Newry Children's Care Home

The landscape of this 8 place children's home is designed to reinforce the concept of 'home'; there are places to meet and chat as well as opportunities to 'escape' and enjoy contact with nature. The landscape contributes to an enhanced sense of well-being - for residents and staff alike.

Local landscapes provided inspiration for a design which incorporates 'reminiscent' landscape and garden forms - meadows, woodland and rolling landform. It is a welcoming, familiar environment which immediately instils confidence and security, contradicting any sense that this might be an institution. At the core of the Children's Home, a sensory courtyard garden is a place of rest with colourful planting, natural forms, bubbling water, areas for gardening, and dynamic sculptures. This stimulating environment is visible from all parts of the living accommodation. Boundaries between external and internal spaces are deliberately blurred encouraging seamless movement between building and landscape. Garden rooms offer opportunities to play, places for barbeques, informal ball games and children's dens.

Southern Health and Social Care Trust

2006 & ongoing

£250,000

Donnelly O'Neill (Architecture)
Hamill Gallagher (QS)
Albert Fry Associates (Civil & Structural Engineers)
Gillespie & Cummings (Mechanical & Electrical Engineers)

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