A Therapeutic Approach to Custodial Design
An article by David Gardner, Design Director Holmes Miller
The Scottish Prison Service recently partnered with Holmes Miller architects to design and build a groundbreaking new facility for women in custody in Scotland on its existing Cornton Vale site in Stirling, central Scotland. Deeply rooted in the surrounding landscape, with a real focus on wellbeing and therapeutic design, the new facility aims to provide a trauma informed and gender specific facility which will nurture and rehabilitate its occupiers.
Introduction
The issues around the housing of women in custody in Scotland, particularly the old HMP Cornton Vale prison in Stirling, have been much publicised. This has formed the basis over the last decade of a requirement to comprehensively rethink how prisons are designed for the female population. Much of the existing accommodation, which was austere in nature designed around security, control, and technical restrictions, had been deemed not fit for purpose. It had also been designed based on male characteristics which were inappropriate for female use. This in turn was having a severe negative impact on the behavioural patterns and mental health of its occupants who are generally an extremely vulnerable section of society in the UK.
Working with Holmes Miller Architects, The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) embarked on an ambitious project to create a world leading custodial facility for women. This new project places therapeutic and gender informed design at the forefront and is a significant departure from traditional custodial design. The new facility, designed to be people orientated and person centred, meeting the requirements of 100 occupants, comprises: 2 main accommodation buildings, a dedicated assessment centre, central hub and ‘front of house’ entrance building, along with purpose designed retreat and animal care facilities. Phase 1 was completed and handed over in June 2023, with the remainder to be completed in early 2025.
Working closely with the Client team – a radical departure from previous facilities
From the very beginning, SPS identified a need to completely rethink the design approach for what was then named the Women’s National Facility, along with its associated open Community Custody Unit projects. From the outset there was a requirement for real innovation, creativity, and a departure from traditional custodial design. This however had to be balanced with operational, safety and security requirements. The focus was on a therapeutic, trauma informed and gender specific design that supports people through their relationship with its context and service.
Leading the development of this initial stage, SPS Architect Ian Smith provided strategic brief development working with Holmes Miller and the HMP Cornton Vale user groups. This process, which included motivational talks around thinking differently, was very much focused on finding the optimum solution – without any pre-conceived ideas based on past experience of how the final design solution should be configured. This allowed SPS and ourselves to debate and solutionise every aspect of the evolving brief in detail.
The journey was very much a significant change of ethos for all involved. It included a multitude of corporate and external stakeholder steps and formal stages, including many and varied consultations. It also greatly benefited from informative and positive support via significant energy, effort, and loyalty of the whole team throughout.
Creating functional, safe, and similar spaces to support wellbeing
SPS and the design team took the fundamental approach to create an environment within a new facility that strived to achieve a series of similar and balanced spaces, which will benefit the occupant’s mental health and wellbeing. This in turn should allow all people who occupy the buildings, whether short term, long term, or on remand, a sense of being treated and provided for equally - with very similar, functional, safe, and relaxing spaces. This ethos of equality exists internally, externally, environmentally, and contextually. Aligned to this is the view that being in custody is only temporary, and that where and what you are will have an effect on you when you leave.
The arrangement of the houses containing bedroom and living accommodation is where this approach is most evident. A key design driver was to ensure that all bedrooms had as far as possible an equality of view to the landscape to the west of the site. This dictated a single aspect house arrangement with bedrooms to one side of each house. The staggered wing arrangement of each house, set in a radial plan around the central garden ensured all bedroom windows were aligned to face the landscape. This staggered arrangement also allowed for natural light to be fed to the dual aspect living spaces, between bedroom wings.
With every Custodial project there is a fine balance between the privacy of those in custody and the requirement for supervision by staff, either physically or through use of technology. Great care was taken within this project to ensure that first and foremost spaces were designed with consideration given to the Women’s wellbeing, and how they provide choices depending on mood, interaction, or the need for personal space. As a result, the layouts were carefully planned to ensure discrete, passive supervision from informal staff touch down points, in lieu of the more traditional control desks and staff offices.
The houses themselves are broken down into a series of small, 6 – 10 bedroom wings with separate, defined main living spaces. Several smaller rooms off these living spaces provide for more intimate use - from TV and dining to fitness and contemplation spaces, all with direct views to dedicated garden spaces. This inherent flexibility ensures all the occupants have a range of choice in response to their particular needs.
Care was also taken to create relaxing spaces throughout the wider establishment, and to create destination choices such as going to the dining hall, library, sports or hairdressers. This normality helps to reduce stress and poor wellness associated with being in custody, giving the women opportunities to positively occupy their time. It also offers direction and routine that can be individual or group based. All of these elements which are part of normal everyday life create a sense of purpose and meaning to the women.
How the concept of transparency assists in the user journey
Traditionally, within previously built prison establishments, the journey from court to prison culminates in being brough by secure transport to a solid steel door in a faceless façade – the ‘Prisoner Reception’. At this point begins an incredibly stressful experience of being searched, all belongings recorded and taken to storage, and any medical examinations deemed necessary being carried out - all in a series of internalised, heavily controlled, and clinical accommodation. This life changing experience can be an incredibly, and arguably unnecessarily disorientating and anxiety-filled process. It offers no re-assurance of what lies ahead.
At HMP & YOI Stirling this process, and specifically how the design of the building is considered, has been turned on its head. Working closely with Ian Smith of SPS, who drove the initial concept for this area, the idea of creating an open, transparent strategy was explored from the outset. Large areas of glazing can offer views through the building to purpose designed landscaped garden spaces on arrival, and from within waiting areas. This transparency and means of orientation, where views of the houses beyond are visible within the landscape, offers real assurance to the women on arrival - during what is an incredibly vulnerable starting point in their time spent in custody.
In taking this concept of transparency further, Holmes Miller designed every building within the new facility with fully glazed ‘through and through’ entrances, with a series of features in landscaped courtyards and gardens beyond. These are strategically placed to create focal point views and relationships on entering. In the front of house entrance building for example, visitors can experience the flowing landscape through double height glazing, visually linking the entrance plaza and the landscaped courtyard beyond. This arrangement allows for a clear and welcoming journey experience for all users.
Maximising the potential of the site – the role of the landscape
The site is located within a truly stunning landscape, forming part of a landscape belt immediately to the north of Stirling, and south of Bridge of Allan. The natural landscape context of the Ochil Hills and Forth Valley is complimented by the historic features of Stirling Castle to the south and Wallace Monument to the east. The quality of the surrounding environment therefore plays a big role in creating a design fully embedded in the adjacent landscape, with biophilic and therapeutic design as a core concept. Wildlife also has a part to play in this context. On early site visits the team observed birds in their riverside habitat adjacent to the site, which sparked a sense of how nature, landscape, and people can positively affect each other.
A conceptual narrative was developed with SPS around geology and the flow of the River Forth through the valley - an axial route from the Ochil Hills to the east, flowing through the site, and through the Forth Valley and beyond to the west. This theme was directly linked to the transparency concept for each building, with a series of heavily glazed ‘Pavilions’ expressed as feature elements of each building. These pavilions linked a series of external landscaped spaces from the more public entrance plaza, through central courtyard and garden spaces, and on to the more private views to the rural landscape beyond from the houses. At every point within the journey of the occupant, whether that be women, staff or visitors, the external landscape plays a central role.
Externally this approach was extended to the secure perimeter fence. In contrast to other custodial facilities it has a green coloured coating, dramatically softening its appearance against the surrounding landscape. The impact of such a simple move is particularly felt from within the bedroom spaces, where the secure fence blends seamlessly with the trees and hills beyond.
There are dedicated, semi-secure garden spaces within the 4 individual houses, surrounded by mature hedging to provide appropriate levels of privacy for the occupants. These gardens work as a series of outdoor rooms, are located immediately adjacent to central internal social spaces, and allow for a degree of passively controlled autonomy. Outside these private gardens, the central gardens provide walking routes and various leisure and social activities to encourage active participation.
The importance of sensitive Interior Design
While there are a range of size and types of accommodation within HMP & YOI Stirling, from individual private bedrooms to communal dining and library spaces, the main goal throughout the design process was to achieve a domestic nature - with a scale and sense of space that is familiar and comfortable to its occupants. The single storey approach, a decision taken at early stage by SPS, greatly assists in this overall feeling of scale internally. It has also allowed us to maximise the amount of daylight via rooflights within key spaces.
Another important strategic approach was the use of timber doors throughout. Traditionally, given the security requirements associated with custodial facilities, metal high security door sets would be required. In this case however, given the female occupant group, a timber door solution was heavily researched. Working at early design stage with SPS and Safehinge Primera, a timber solution that balanced the security needs with a domestic aesthetic was realised. This single approach is successful in providing a meaningful contribution to the overall look and feel of the house buildings.
Beyond the doors, the bedroom spaces themselves were subject to an intensive design exercise, led by SPS. Timber wall finishes with integrated feature lighting and a warm floor material palette help to create a homely environment - whilst a large format window with a low cill incorporating a reading seat creating a generous visual link to the wildflower gardens and distant landscape.
Throughout all the main social spaces a combination of timber wall linings and landscape-based wall graphics help to further strengthen this link from inside to out. A variety of natural, flower 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 1,000sqm 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 carparks, 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, whilst an animal care and educational gardening facility will also provide facilities 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. The facility includes 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 whilst taking in views of the surrounding landscape.
Demonstrating positive impacts on Women in custody and Staff
Since it’s opening in June 2023, feedback from staff who work within the new facility has been very positive. Whilst it is 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 whist 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 contributes to better outcomes for those in custody. Staff have observed positive relationships being formed amongst the women within these smaller groups, whilst the range of spaces and facilities allow 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 to the old facility. Women are now able to relocate to smaller, quiet spaces, assisting in reducing stress and anxiety.
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.
Whilst 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.
