Co-creation of an accessible experiential garden for physical and mental well-being.

Commissioned by the Middelheim Museum, a participatory design process is set up with children and young patients from the adjacent psychiatric institution. The objective is to design a new experience garden with end users, aimed at the physical and mental recovery of patients and contributes to a greater quality of life for visitors and neighbors of the Middelheim Museum in general. The terrain will be redesigned, with the aim of working interactively, and to focus on both physical and mental mobility. In addition to a landscape intervention, artistic interventions are also planned for which artists develop a welcoming and beneficial environment together with the patients and various experts.

The end result is a total experience garden, which invites movement and sensory experiences, but also reflection and dialogue. The idea behind BYPASS stems from scientific medical and urban planning research that shows that a quality environment contributes to a better physical and mental recovery of patients, and contributes to a greater quality of life for city citizens in general. In addition to a new high-quality public accommodation space, this innovative project also maximizes the use of a unique co-creation process, with interesting learning opportunities, and a sustainable contribution to local, regional and international policy visions on care, healthy living, green and water management.