental healthcare settings. www.intercall.co.uk Johnson Controls Care Communications Nurse call, staff attack/distress alarm and real-time location systems. www.johnsoncontrols.co.uk/carecommunications Specialist Alarm Services Ltd / SAS Staff attack, nurse call, door monitoring and bed monitoring systems. www.sasuk.com ARM UK / Alarm Radio Monitoring Mental health nurse call points and wireless staff alarm systems. www.arm.uk.com Wandsworth Healthcare Nurse call and staff attack solutions for healthcare environments. www.wandsworthhealthcare.com Courtney Thorne Staff attack alarm systems for NHS sites, including mental health and dementia care environments. www.nursecallsystems.co.uk Case study: St Ann’s Hospital, Poole St Ann’s Hospital in Poole, part of Dorset HealthCare NHS Trust, provides psychiatric support services for adults with acute mental health disorders. The hospital sought to create a responsive environment where both staff and patients can call for professional support when needed. This has been achieved through the integration of Pinpoint safety alarm systems throughout the site. Staff wear discreet personal alert devices during their shifts, enabling them to raise either an assistance or emergency alert depending on the situation. When activated, the device triggers display units showing the location and urgency of the call, allowing colleagues to respond promptly and appropriately. Wall-mounted call buttons are also installed within patient areas, giving individuals a simple way to request help if they feel distressed or require support. working alone or with limited visibility. Breakout and rest areas are particularly important. Staff need places where they can step away from clinical pressures, decompress after difficult incidents and return to work safely. DIGITAL INTEGRATION AND SMARTER RESPONSE Digital integration is increasingly central to staff safety. Safety systems can now link with wider hospital infrastructure, supporting accurate location reporting, access control, incident logging and audit trails. For staff, this means a call for help can provide more than a simple alarm. It can identify where support is needed, indicate the level of urgency and help colleagues respond with the right resources. For managers, digital reporting can provide a clearer picture of incident patterns, helping inform staffing, training and future design decisions. Interoperability is key. Safety alarms, nurse call systems, access control, communications platforms and building management systems should not operate in isolation where integration would improve response. Planning these connections at the design stage can help ensure the building works as a coherent safety environment rather than a collection of separate systems. The most effective mental health environments support recovery and dignity for patients while protecting the staff who deliver care. That means designing spaces that reduce escalation, enable supervision, allow rapid response and support staff wellbeing. • STAFF SAFETY
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18 mhdf magazine BIOPHILIC DESIGN Mike Vaczi, technical director at Soprema, discusses the positive impact that access to nature can have on human health, and explores how green roofs can support recovery, resilience and more patient-centred healthcare environments Biophilla for patient wellbeing There is a substantial and growing body of evidence that says that the ability to connect with natural elements is a vital component of effective, patient-centred design, particularly when helping patients manage stress, anxiety and prolonged recovery periods. As a result, architects, specifiers and healthcare providers are placing greater emphasis on incorporating biophilic principles into buildings, seeking ways to bring nature closer to patients even in densely developed urban settings. One solution that is gaining traction across the healthcare sector is the integration of green roofs. These living systems, which support vegetation at roof level, provide a practical means of introducing natural landscapes into environments where ground-level space is often limited. Whether designed as accessible therapeutic gardens or simply as visible green spaces from wards and communal areas, green roofs can help bridge the gap between the built environment and the natural world, supporting both physical and psychological wellbeing. The link between exposure to nature and improved health outcomes is well documented. Research has shown that patients with access to green views or outdoor spaces can experience reduced stress levels, improved mood and even faster recovery times. In hospital environments, where access to traditional gardens may be restricted due to site constraints, green roofs offer an opportunity to create restorative spaces that can be used by patients, visitors and staff alike. Intensive green roof systems, which are heavy-duty and accessible, can be designed to replicate garden environments, incorporating planting schemes, seating areas and accessible pathways to create calm, therapeutic settings above the building itself. Even when access is not feasible, the visual presence of greenery from patient rooms can still deliver meaningful benefits. In urban areas, where many healthcare facilities are located, green roofs can also help to mitigate the urban heat island effect by reducing the amount of heat absorbed and radiated by building surfaces. This not only improves the microclimate around the building, but also contributes to wider environmental goals, supporting more sustainable and resilient cities. SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY Another important benefit lies in the ability of green roofs to support biodiversity. As urbanisation continues to reduce natural habitats, integrating vegetation into building design offers an opportunity to reintroduce ecological value into developed areas. Green roofs can provide habitats for a wide range of species, including pollinators such as bees, butterflies and birds. For healthcare environments, this can enhance the overall setting, creating more engaging and pleasant surroundings for patients and staff while contributing to local biodiversity targets and planning requirements. Water management is an increasingly critical consideration for all building types, and healthcare facilities are no exception. With the frequency and intensity of rainfall events rising, effective strategies for managing stormwater are essential to ensure resilience and continuity of service. Green roofs form a key component of Sustainable Drainage Systems, helping to manage rainwater at source by absorbing and retaining it within the system before releasing it gradually over time. The soil and vegetation layers act as a natural buffer, reducing both the ‘By transforming underutilised roof space into functional, living environments, green roofs can help create healthcare facilities that are more resilient, humane and supportive places in which to heal’
mhdf magazine 19 Designers’ checklist for specifying a green roof • Assess structural capacity. Confirm the roof can support the full load of soil, vegetation and retained water. This is particularly critical in retrofit projects where reinforcement may be needed. • Define the intended use. Establish early whether the roof will be accessible to users or purely visual, as this fundamentally shapes every subsequent design decision. • Select the appropriate system type. Choose extensive systems, which are lightweight, low-maintenance and non-accessible, or intensive systems, which are heavier and offer diverse planting and usable space, based on structural capacity and design intent. • Specify high-quality waterproofing. A durable, high-performance waterproof membrane is essential to protect the building from water ingress over the long term. • Design an effective drainage layer. Incorporate drainage that manages excess water without accumulation, remembering that extensive roofs can capture around 50% of annual rainfall and intensive systems up to 90%. • Consider SuDS requirements. Green roofs are a recognised component of Sustainable Drainage Systems, helping to reduce peak flow rates and delay runoff. Check whether local planning conditions include SuDS obligations. • Plan for ongoing maintenance. Factor maintenance requirements into the specification from the outset, particularly for intensive systems, which require greater ongoing commitment. • Engage specialists early. Bring in experienced manufacturers and specialists at an early stage to ensure all elements of the system are properly integrated and compliant. volume and speed of runoff entering drainage networks. Research suggests that extensive green roofs can capture around 50% of annual rainfall, while deeper systems can retain up to 90%, significantly easing the burden on drainage infrastructure during heavy rainfall events. In addition, green roofs can delay the onset of runoff, helping to reduce peak flow rates and minimise the risk of localised flooding. INSTALLATION While the benefits of green roofs are wide-ranging, their successful implementation in healthcare projects requires careful consideration of several key factors. Structural capacity is a primary concern, as the roof must be able to support the additional load of the green roof system, including soil, vegetation and retained water when fully saturated. This is especially important in retrofit projects, where existing structures may need to be assessed and reinforced. The selection of the appropriate green roof type is also crucial and should be aligned with the intended use of the space. Extensive systems, which are lightweight and require minimal maintenance, may be suitable where access is not required, while intensive systems can provide more diverse planting and usable spaces, but require greater structural support and ongoing maintenance. Equally important is the design of the underlying waterproofing and drainage layers. High-quality waterproof membranes are essential to protect the building from water ingress, while effective drainage systems ensure that excess water is managed appropriately and does not accumulate within the roof build-up. As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, there is growing recognition that the built environment has a direct impact on patient outcomes and overall wellbeing. The integration of green roofs represents a forward-thinking approach to design, offering a way to reconnect patients with nature while delivering tangible benefits for building performance and environmental sustainability. • www.soprema.co.uk/green-roofs BIOPHILIC DESIGN
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