Springfield’s new courtyard gardens win ‘Best External Environment’ award

The state-of-the-art Trinity building, due to open in December, will be home to four inpatient wards and a range of outpatient mental health services. Adjacent to every ward is a large spacious courtyard with planted gardens.

The judges of the Building Better Healthcare Awards praised the courtyard gardens, designed by C.F. Møller Architects, for being an ‘ambitious design’ that has created varied spaces and maximised outdoor areas.

Teva Hesse, architect at C.F. Møller Architects, said: “These are spaces with a focus on nature, which we hope will bring tangible therapeutic benefits to the patients who use them and provide moments of calm and peace throughout their treatment.

“We were very focused on creating planted gardens and not sterile courtyards. Planted gardens within which you can observe the changing seasons and experience the sights, smells, and textures of living nature.”

Sharon Spain, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality at the Trust, said: “We know that access to green spaces and nature can have enormous positive effects on our mental health and wellbeing. Our mission is to create healing environments which genuinely support and promote recovery, and these beautiful new courtyard gardens are a key part of that. 

“The Trinity building is the result of years of hard work by so many different teams and organisations, including C.F. Møller Architects, who have worked closely with our staff and patients to design outstanding new mental health facilities for the communities we serve in south west London.”

Trinity is one of the Trust’s two new state-of-the-art mental health facilities nearing completion in Tooting. Designed in partnership with staff, carers, patients and service users, the new buildings - named Trinity and Shaftesbury - represent a £150m investment in local mental health services. Find out more here.

Photo credit: C.F. Møller Architects.