Ferndene, Children and Young People's Centre

Client: Laing O’Rourke Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust
Role: Lead Consultant, Masterplanner and Architect
Value: £27.1m
Status: Completed September 2011

Grafted into a mature landscape on the fringe of Northumberland’s countryside, Ferndene brings together children’s mental health and learning disability services for the first time in a design that engages at different levels with its environment. This 40 bedroom residential and day centre accommodates children, aged 10 to 18 years old. The range of patient ages and range of conflicting needs presented multiple obstacles: sharing amenities whilst separating vulnerable children from young people with challenging behaviour; providing safe and secure boundaries without a sense of incarceration; creating a resilient yet therapeutic environment and ensuring adaptability for future change.

The building is conceived as a hand with fingers of bedroom accommodation spanning out from a central activity building in the palm. A corridor on one side of each finger provides a view out and natural light in. Courtyard gardens signal the transition from private bed spaces to shared therapy areas. This arrangement of graduated space is clear at the entrance where a view through the entire building and beyond makes a bright and uplifting welcome for patients and visitors. The positioning of living and day space at the fingertip sets up panoramic views over the mature woodland and Northumbrian hills beyond.

“We are extremely pleased with the safe and welcoming environment that has resulted, both inside and out, attractive and appropriate to the needs of the young people who will use the service.”

Lianne Knotts - Associate and Project Architect

Ferndene, Children and Young People's Centre

Internal courtyard © Jill Tate 2011