Mental Health & Addictions Centre
Client
Government of Newfoundland & Labrador
Location
St. John’s, NL
Date Completed
November 2024
Project Team
Project Summary
The Mental Health and Addictions Centre in St. John’s demonstrates the transformative role of landscape in healthcare. Rather than serving as a backdrop to the building, the landscape is an integral part of the therapeutic environment, thoughtfully designed to support healing, recovery and overall well-being. Featuring cascading terraces, therapeutic gardens and courtyards, the design creates meaningful connections to nature throughout the facility. Accessible outdoor spaces provide opportunities for recreation, reflection, social connection and respite, recognizing that access to nature, fresh air and outdoor activity can play an important role in supporting mental health. The landscape also offers a sense of choice, autonomy and connection to the outside world, helping to create a more welcoming and less institutional experience for patients, visitors and staff alike. By placing nature at the centre of its design, the project challenges conventional perceptions of mental healthcare and demonstrates how landscape architecture can move beyond beautification to become an essential component of the healing process.
Photography by Chelsey Lawrence Photography