Tōtara Haumaru is the newest building at North Shore Hospital in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, designed by Jasmax. At its heart is a 100-square-metre healing garden, designed by Outside In and funded by the Well Foundation. “Being in nature really helps how we feel, especially when we’re experiencing stress,” says Outside In creative director Ryan McQuery, “and it can improve how quickly we recover when we’re unwell.”

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Here: How did you want it to feel?

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Ryan McQuery: Hospitals can be busy and stressful environments. There are lots of white walls, bright lights, and shiny surfaces. With the garden, we could respect all those clinical elements but also bring nature into the centre of the hospital. Walking into it, you feel a sense of calm. There are spaces to sit down and relax in your own private pocket of greenery. Nature offers a comforting presence where you feel at ease.

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H: Tell us about Forest Form and how it works in this context.

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RM: Creating a garden in the centre of a hospital was an incredibly satisfying challenge. There are five Forest Forms of different sizes which form a curving walkway that invites you to experience the space. The Forest Forms are fully waterproofed, fireproofed and light weight. The entire project was funded by community donations (via the Well Foundation), so we designed them to be manufactured cost-effectively and locally. It was one of the ways we ensured this project was as sustainable as possible.

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H: What plants have you used, and how have you used them?

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RM: We wanted people to feel that they were walking through one of our majestic forests in Aotearoa. We used more than 500 plants and more than 15 different plant species including native plants where we could (many native plants don’t grow well indoors) and other indoor plants that resembled native New Zealand bush.

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The planting gives this incredibly lush, true-to-life experience of a forest. It feels like you are taking a journey through the bush, with sunlight cascading through trees overhead. At the canopy level, there are feature plants that soar two metres overhead. Trailing plants invite your touch. A mossy undergrowth adds a delicate earthy scent. To achieve our vision, we grew the plants for at least a year and a half before they were installed in Tōtara Haumaru.

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H: How does the garden help people who are staying in hospital?

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RM: There is compelling international research that shows how prioritising views of nature in healthcare environments improves patient recovery outcomes. In most hospitals, you’d have to go outside to try and find some greenery and that’s not realistic, or pleasant, for many patients.

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With the Healing Garden, everyone is surrounded by this awe-inspiring garden. It’s a warm, sheltered and fully accessible space that you can easily look at, experience, and enjoy. We hope it inspires others in New Zealand, and around the world, with what can be achieved.

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