We are delighted that Ayrshire Hospice won Building Better Healthcare 2026 Silver Award for Best External Environment/Landscaping Project.

Congratulations to everyone involved. Read more on all the winners here.

The external environment was designed as an integral part of the hospice experience, transforming a disjointed, difficult to access site into therapeutic spaces that are fully accessible, enhance wellbeing, and provide a sympathetic outdoor setting for patients, families, staff and visitors to spend time and support the clinical role.

The landscape seamlessly connects internal clinical areas with arrival spaces, the cafe courtyard garden, private patient gardens, children’s and teenagers’ gardens, staff breakout areas and accessible routes to the wider communal gardens. Every element promotes dignity, independence, social interaction and emotional wellbeing while respecting privacy and responding sensitively to the hospice’s Conservation Area setting.

Unique Features

Recognising access to nature as a vital part of healthcare, the landscape extends clinical care beyond the building. Patients can experience the gardens directly or through views from bedrooms and shared spaces, creating a calm, restorative environment that feels welcoming rather than institutional.

Close collaboration between the client, clinical teams, estates staff, architects, engineers and landscape architects delivered a practical, high-quality design, within budget. Key features include:

• A series of spaces, and clinical areas with plenty of natural light, fresh air, and views to green spaces.
• Private gardens which can be accessed directly from patient bedrooms.
• A dedicated children’s and teenagers’ garden.
• A welcoming pedestrian forecourt separating vehicles from pedestrians and enhancing the setting of the facility.
• General communal gardens with raised planting beds and accessible walking routes.
• New planting integrated with mature vegetation to provide year-round sensory interest.

 

You can find more information on the project here: https://www.austinsmithlord.com/projects/ayrshire-hospice/

Austin-Smith:Lord Team
Graham Ross, Siobhan Vernon, Andrew McCafferty, Alexandros Veloudis, Neil Alexander, Omkar Deshmankar

Project Team
Client: Ayrshire Hospice
Architecture, Conservation, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture: Austin-Smith:Lord
Contractor: McLaughlin & Harvey
Structural Engineer: Struer
Services & Fire Engineer: Atelier Ten
Project Manager/Cost Consultant: Turner & Townsend
Planning Consultant: Porter Planning
Acoustics Consultant: New Acoustics
Photographer: Keith Hunter