Slow Down, Breathe Deep

Slow Down, Breathe Deep is designed to provide a space for staff of an NHS specialist hospital to find sanctuary from the stress of daily work. It could be used as a quiet place to eat lunch or as an informal therapeutic tool for managing workload-related stress and anxiety. The key features include a timber pavilion and deck, reflecting pool, green wall to the rear of the garden and two curved paths to lead to the central space.

The designer’s mother works for the NHS, which gave him great insight into the working pressures that staff operate under and he has seen the positive impact that a dedicated garden can have on their mental wellbeing.