Site – Vancouver General Hospital
Designing a garden space for hospital staff with PTSD
- In a study across B.C, half the nurses reported symptoms of PTSD
- Mental health issues are reported to be 1.5 – 3% higher in nurses, then the national average
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8200831/
Design considerations based on trauma informed design
- Create separate areas for escape and rest
- Avoid entrances or that create dead ends or feeling forced into a space
- Clear line of sight and easy way finding
- Areas that feel safe and secure
- Community connection
https://shopworksarc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Arc-Principles-in-the-Service-of-TID.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8326416/
Initial sketches
Plan 1
- Areas that feel enclosed and safe, but have clear sight lines and vegetation that doesn’t get too tall
- Paths that have different routes out
- Creating small rooms, with different sizes
- Texture and pattern along the path to have something to focus on or count
- larger areas for group connection
Texture on the path inspired by the patterns made by the moss on the rocks
plan 2
Initial sketch
- Circular paths with multiple options for seating
- Larger group seating
- Seasonal stream to add a relaxing sound, and to acknowledge the lost stream that was just east of the green space
- Different seating areas, some with elevation and a clear sight line of the entire area
