North London Hospice offers specialist palliative care to patients with life-limiting illnesses. Designed by AHMM to be a big version of someone’s house’ to instil a domestic sense of well-being, BBUK created two accompanying courtyard gardens for the scheme in Enfield.

Set on a prominent corner in a quiet residential area of north London, the massing of this brick building is broken down into two north-facing gables with circulation interleaved between. A single-storey pitched extension at the rear completes the L-shaped plan and frames a south-facing private courtyard for the enjoyment of patients.

The southern courtyard has a brick-clad, raised pond in its centre, with a higher reflective pool that spills into the lower planted area.  Slate copings chosen to match the building’s window frames are set at a height to provide informal seating.  Square beds are planted with blue and white flowering shrubs and perennials.

The northern courtyard is more public, connecting the Hospice café with the street.  Groves of large flowering shrubs provide some privacy to the garden and building users without entirely blocking views into or from the building.

Completed in May 2012, the building fulfils the aspiration to increase the provision of palliative care in Enfield in a contemporary, non-clinical environment. Over the course of three years the client, architect, design team and user group worked closely to develop a brief and building that met and exceeded patient needs by creating a special place for them in the heart of their community.

Landscape Architects: BBUK

Other designers involved in the design of landscape: AHMM

Project location: London

Design year: 2010

Year Built: 2012

Photographer: Tim Soar