Unicare Bakke Hospital Rehabilitation Garden

About

The approximately 6000 square meter Unicare Bakke Rehabilitation Garden was designed to create a more accessible and useful outdoor environment for therapists and their patients receiving physical rehabilitation at the Unicare Bakke Rehabilitation Centre, based on evidence collected from survey research. Post-occupancy research in terms of questionnaires was also conducted, demonstrating the garden’s effectiveness for patients.

Categories Place Healthcare Recreation Therapeutic

Project Details

Description

The aim of the Unicare Bakke Hospital Rehabilitation Garden was to develop a more accessible and useful outdoor environment at the Unicare Bakke Rehabilitation Centre. The design process consisted of three steps: 1) surveying the outdoor environment from an environmental-psychological perspective and mapping the use, needs, and physical accessibility of the space from the perspectives of both patients and therapists, 2) developing and implementing actions in the outdoor environment, and 3) evaluating the project once it was installed. It continues to be a thriving space for physical rehabilitation.

Both the mapping and the development of actions were informed by evidence-based tools and theories from environmental psychology, including Anna Bengtsson’s four zones of contact with the outdoors, the personal preference theory, Supporting Environment Theory (SET), affordances, and the eight perceived sensory dimensions (PSDs). Other tools that were used to measure the project’s effectiveness were accessibility assessments and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) levels of function.

The overall main focus was to create more paved paths for people to walk or roll on, both to use in the rehabilitation but also for the patients to use on their own. Another important focus was to put furniture all around so that people can take a rest when they need or sit down for a chat with a friend or family.

The project allowed more patients, including those with severe impairments, to get outdoors, both with therapists and on their own. Unicare Bakke hopes that, in the long run, this will help people with various physical impairments continue their recovery at the rehabilitation centre and at home, achieving positive health outcomes from outdoor experiences and improving their quality of life.

Details

Lead Designer
Lotta Lundmark Alfredsson

Project Manager
Lotta Lundmark Alfredsson

Funders & Supporters
Extrastiftelsen

Total Cost
$50,000

Amenities & Services

Outdoor features of the Garden include:

A pergola that provides protection from rain and sun. Beneath the pergola are many different kinds of furniture where people can choose to sit or lie down.
A variety of paved paths where people can stroll.
Two fireplaces.
A large boule (lawn bowling) court.
Areas for accessible cultivation and gardening.
Areas for outdoor play and games.
Furniture sited every 20-30 meters along paths in the garden and elsewhere in the garden to enable patients to sit and rest at all points.

Contact Lotta Lundmark Alfredsson lotta@branak.se

Programs Offered

Weekly outdoor rehabilitation services provided on Wednesdays for all patients.
Green, nature-focused activities every two weeks for select patients.
Open access to the outdoor area for all patients.

Entrance Fees & Other Costs
No cost to patients and their families

An aerial view of the garden, with the multi-story Unicare Bakke hospital in the background. Groves of mature, leafy trees flank the vertical axes of the rehabilitation garden.

A staff member in a winter coat and hat is flipping Norwegian batter-based cakes on the outdoor fireplace. Three patients—one in a scooter, one in a wheelchair, and one standing—are in the background wearing winter coats and waiting to taste the delicious cakes.

Two suspended, lit fireplaces flank an open wooden garage where several people in winter coats are gathered. Some people are standing, while others are in wheelchairs. Scattered autumn leaves cover the pavement in front of the garage.

A large wooden pergola covers a central gathering place with several chairs, small tables, and a hammock. There are potted plants beneath the pergola and a view of flowers, trees, and water in the distance.

Gently curving paved paths, set amongst green grass and shade trees, are flat and level throughout the garden. Benches are placed around the garden, with water and hills visible in the distance.

An outdoor seating area under a tree with light and dark brown wooden furniture, including two tables and several benches. The furniture is surrounded by verdant trees and grass. A cloudy sky is visible in the distance.

A coloured sketch of the Unicare Bakke Hospital Rehabilitation Garden, including paths, shelter, gardens, and gathering spaces. The garden is designed with level, curved and straight paths, benches, and plantings, with a circular feature in the bottom left corner and a building indicated at the top.

Recent Case Studies

Four sticks are bound together by twine, creating a frame around pink-colored leaves and pink paper hearts that say “I LOVE YOU MOM” in a child’s handwriting.

Program

Bearfoot Occupational Therapy

Bearfoot Occupational Therapy provides nature-based pediatric occupational therapy that combines expert guidance with transformational sessions to unlock the best version of a child's most authentic self.

A large group of participants line up for a photo at the edge of a hill. They are all dressed in biking gear and have their arms thrown up in the air as a sign of triumph; some also have bikes by their sides. The background is a beautiful shot of a vast canyon, with rolling green hills that disappear far into the horizon. The clear sky overhead is lit up by a bright sun.

Program

The Cycle Effect - Building Belonging on Bikes

The Cycle Effect uses mountain biking as a catalyst to mentor riders and foster belonging, physical wellbeing, mental health, community engagement, leadership skills, and fun outside. The Cycle Effect provides bikes, gear, transportation, bilingual coaching, and low-cost programming to eliminate barriers to entry for an otherwise exclusive sport.

A young child is sitting on top of a horse with the support of three women. One woman is holding the reins, smiling warmly at the camera. The other two women stand beside the horse, helping the child in the saddle. The horse is brown with a white stripe down its muzzle.

Program

Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm

Iron Horse Therapeutic Farm is a multidimensional ADA accessible farm in Northern Colorado designed to provide excellence in occupational therapy and music therapy to children and adults with disabilities. We currently offer occupational therapy utilizing equine movement, farm-based therapy, and adaptive gardening with the opportunity to provide co-treatments with music therapy.