A vibrant orange building adorned with whimsical bronze sculptures welcomes visitors to the new home for young people’s mental health services at Alder Hey children’s hospital. This £20 million project has transformed the region’s mental health services by consolidating them into a cohesive center, departing from the conventional clinical setting. Designed by Cullinan Studio, in collaboration with artist Lucy Casson, this innovative mental health center seeks to provide a more uplifting and engaging environment for its patients.
In the face of the growing demand for mental health support among young people, this center offers a striking departure from the traditional hospital template. The need for such a facility has never been more pressing. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of young people seeking mental health support has surged to record levels, with 1.4 million school-age children seeking assistance last year—a substantial increase of 76% since 2019. Isolation, anxiety, self-harm, and eating disorders have become more prevalent, with missed school time adding additional stressors.
This cutting-edge Catkin Centre greets patients with an open, inviting environment. The entrance features a striking wooden cone that stretches through the ceiling, casting a warm and welcoming glow throughout the space. Unlike the typical sterile, rows of plastic chairs seen in most NHS waiting rooms, this center offers comfortable benches and seating nooks, inviting a sense of community and support from the moment of entry.
Consultation and clinical rooms encircle a light-filled U-shaped courtyard, promoting a sense of openness and comfort. To accommodate patients’ evolving needs and preferences, these spaces are thoughtfully designed with multiple seating options. These features help dissolve psychological barriers to entry and support patient progress.
The neighboring building, known as Sunflower House, serves as an inpatient facility for children aged nine to 13 with more challenging mental health needs. It boasts similar design principles, with timber-lined corridors, spacious bedrooms, and ample opportunities for privacy within the broader spaces. The thoughtful design takes into account the diverse needs of the patients, who often require a sense of refuge within the larger environment.
The facility also features an immersion room, which uses interactive projections to simulate various scenes, helping patients acclimatize to different environments and situations. This innovative approach extends to the school canteen, designed as an American diner, adorned with pastel colors, 1950s decals, and a retro menu that caters to the children’s preferences.
While the design vision is undeniably strong, some discrepancies between the original design and the final execution have emerged, largely due to the “design and build” procurement approach chosen by the NHS trust. Certain design elements, such as wooden mullions replaced by metal, flattened bedroom ceilings, and unmatched vinyl floors, have somewhat detracted from the project’s original vision. These discrepancies emphasize the need for more comprehensive and thoughtful procurement processes to ensure that patients receive the quality of care and environment they deserve.
In conclusion, the Alder Hey children’s hospital’s new mental health center presents a transformative approach to providing mental health services for young people, offering a welcoming, engaging, and patient-centric environment amid the growing challenges in the field of mental health.
