The Safe Space Garden

The Safe Space Garden provides a nourishing and inclusive space to support victims of crime and trauma on their healing journey and to encourage them to take their first tentative steps back into the wider world. The garden is supported by Victim Support, the UK’s largest charity supporting people impacted by crime.

The garden is based around three steel arches that provide refuge and a space to reflect and heal, or a space to sit and talk through feelings with others, enveloping the user to promote feelings of safety and to tackle the sense of isolation felt by many victims.

The perimeter of the garden is made up of wooden ‘privacy pillars’ that allow visitors to feel safe and enclosed whilst also offering glimpses of the wider world beyond, a place they may still need support and confidence to fully engage with again. The planting and use of water in the garden is textural, rhythmic, soothing and immersive, encouraging visitors to stop and engage with their senses.
 

At a glance:

Who is this garden for?
A garden for victims of crime based within a victim support centre.
Where is the garden set?  
England
Who or what is the design inspiration?
The design was inspired by the simple ethos of supporting victims through their rehabilitative journey, empowering victims to move forwards, beyond the trauma they have experienced.

Key sustainability points

• All efforts have been made to avoid the use of concrete in the build: all ground level materials are permeable and naturally free draining, border treatments (privacy pillars) are secured using a timber sub structure, all stone setts are affixed using sharp sand and lime and all metal structures attached to sunken metal sub-bases.
• Local suppliers used to reduce corbon emmissions.

Relocation and repurpose

The garden will be permanently relocated to a Victims Support centre, so that it can be used to support victims of crime.