The Berrywood CAMHS ward, The Sett, is a refurbished inpatient unit with a modest extension at Berrywood Hospital. The project reimagines what adolescent mental health care can look like within the constraints of a PFI-operated estate. The scheme relocates an adolescent service into a former older adult ward, transforming an underused clinical ward into a therapeutic, developmentally appropriate environment for young people aged 13–18 experiencing acute mental health difficulties.
What sets this project apart is its commitment to creating a non-institutional environment while meeting the high safety and operational standards required in inpatient mental health settings. The design focuses on warmth, light, and dignity, transforming an institutional ward into a calm, therapeutic setting that supports recovery without reinforcing stigma.
The original ward followed a double-loaded corridor model typical of older healthcare buildings, characterised by limited daylight, minimal spatial variety, and poor wayfinding. The design strategy introduced clearer spatial hierarchy and a series of varied environments that offer choice, autonomy, and emotional regulation for young people.
Two key interventions anchor the scheme. First, the dining area was opened up to connect with the lounge and a refurbished courtyard, forming a cohesive day-living zone that improves staff visibility and supports flexible activity. The courtyard landscape was reorganised by relocating planting to the perimeter, converting what was previously a visual amenity into an active external space for therapy and social use. This integration of indoor and outdoor communal space supports safe access to fresh air, daylight and supervised activity.
The second intervention introduces a modest extension, reclaimed from underused cupboard and corridor space, to create a dedicated art and education suite with an adjacent breakout lounge. Located away from the main living area, this arrangement simulates a home-to-school transition and introduces rhythm and structure into the day.
Natural daylight is maximised throughout the design. Clerestory windows in the art and education suite bring soft daylight into the high-ceilinged spaces while avoiding glare and sensory overload. Within the breakout lounge, a circular skylight draws daylight deep into the plan, creating a quiet retreat for reflection and informal interaction.
Balancing comfort, privacy, and safety was a key driver of the interior design. Bespoke fitted furniture was carefully detailed to reduce ligature risk while maintaining a domestic, humanising quality. Curved seating provides a sense of enclosure while preserving supervision. Materials are natural and tactile, with a neutral base palette punctuated by warm, playful tones. In the art and education suite, acoustic wood wool panels absorb sound, creating a calmer learning environment.
Sustainability was embedded from the outset. Rather than building entirely from scratch, the project retained and readapted the core structure of an underused ward, preserving embodied carbon and reducing construction waste. This adaptive reuse delivered environmental value within a modest budget. Energy-efficient systems, including ventilation upgrades, LED lighting and enhanced daylighting, further improve environmental performance.
Berywood CAMHS demonstrates how thoughtful, stakeholder-informed design and modest architectural intervention can transform an institutional healthcare building into a therapeutic environment that supports recovery, dignity, and wellbeing.
