ABSTRACT
Though designed to be practical, British National Health Service hospitals are often not very pleasant places. Illness shrinks the patient’s confidence, and arriving for the first time at a huge hospital is often a time of high anxiety. Maggie’s Centre is intended to elevate the human spirit through the integration of architecture and landscape design. To subvert the hierarchies inherent in traditional waiting rooms that consist of rows of chairs under harsh lighting, waiting areas at Maggie’s Centres are conceived of as places where time waiting can be used positively. As a garden designer herself, Maggie Keswick Jencks believed in the power of gardens to renew the human spirit. Part of the Maggie’s Centre brief is recognizing that gardens are essential for promoting well-being, improving mindfulness, and reducing stress. Many healthcare facilities are institutional, uninspiring places that feel drab and lifeless. Instead, Maggie’s Centres are designed to be striking, unforgettable, and unique.
