The Nook is SAMH’s response to mental health crisis: accessible, barrier-free walk-in hubs where anyone can visit to speak about mental health, seven days a week.
The interior design for The Nook in Glasgow is purposefully welcoming and homely – challenging traditional clinical design of mental health spaces – and designed in collaboration between Anna Campbell-Jones of Habitus Design Ltd, interior designer and presenter of Scotland’s Home of the Year, and Finni (Josafinni) Porter Chambers, a participatory designer.
Place-based and participatory design methodologies guided every decision. The design prioritises warmth and accessibility, using domestic references, tactile materials, and a carefully considered colour palette to create a calm, grounding atmosphere. Instead of a traditional reception desk, the space is centred around an oversized kitchen table, reframing arrival as an invitation rather than assessment. Snugs replace consultation rooms; garden benches, a library and the kitchen offer cosy, relaxed alternatives to a waiting room.
This extends to four colourful free-standing sheds by JDD Furniture, upholstered in striped textiles by Johnstons of Elgin. Referring to spaces by colour rather than number creates a softer, more intuitive approach to wayfinding eg, “let’s have a chat in the pink shed” rather than “consultation room one”.
The layout encourages choice and autonomy, allowing visitors to sit where they feel most comfortable and engage with support at their own pace.
Sustainability was embedded at every stage of the design. In a mental health setting, sustainability is inseparable from care: care for people, for place, and for the resources we choose to use.
We approached environmental sustainability through material reuse, local sourcing and careful consideration of material life cycles, prioritising existing and reclaimed materials. Upcycled gym flooring salvaged from Glasgow’s Castlemilk High School was repurposed and fixed to the walls, giving the material a second life while adding tactility and visual warmth. Deadstock Glasgow Subway fabric, from the train interior originally designed by Anna in the early 90s, was used on bar stools – another ‘easter egg’ for people using the space to discover. The storytelling element of this was intentional. Understanding that people may not always want to speak about mental health immediately, we designed elements to prompt conversation.
Timber elements, including window seating, a park bench, and a bookcase, were fabricated by Glasgow Wood, a charity dedicated to reclaiming waste timber while upskilling volunteers. The window seats were made from reclaimed scaffolding boards, with the original markings left visible and sealed with a clear oil providing another storytelling prompt. These specifications demonstrate how environmental responsibility can be emotionally engaging as well as impactful in terms of climate action.
We also specified Forbo’s Marmoleum Click flooring system, chosen for its ability to be taken up and repurposed elsewhere at the end of its use.
We commissioned Glasgow-based designers, artists, signwriters, materials and manufacturers to ensure that investment remained within the local economy. Design studio MIRRL created our kitchen table, and local ceramicist Zoe Miller, founder of Tene Tiles, created our nod to Glasgow’s historic tenement tilework.
