A Mental Health Centre for Orkney

A Journey to Better Mental Health "Mental illness is one of the major health challenges in Scotland. One in four of us will experience a problem with our mental health at some stage in our lives." (Public Health Scotland, 2020) Currently, in Orkney, there is only one small mental health department which is not nearly sufficient to meet the needs of the whole of Orkney, meaning that most people seeking mental health help have to wait long periods to speak to someone. In cases where the visitor’s condition is more severe, they are sent to Cornhill Hospital in Aberdeen, away from friends and family, as this is the nearest facility to meet the needs of these individuals. The following is a proposal for a mental health centre for all of Orkney, located in Finstown. The site is on the East side of the town within a series of walled gardens, out of the way of the public centre but close enough to walk to and accessible for visitors from all over Orkney. The project is driven by the concept of a series of buildings along a circulation path with a gradual shift from public and open spaces to more private and secure areas for the more high-risk individuals; this is symbolised through a series of runrigs which also act as protection for gardens against the high Orcadian winds. The project aims to create an atmosphere contrasting the stereotypical mental health centre. The design explores the use of an easy-to-navigate circulation system which takes advantage of access to views of gardens and the landscape to avoid the feeling of an endless corridor; the circulation is broken up by social spaces related to the adjacent building. The design uses a mixture of CLT and glulam for structure, using CLT for the more private 'safe' spaces with the idea that visitors and residents can feel the most comfortable and relaxed in these areas, whether that be in their bedrooms or within therapy rooms, these are safe spaces which allow for more difficult conversations or opportunities to be alone in a more private setting. To contrast this, glulam columns and beams are used in the more social spaces to emphasise a feeling of openness and take advantage of access to natural light and views of the gardens. These spaces can act as areas visitors and residents walk through or opportunities for them to take a seat and appreciate the gardens from the inside.