A Facility with a Mission
Located in Islington, London, is a flagship mental healthcare facility developed by Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust as part of the wider St Pancras Transformation Programme.
The new facility responds to age-old challenges in mental healthcare delivery. The Lowther Road Integrated Community Care Centre was designed to:
- Improve access to mental health services in a community setting
- Integrate mental and physical healthcare
- Create a non-stigmatizing, visible, and welcoming environment
- Provide space for early intervention, outpatient care, and wellbeing activities
- Act as a hub for collaboration among clinical teams and support workers
Designing Out Stigma
The Lowther Road Centre addresses an issue that has plagued mental healthcare delivery for too long – Stigma.
Traditional design has tended to be institutional, clinical and hidden, thus alienating patients from the care and support of their communities.
The Lowther Road Integrated Community Care Centre aims to normalise treatment, create openness and connect services to the heart of the community.
This can be seen in the building’s street presence. It’s community café and smaller details like transparent facades also make mental health support more approachable.
Designing In Dignity
Lowther Road houses open, light-filled spaces giving patients access to natural light.
Soft colours have been carefully selected to remove clinical elements. Use of texture and soft furnishings help add comfort in waiting areas.
Green spaces such as the landscaped outdoor ‘pocket park’ and terraces create opportunities for patients to connect with the outdoors.
From Vision to Reality
Working with Ryder Architecture and Kier Group, Hygenius were responsible for providing fitted furniture.
It was crucial that our designs were part of the broader architectural and wellbeing strategy:
- Colour schemes aligned with the building’s floor-by-floor wayfinding system
- Materials and textures were chosen to complement the calming interior palette
- Modular and adaptable designs supported long-term flexibility in room use
We worked closely with clinical staff, architects and stakeholders to ensure that every furniture element helped create a non-stigmatizing and welcoming environment.
Lessons learnt from Lowther Road
- Visibility matters: Removing barriers between the facility and the community (e.g., transparent facades, public cafés) helps destigmatise mental health care.
- Early supplier involvement ensures that fit-out elements align with the overall project vision.
- Furniture is not just functional—when thoughtfully designed, it can actively support patient dignity, safety, and recovery.
Details that make the difference.
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