Stunning new sky garden planned for Children's Hospital

A spectacular sky garden is being planned for the new Children’s Hospital in Whitechapel, covering an enormous 525 square metres on the seventh floor. The Hospital is due to open in February 2012, and the iconic outdoor area will form an integral part of the design. A major donor is currently being sought for this rewarding long-term project, which will benefit thousands of children for many years to come.

Boasting views across Canary Wharf and beyond, the garden will be enjoyed all year round by the young patients at the hospital, including some of the most deprived children in the country. Around 40,000 seriously ill and injured young people will be treated at the hospital every year.

The sky garden will contain zones for individual relaxation, areas for clinical and play staff to carry out rehabilitation and stimulation, and an arena for events throughout the year. This essential resource will be the only outdoor space for long-term patients at the hospital.

A senior nurse at the Children’s Hospital commented: "This area will be so important for our brave young patients. For example, we care for a two and a half year old boy who has never been home, and lived in the hospital all his life. The sky garden will give him the chance to feel the wind and rain on his face. When the children are too ill to walk, we will be able to wheel their beds outside, as the children’s wards will be on the same floor."

An architect will be selected through an innovative design competition, run in collaboration with The Royal Institute of British Architects. A short list has been drawn up of eminent names from the world of design and architecture, and a judging panel will conduct the final interviews in 2011. A major donor supporting this project would be given the unique opportunity to sit on the judging panel to add their creative input.

A spokesperson for Barts and The London Charity said: “This will be a magical, playful space far removed from the traditional clinical environment. It will connect patients and visitors with nature, through sights, sounds and textures. This will be a valuable therapeutic area to help the recovery and treatment of very ill children, including trauma victims, Cystic Fibrosis patients, and those with sickle cell and gastro disorders. In addition, it will provide a sense of escape for children and their families who are likely to be going through an extremely stressful time."

"Without the support of a major donor this project will simply not get funded. Everyone at The Charity, and the staff at the hospital, have their fingers crossed that we’ll get the funding. Thousands of very ill children, and their families, will benefit enormously."