The BCH gardens are revolutionizing healthcare design through neuroinclusive spaces, weaving a narrative of healing across seven distinct levels. Natural elements ground the experience. Sculptural benches crafted from reclaimed site wood honor the site's history while creating intimate gathering spaces. Animal sculptures create moments of wonder – some reclaimed from the original hospital site, others newly crafted to reflect the diverse cultural backgrounds of patients. This dialogue between past and present, nature and architecture, creates personal connections to these healing spaces.
The gardens feature over 4000 native and adaptive plants, selected to support pollinators and migratory birds while thriving in urban conditions. Dark-sky compliant lighting systems create intimate, sensory-sensitive nighttime environments. Each garden space is thoughtfully calibrated to accommodate different stimulation thresholds and social preferences, from active play to quiet reflection. Integrated with the hospital's art program, the gardens demonstrate how strategic green space can transform healthcare delivery through careful attention to the full spectrum of human experience.
Bio Our studio is a collaborative think tank researching the science of human health and well-being. Our work brings people close to the natural world. As designers of restorative landscapes, we address some of the most pressing public health related issues through our research in human cognition bringing people closer to nature. Twenty years ago, we began with a focus on human centered design, striving to make our cities healthier. Today, our evidence based design work engages communities and landscapes across the spectrum, bringing restoration and wonder to the everyday experience.
Other prizes American Society of Landscape Architects Firm of the Year Award Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Museum National Design Award for Landscape Architecture ASLA National Design Medal Fast Company World's Most Innovative Companies Fast Co. World Changing Ideas Urban Design
