First Scandinavian therapy garden built in Ukraine
Mikael Colville-Andersen, a Canadian-Danish urban designer, has built a therapy garden in the heart of Kyiv to help combat the growing mental health crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, urban designer Mikael Colville-Andersen had already been living in Kyiv for over a year. Witnessing the growing toll of war on mental health, he turned to his Scandinavian roots – and the wealth of research on nature-based therapy from Denmark and Sweden – to design a solution: Ukraine’s first Scandinavian-style therapy garden.
Built beside Pavlov Psychiatric Hospital, one of Europe’s largest mental health institutions, the Therapy Garden is an innovative response to the escalating mental health crisis in the country. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 9.6 million people in Ukraine are at risk of developing or currently living with mental health conditions due to the war.
“Despite 15 years of compelling research from institutions in Denmark and Sweden, the concept of therapy gardens as treatment spaces remains largely unknown outside of Scandinavia,” says Mikael. “But in Denmark, they’re increasingly common. Their effectiveness is well-documented.”
Healing through nature in a time of war
- This video is from Mikael Colville-Andersen’s personal YouTube account
Mikael brought together a small team of Ukrainian architects and the landscape design firm LDesign to complete the garden in just 11 weeks. Adjacent to the forested grounds of Pavlov Psychiatric Hospital, the site was cleared with the help of more than 1,000 volunteers – many of whom were responding to an open call Mikael posted on social media.
“I was hoping for 50 people to show up that first weekend,” he recalls. “Instead, 500 came. Every weekend for nearly three months, volunteers kept returning to help. That spirit of collective action is deeply rooted in Ukrainian culture – it’s called toloka, where people show up without hesitation to help each other.”
Around 1,000 Ukrainian volunteers had a hand in building the garden
Mikael (front left) and volunteers during the garden build
Designed to meet the needs of the people
One of the cabins designed for those most affected by PTSD and paranoia
“The first level offers secluded spots for those who need to be alone,” he explains. “The second is for patients open to gentle interaction with a caregiver or loved one. The third features a communal space for group therapy and nature-based activities.”
The garden takes full advantage of its location in a forested area around Pavlov Psychiatric Hospital. Given the prevalence of drone warfare and constant aerial alerts, special attention was given to designing both open and enclosed spaces.
“There are cabins with roofs for those suffering from paranoia, and others with open skies for those who crave openness,” Mikael says. “Each cabin has three solid walls wrapped in greenery for privacy and calm. Inside, a single chair faces the trees – designed so patients don’t feel vulnerable or exposed.”
Growing hope for the future of Ukraine
In Ukrainian – toloka – means everybody shows up to volunteer
“This is more than just a garden,” he says. “It’s a model for healing – a space that encourages conversation about mental health and promotes community-based care. I hope professionals from across Ukraine will come to see how it works and be inspired to replicate it.”
