The building is treated as a backdrop to the landscape, which takes centre stage
RPP Architects with Richard Murphy Architects for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Contract value: £33m
GIA: 12,000m2
Cost per m2: £2,750
This 80-bed centre has a recovery based model for mental health care. It unites previously isolated mental health services in a new building on a brownfield site by a general hospital. Belfast redbrick with a slate grey ‘saw-tooth’ roofscape reflects the context of the neighbouring residential streets and lanterns pop up through the roofs to bring in extra natural light. The landscape was designed to take centre stage, treating the single-storey building as a backdrop, with a cloister around a central corridor to access the wards. The project was developed in collaboration with the mental healthcare team, patient advocates and Trust Estates. The Trust Redevelopment Office coordinated this wide range of inputs. After six months of operation figures show a 22% reduction in behavioural incidents.