History

Creating Healing Spaces

“We wanted to create a place of beauty and healing” – Dr David Reilly

We all understand that the physical environment affects us, particularly if we are unwell or vulnerable. So what are we to do about our hospital? How can we offer patients and staff a more healing environment?

At the Glasgow, we set out to do just this – to create a place of beauty and healing, and in so doing offer a new model for a better healing environment.

The close-knit design team that brought together medics, administrators, architects and artists, has managed to create an award-winning functional hospital of singular beauty that complies with all NHS guidelines regarding quality standards, operating efficiency and cost.

Our achievement not only benefits the staff and patients at the hospital, but also offers a new vision for re-humanising care that can be readily applied elsewhere in the NHS and other care systems.

Our Vision – Creative Healing Spaces

A building sensitive to the direction of light and the seasons

“We were determined from the very beginning that the hospital would be art, not have art.” – Dr David Reilly, Project Director

We all understand that the physical environment affects us, particularly if we are unwell or vulnerable. So what are we to do about our hospital? How can we offer patients and staff a more healing environment?

At the hospital, we set out to do just this – to create a place of beauty and healing, and in so doing offer a new model for a better healing environment.

The close-knit design team that brought together medics, administrators, architects and artists, has managed to create an award-winning functional hospital of singular beauty that complies with all NHS guidelines regarding quality standards, operating efficiency and cost.

Our achievement not only benefits the staff and patients, but also offers a new vision for re-humanising care that can be readily applied elsewhere in the NHS and other care systems.

Architectural Competition

One of the earliest suggestions made by the NHS was that the Project Director should choose modular units from catalogues that could then be combined to form the finished hospital. Though this would have been easy to do, it would not result in a place of healing and beauty as intended, but nonetheless spurred on the Project Director to look for more creative solutions.

Dr Reilly approached Paul Anderson of the Glasgow School of Art who pointed him in the direction of the Deputy Director Jimmy Cosgrove who in turn guided him to Mike Haynes, Director of Planning for the City of Glasgow. Mike Haynes not only understood our vision for the hospital, but crucially recognised that the central role the future users of the building would play in the design process corresponded exactly with the aspirations of Glasgow’s European City of Architecture Year in 1999. Thus the new hospital became one of its first projects – and the first conceptual brick was laid.

The trail then lead to Neil Baxter Associates who recommended that we set up a design competition to find the right architects and steered us through this sometimes complex process, using the Royal Institute of Architecture of Scotland Guidelines.

The fantastic response resulted in 60 entries that were put on public display in Princes Square and a booklet which can be downloaded in PDF format by clicking here. If you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader and PDF viewer click here.

The judging process was extremely difficult given the very high quality of the entries and the need for input from patients and staff, as well as judges from both architecture and medicine. David Mackay of MBM Architects Barcelona provided critical input on how to best balance innovation and sensitivity against deliverability within budget and eventually a clear winner emerged.

The winners were Glasgow-based Macmon Architects who showed a vision for the building that excited the entire panel and showed a masterful handling of interior and exterior space. To find more out about the building follow the links to the next section.

“The central role of the users in the creation of the building corresponded exactly to Glasgow’s aspirations for its year as ‘European City of Architecture’ in 1999.” – Mike Hayes, Director of Planning for the City of Glasgow

Building – The Healing Space

At the hospital, patients are treated with the utmost respect and dignity. The building has been designed to meet both the physical and psychological needs of the patients, rather than forcing them to adapt to the operational needs of the hospital or any arbitrary architectural principles.

The exterior of the building is welcoming – not threatening – and is much larger than it first appears. The reception area is open, with a friendly interior, and bears a greater resemblance to a Scandinavian health spa than a fully functioning modern hospital capable of treating 10,000 outpatients and 500 inpatients every year.

The layout of the building offers a functional elegance to match first expectations. After discussion with staff and patients, the design was modified slightly so that ‘care’ spaces have a direct view and connection to nature and are protected from direct sound paths, while staff areas are located to the north and east of the building to avoid direct sunlight during working hours.

Roof/clerestory arrangements provide natural lighting for deep plan corridors, waiting areas and enhances, as well as enhancing natural airflow and ventilation throughout the building.

Since staff face the sometimes demanding task of dealing with some very sick patients, some of whom have been previously viewed as untreatable, the Design Team has placed an equal emphasis on ensuring that staff health and wellbeing is given a similar level of priority. Not only are the consulting rooms and therapeutic areas positioned and fitted in an attractive and functional manner, but the staff rest areas and dining room have also been constructed and decorated in the same fastidious manner.

“We have so much more space than we had before: it’s unreal. The building is rather deceptive because inside there is more space than light than you think from the outside.“ – Morag White, Physiotherapist

Building – The Future

The current building represents phase one of the project to replace the old 15 bed hospital from the 1930s. The only wholly new feature within the new hospital is a 40-seater seminar room.

A Phase Two is being considered, if the necessary funds can be raised, which will incorporate a range of new facilities, including:

• a water therapy area
• an academic area, for conferences, research and teaching
• a multi-use space for therapeutic arts such as dance and music
• a café-bistro and a retail pharmacy

The aim is to create a ‘wellness’ centre that breaks down the traditional barriers between the hospital and the outside world and the artificial divisions within medicine. Here people could come in the evening and have water therapy, massage and aromatherapy and enjoy great food in the café-bistro.

The Design Team were also very keen to consult and advise on best practice to improve the quality of health care provision in Scotland and the UK. Their experience showned that a modern hospital does not need to be a cold, threatening environment, but can be designed with the comfort of the patient uppermost in the mind – without any additional cost per square metre over a standard NHS hospital. Add to this the incalculable benefits to the patients in terms of improved health and well-being, and believe they can offer overwhelming arguments for change.

This desire seems to already bearing fruit with the local NHS Trust adopting as the new standard for future NHS building design in the area.

“The question of the effective therapeutic relationship is very important in all this. If there is a healing, constructive relationship between doctor and patient, the together we can go forward and look for answers.” – Dr David Reilly, Director

The Design Team

Design Team

• Dr David Reilly Project Director – davidreilly1@compuserve.com
• Macmon Architects – info@macmon.co.uk
• Jane Kelly Lead Artist – kelly.keatley@virgin.net
• Anne Harkness Business Manager

Commissioned Artists

• Kirsty Aitken – kirsty@aitken9900.fslife.co.uk
• Jilli Blackwood – www.jilliblackwood.com
• Jim Buchanan – www.landartist.co.uk
• Elaine Clarke – elaineclark@brechin.co.uk
• Lizzie Farey – www.lizziefarey.co.uk
• Andrew McIntyre Art Installation – Andrew@mcintyre1964.freeserve.co.uk
• Mike Bolum Photography – mikebolam@hotmail.com
• Cameron McIlwham Web Site Design – cmcilwham@aol.com
• David Griffith Web Site Copywriter – david_griffith@btconnect.com

Photography

Mike Bolum – mikebolam@hotmail.com
Jane Kelly – kelly.keatley@virgin.net
Cameron McIlwham – cmcilwham@aol.com
David Griffith – david_griffith@btconnect.com
Macmon Architects – info@macmon.co.uk

Building

The architectural competition to design the new hospital was launched in September 1995. Promoted by the Homoeopathic Hospital and West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust, the competition was supported by the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, by Project Scotland and by the City of Glasgow in anticipation of its role as European City of Architecture and Design in 1999.

As a result the architects who applied were responding to the new vision of care put laid out in the brief by Dr David Reilly, Director of the new Homoeopathic Hospital Project and his colleagues. This stated: “Glasgow’s new Homoeopathic Hospital will serve as a focus of care which will draw upon modern and traditional approaches to create good medicine.” It went on: “This new hospital will signal its healing purpose to viewers from the outside. It will also create an harmonious interior environment that will help in the process of healing.”

A distinguished panel of judges was set up that included Jimmy Cosgrove Deputy Director of the Glasgow School of Art, Michael Hayes, Director of Planning and Development, City of Glasgow Council. Jane Herbert, CEO West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust, David Mackay MBM Architects, Dr David Reilly and Christine Wolter, Treasurer of the Friends of Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital. They decided that the entry submitted by Macmon Architects had most creatively fulfilled the brief. They proposed a building design of elegance and seeming simplicity that would not only satisfy the hospital’s meticulous operating requirements but also included best practice strategies for energy use and sustainable design.

The architects from Macmon also expressed great willingness and enthusiasm to engage with patients, carers, staff and Trust managers.

“We aim to help people self-heal – if possible from their disease, but always from their suffering. We wish to create a space, a place, an atmosphere, an approach and an experience that helps this healing happen.” – Dr David Reilly, Introduction to the Architectural Competition for GHH, 1995

Designing the Space

The design brief for GHH posed various challenges and opportunities, including prescriptive space standards, derived from NHS guidelines for all accommodation elements. It asked for:

A building form and layout that would facilitate extension yet retain visual excellence, extended or not.

Stringent cost limits, set within normal yardstick costs for accommodation of its type.

Macmon’s architects therefore set out to respond in a ‘holistic’ way to both the hospitals operating requirements and the significant environmental issues, posed by the shape of the site, and its proximity to a busy rail route. Their solution was to create a L-shaped building with defensible courtyard. In their design, the interior and exterior of the building would provide an integrated care and healing environment, where all patient rooms would have access to and could be accessed from the landscaped garden. The chosen layout also meant that the entrance could be located in the North East corner of the building so that it would be protected from prevailing south-westerly winds and driving rain.

Principle building elements have also been carefully planned within the structures efficient and affordable geometry. Reception and Dispensary elements are centrally located to optimize access and use, while accommodation elements that are of lesser significance in constructional terms are intended to reflect more directly natural forms and layout. Existing pedestrian routes have been respected and a new in/out vehicle ‘drop off/park’ arrangement has been created.

The general arrangement and juxtaposition of departments within GHH, creates provide a passive, low energy hospital environment that it highly functional and beautiful to behold.

“Thank you so much for everything you have created at the hospital. I wonder if you realise how important it is for those of us who depend upon it’s environment to calm us, strengthen us, and then send us out into the world to cope for another while.” – Patient.

The Healing Space

At Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital, patients are treated with the utmost respect and dignity. The building has been designed to meet both the physical and psychological needs of the patients, rather than forcing them to adapt to the operational needs of the hospital or any arbitrary architectural principles.

The exterior of the building is welcoming – not threatening – and is much larger than it first appears. The reception area is open, with a friendly interior, and bears a greater resemblance to a Scandinavian health spa than a fully functioning modern hospital capable of treating 10,000 outpatients and 500 inpatients every year.

The layout of the building offers a functional elegance to match first expectations. After discussion with staff and patients, the design was modified slightly so that ‘care’ spaces have a direct view and connection to nature and are protected from direct sound paths, while staff areas are located to the north and east of the building to avoid direct sunlight during working hours. Roof/clerestory arrangements provide natural lighting for deep plan corridors, waiting areas and enhances, as well as enhancing natural airflow and ventilation throughout the building.

Since staff face the sometimes demanding task of dealing with some very sick patients, some of whom have been previously viewed as untreatable, the Design Team has placed an equal emphasis on ensuring that staff health and wellbeing is given a similar level of priority. Not only are the consulting rooms and therapeutic areas positioned and fitted in an attractive and functional manner, but the staff rest areas and dining room have also been constructed and decorated in the same fastidious manner.

“We have so much more space than we had before: it’s unreal. The building is rather deceptive because inside there is more space than light than you think from the outside.“ – Morag White, Physiotherapist

The Future

The current building represents phase one of the project to replace the old 15 bed hospital from the 1930s. The only wholly new feature within the new hospital is a 40-seater seminar room.
A Phase Two is being considered, if the necessary funds can be raised, which will incorporate a range of new facilities, including:

– a water therapy area
– an academic area, for conferences, research and teaching
– a multi-use space for therapeutic arts such as dance and music
– a café-bistro and a retail pharmacy

The aim is to create a ‘wellness’ centre that breaks down the traditional barriers between the hospital and the outside world and the artificial divisions within medicine. Here people could come in the evening and have water therapy, massage and aromatherapy and enjoy great food in the café-bistro.

The Design Team at GHH are also very keen to consult and advise on best practice to improve the quality of health care provision in Scotland and the UK. Their experience at GHH has shown that a modern hospital does not need to be a cold, threatening environment, but can be designed with the comfort of the patient uppermost in the mind – without any additional cost per square metre over a standard NHS hospital. Add to this the incalculable benefits to the patients in terms of improved health and well-being, and GHH believe they can offer overwhelming arguments for change.

This desire seems to already bearing fruit with the local NHS Trust adopting GHH as the new standard for future NHS building design in the area.

“The question of the effective therapeutic relationship is very important in all this. If there is a healing, constructive relationship between doctor and patient, the together we can go forward and look for answers.” – Dr David Reilly, Director

Introduction

Making the building a work of art

“I love this building to bits. The first time I came here I cried. The patients loved the old hospital because it had a lot of character, but you can feel the atmosphere here starting to grow already.” – Sandra Smith

Healing is not only about remedies and cures; it’s also about stimulating the mind, body and the senses so that patients can better heal themselves. Since Glasgow Homoeopathic Hospital seeks to meet the physical, psychological and emotional needs of the patients and staff, it was always the intention that artists should be involved in developing the overall healing vision.

From early in the project, the Project Director, Dr David Reilly had determined there was a need for a Lead Artist who could collaborate with the Design Team to enhance the healing environment. To help him in this process Dr David Reilly sought out Elizabeth McFall of Healthcare Arts in Dundee to orchestrate the selection procedure.

She showed the Design Team a selection of artists work and from his responses set up a shortlist of around 50 artist’s work. A judging panel was then set up with David Reilly, Macmon Architects, Anne Harkness and Jimmy Cosgrove of the Glasgow School of Art.

From the hundreds of images presented to them over a day, a further shortlist was compiled and the chosen artists presented their visions for the hospital in a series of interviews in the inspirational environment of the Mackintosh Boardroom.

Jane Kelly stood out from the moment she entered carrying a heavy load of bricks, tiles, leaves and many other materials from which she proceeded to construct a mosaic of possible ingredients and relationships. Her ability to move across media, to be at ease both indoors and outdoors, to work with fine arts, or décor and finishes, coupled with her capacity to actively listen to people’s needs and hopes and back their vision, made her an enormous asset to the team.

“The lead artist applied her creativity to helping us choose everything from wall paint colour to furniture and fittings. Much later she would also guide the process of commissioning pieces of ‘art’ in the traditional sense.” – Dr David Reilly

Design Team

“Patients find the atmosphere soothing and relaxing – an ideal setting for people who have suffered physical and emotional stress and pain…” – Stephanie, Physiotherapy Dept

The Lead Artist’s proposal responded to both the client’s vision for the design of the new hospital to be a healing force itself and to the architect’s response to that vision, evident in the form, flow and illumination within the built environment.

Drawing upon her extensive experience in this field, inspired by the sources and processes of homoeopathy, and following in-depth consultation with the architects, artists and carers, Jane Kelly defined a restricted colour and materials palette of white, ochre, lavender and terracotta for use on walls, floors, furniture and details, using natural and organic materials whenever possible. Her proposal also set out to identify opportunities for the role of artworks that would reinforce the building’s healing philosophy.

The chosen colours along with their dilutions supported the healing atmosphere created by Macmon’s award-winning architectural design. By using the weakest dilutions of colour on the largest surfaces of walls and floors, a light and airy interior was enhanced. This was embellished at key points by concentrations of stronger hues on smaller surfaces – the soft hint of lavender in the linoleum, the mid lavender on the exterior render seen and the deep violet leather coverings to chairs and sofas.

In journeys around the building, colour palette tints and shades echo repeatedly, creating a sense of continuity and harmony. Across the white grey walls, a subtle range of reflected colour and shadow change slowly as day progresses into night. These are orchestrated by the changing natural light, both direct and reflected, and the use of complementary electric light from specially chosen lamps and fittings. All these design elements combine to create a soothing feeling of calm and refuge.

Making the Building a Work of Art

The Lead Artist’s proposal responded to both the client’s vision for the design of the new hospital to be a healing force itself and to the architect’s response to that vision, evident in the form, flow and illumination within the built environment.

Drawing upon her extensive experience in this field, inspired by the sources and processes of homoeopathy, and following in-depth consultation with the architects, artists and carers, Jane Kelly defined a restricted colour and materials palette of white, ochre, lavender and terracotta for use on walls, floors, furniture and details, using natural and organic materials whenever possible. Her proposal also set out to identify opportunities for the role of artworks that would reinforce the building’s healing philosophy.

The chosen colours along with their dilutions supported the healing atmosphere created by Macmon’s award-winning architectural design. By using the weakest dilutions of colour on the largest surfaces of walls and floors, a light and airy interior was enhanced. This was embellished at key points by concentrations of stronger hues on smaller surfaces – the soft hint of lavender in the linoleum, the mid lavender on the exterior render seen and the deep violet leather coverings to chairs and sofas.

In journeys around the building, colour palette tints and shades echo repeatedly, creating a sense of continuity and harmony. Across the white grey walls, a subtle range of reflected colour and shadow change slowly as day progresses into night. These are orchestrated by the changing natural light, both direct and reflected, and the use of complementary electric light from specially chosen lamps and fittings. All these design elements combine to create a soothing feeling of calm and refuge.

Commissioned Artworks

Working in close collaboration with the Design Team, the Lead Artist guided a commissioning process that identified key places within the building where artwork would enhance its environment and would itself be enriched by the healthcare context.

At GHH the artworks are at one with the building itself and journeys around the new hospital by patients, staff and visitors offer carefully created moments of interest and delight. In keeping with this philosophy, the choice of artists and their work did not aim always for instant impact, or even entertainment, but instead aspired to long term appreciation that would contribute to the healing process.

Through discussion, the Design Team agreed early on in the commissioning process to avoid overtly representational works which might have the potential for negative connotation or leave themselves open to ambiguously disturbing interpretation. Instead, it was decided that artworks should be in keeping with the overall aesthetics of the interior and exterior environment and a particular accent was placed on the use of natural materials. Since the underlying idea of the hospital and the design process was linked to the notion of combining separate elements to create a whole, weaving became a metaphor for healing – paper in translucent layers, fabric layered and stitched, copper strands woven with silk, and willow entwined with ash.

After a long process of visiting exhibitions, trawling artist data bases and group deliberation, a small team of artists based in the west of Scotland were commissioned to create artworks for the new healing environment – Kirsty Aitken, Jim Buchanan, Jill Blackwood, Elaine Clarke, Lizzie Farey and Jane Kelly herself. Andrew McIntyre later joined the Design Team to design and implement original stainless steel and Perspex cases and fixings for the presentation of the finished pieces. In addition, Mike Bolum was commissioned to photograph the project and Cameron McIlwham was commissioned to create this website.

“’Paradox’ and ‘God Shouting’ are intensive areas of colour and texture. They are vibrant and rich, they require the viewer to return again and again to the works in order to fully absorb the energy and joy that these textiles radiate.” – Jilli Blackwood

Introduction – A Garden at the Heart of the Healing Process

A garden has always been at the heart of the vision for the new hospital’s healing process. It has been shown time and again through independent research that a person’s awareness of changing light and proximity to the natural world has a remarkable effect on their sense of well-being and recuperative ability.

At hospital we have therefore designed the building so that every patient has direct access to the garden from their room via a wooden deck.

Here, the landscaped garden forms the focal point of the hospital; an inviting outdoor extension to the indoor healing environment. The garden affords a different view from every window and suffuses the hospital with reflected natural light.

The garden itself was designed and built by Jane Kelly and a small, highly skilled team of builders. It comprises a series of sculpted earth mounds and beds that brim with rare flowers, wild grasses, trees and shrubs. Wide stone paths lead through the inner garden towards the perimeter path.

Beyond this are the grassy mounds that now provide a home to a family of foxes.

The landscaped garden is protected by a 25m long living wall of willow, curved raised beds built of blue glazed brick and, of course, seating. To find out more about how the garden was conceived and constructed, follow the navigation links on the left or top of this page.

”One evening, when, as often happens I couldn’t sleep I stepped out into the garden, and into another world. The paths were ribbons of earth captured moonlight…” – Hospital Patient

Designing the Garden

The main structural foundation of the garden design is a wide silvery path which flows through the full length of the grounds and is a symbol for water and the ‘life force’, linking all the wards and patient spaces and helping define five distinct areas of the landscape: a paved and gravelled courtyard with architectural planting, a herb garden which thrives in the south-west facing aspect, a lawn surrounded by flowering perennials and shrubs, a terrace edged with raise beds and trees, a woodland edge boundary, and a protective long living wall of willow.

The planting colour palette aims to glow through all seasons, and offers a wide variety of forms and textures, from trees and shrubs, to exotic wild grasses, rare flowers and aromatic herbs. The gardens greens particularly sing seen from the warm hues inside and against the vibrant lavender walls outside.

In addition to the many shades and ‘dilutions’ of green in the garden, the planting colours strengthen from north to south. Whites and lavender in the gravel courtyard are enlivened by the ochres and blues in the adjacent herb garden. The perennials around the lawn range through yellow, orange and pink shades which move into a warm mix of crimson, red and violet around the terrace and raised beds of deep lavender blue glazed bricks.

The colour scheme for planting is inspired by the principles of homeopathy: subtle dilutions of white, ochre, lavender and terracotta, and echoes the artist’s use of colours and shades for the interior environmental design.

“You get encouragement to be yourself here. I can’t think of the words, it’s not like being out of your body but there is a sensation of looking down on yourself and beginning to see what others are seeing.” Hospital Patient

The Healing Garden

“The peace and tranquillity here is wonderful. It’s more restful than a holiday.” – Patient

The choice of plants seeks to provide year round beauty of bark, bud, leaf and flower. Many of the plants are also the ingredients of traditional herbal medicines – fennel, comfrey and eucalyptus in the herb garden, echinea and yarrow around the raised beds. Others are used in Homoeopathic remedies – back bamboo in the gravel courtyard, rhododendrons along the woodland edge – and even the honey bees themselves who love to feast on the eupatorium!

Patients have repeatedly described how the hospital garden has a calming, healing effect. Recounting their recuperative experiences, almost all refer directly to the garden, and some attribute the main benefit to it.
Indeed patients like to sit out in it, even the Scottish rain.

Especially important has been the effect on terminal patients and their families. The architectural full wall of glass, with sliding door access to nature has a powerfully comforting and balancing effect. Staff too sing its praises …. And a wildlife of foxes, robins, bees and butterflies have started to colonise it.

The Future

The project not only provides a practical demonstration of how contact with nature can help people to recover more quickly and regain their health, but also has been seen as a model and inspiration for future hospitals and health care centres.

The new garden at the hospital is in constant flux and growth. It is now important to protect this essential therapeutic facility through sustainable maintenance and development.

“The grounds of many existing hospitals could be greatly improved to the benefit of patients families and staff by adopting a more green and leafy approach within and around the building.” – Urban Forestry in Practice, ‘Hospital greenspace as an aid to healthcare’