CUSTODIAL FACILITY DESIGN
Flexible, quiet spaces provide a degree of privacy while allowing passive observation. Staff and women can interact in a welcoming, reassuring environment.
colour tones were also introduced to the furniture upholstery as part of the interior design strategy.
Sustainable approaches to design The building, which was designed in 2018, incorporates a number of enhanced environmental performance criteria over and above the then 2019 Building Standards, balanced with requirements for renewable energy production on site. Renewable energy generation includes over 1,000 m2
of discrete roof-mounted
photovoltaics on the two non-residential buildings, and a site-wide array of ground source heat pump installations. The latter provides 33% of peak heating and DHW load. EV charging has been provided within the staff and visitor car parks, and the design also incorporates a relocated, reconfigured bus stop in close proximity to the main entrance plaza. Enhanced visitor and staff cycle parking is provided, with dedicated showering and changing facilities for staff. The landscape design incorporates a number of sustainable, natural drainage solutions, located around the edges of hard-surfaced pedestrian routes, as well as large areas of biodiverse wild meadow grass. From a wellbeing perspective, in addition to the range of dedicated feature garden spaces, a retreat building will provide a series of sensory and therapy spaces in addition to multi- faith worship space, while an animal care and educational gardening facility
David Gardner
David Gardner BSc (Hons) MArch, RIBA, RIAS, is an award-winning Design director at Holmes Miller architects, with a wealth of experience gained working in several key sectors over the last 27 years - encompassing custodial, residential, commercial, and healthcare projects. This has included involvement in a number of challenging and innovative large-scale new-build projects for The Scottish Prison Service (SPS). As a result, he has an extensive knowledge base working within the custodial sector. Always keen to challenge traditional ways of thinking, his expertise and approach to design has proved invaluable on every project.
David has been heavily involved working with SPS at early concept stage design and planning of the new award-winning Women’s facility, HMP & YOI Stirling – a project which Holmes Miller says ‘sets a new benchmark for custodial design in the UK’. The experience he has gained on previous SPS projects, and his work in other sectors, have been influential to the success of this latest design.
18 MAY 2024 | THE NETWORK
A pair of fully glazed corridors encloses a Japanese-inspired courtyard. These links provide separate routes for women and visitors to the ‘Visits’ pavilion.
will also provide opportunities for the women to participate in activities. These additional functions offer both staff and women alternative means of interaction – supportive as an additional form of therapy. Visitors to the facility have also been fully considered, with a dedicated community-facing family centre, which allows for families to spend time before and after visits in calm, relaxing, comfortable accommodation. This facility helps to encourage the use of public transport for visiting relatives in custody. A community-run snack facility also provides for refreshments while taking in views of the surrounding landscape. Since its opening in June 2023,
feedback from staff who work within the new facility has been very positive. Whilst still too early to measure real positive impacts on how women have benefited from their time post-release, or any reduction in re-offending rates, anecdotal feedback suggests that the new facility is having a meaningful positive impact for both staff and the women in custody. The design of the houses has been one of the main factors. Evidence has shown that smaller groupings of bedrooms and ‘communities’ generally contribute to better outcomes for those in custody. Staff have observed positive relationships being formed among the women within these smaller groups, while the range of spaces and facilities allows for either group interaction or personal quiet space as required. Where incidents have occurred,
there has been a noticeable difference in terms of reduced tension and harassment, and improved de-escalation, compared with the old facility. Women are now able to relocate to smaller, quiet spaces, helping reduce stress and anxiety.
More ‘quality, transactional time’ Staff who have fed back to the design team on recent visits have also positively noted that working within the new facility has been very enjoyable – particularly in relation to the views and connection to the gardens and landscape. They have also been able to spend more quality, transactional time with the women in custody. This interaction has proved invaluable in engendering a sense of purpose and agency amongst occupants. While the women are the primary
focus, the staff, visitors, and support organisations of all ages, genders, and capabilities, can feel invested in, and take pride in, the new facility. This inevitably will create a collective strength through how they all use and experience it, and how in turn this positively impacts on all users’ lives.
David Gardner will give a day two morning keynote presentation, ‘HMP Stirling – Therapeutic and Trauma Informed Approaches to Custodial Design’, at 9.30 am on 5 June at next month’s Design in Mental Health 2024 Conference in Manchester.
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