Building the First Nordic Therapy Garden in Ukraine — to Heal Mental Trauma & PTSD
One of the craziest and most inspiring projects of my professional career is essentially complete. On 27 June, 2024 we held the official opening of the first trauma-informed Nordic Therapy Garden in Ukraine, on a forested terrain next to one of Europe’s largest psychiatric hospitals: Pavlov Hospital in Kyiv. We call it Сад відновлення in Ukrainian — restorative garden. Against all the odds we pulled it off: transforming 4500 m2 of landscape into a trauma informed therapy garden over an intense period of only eleven weeks. A small team including me, young passionate Ukrainian architects and a professional landscape architecture bureau — L Design.
Ukraine faces countless challenges because of the full invasion by russia* that started in February 2022. One of them is the growing public health crisis due to mental trauma and/or PTSD, which is exacerbated by the lack of preparedness in the country to tackle it. The country is on the verge of a veritable epidemic.
An untold number of civilians facing bombardments in their cities and towns as well as veterans returning from the war are suffering from various degrees of mental trauma. Domestic abuse cases are rising rapidly, too, which cements the fact that mental trauma affects others than the patient themself.
In a conversation with a friend back in September 2023 I discovered that the concept of Nordic therapy gardens as healing spaces for mental trauma is relatively unknown outside of Denmark and Sweden. Despite the fact that scientific research over the past fifteen or so years had firmly established the evidence-based benefits of such spaces in those countries. Indeed, countless Danish cities and towns now have therapy gardens for citizens because of the proof of concept.
My work usually revolves around urban design but I decided to embark on a journey to bring these therapeutic green spaces to Ukraine. I am driven by my profound belief in the healing power of nature, as well as the power of design. The Nordic Therapy Garden project is my response to the mental health crisis exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and I hope to provide a holistic, supportive environment for the countless number of Ukrainians suffering from trauma and PTSD.
Addressing the Mental Health Crisis
The need for mental health support in Ukraine is immense. The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread trauma, with many individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Traditional mental health services are often overwhelmed and, compared to other European countries, often focus on overmedicating patients. Domestic abuse rates are also rising fast. There is a pressing need for alternative forms of support.
Therapy gardens offer a unique solution to this crisis. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to nature can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance overall mental health. By providing a peaceful and nurturing environment, these gardens can help individuals process their trauma and find a sense of peace amidst the chaos.
In this Nordic therapy garden we have designed for three levels of mental trauma and PTSD. Isolated spots for those most severely affected, spots that encourage a patient who is now more open to communication with a caregiver, friend or family member to engage in conversation and a more communal area for group therapy and activities like garden therapy for those whose mind has started to reconnect with their body.
In addition there is a circular pathway (one-way) for those who wish to walk and there is an area inspired by the German Trimm dich pfad concept of having simple physical activities in the forest.
All the principles of trauma informed design and trauma sensitive design were employed.
The Vision Behind the Nordic Therapy Garden
An intense period of eleven weeks followed two months of acquiring permissions and planning the design of the landscape. On 13 April, 2024 we held the first “toloka” weekend — a Ukrainian word for volunteer work days. When a building is destroyed by a missile strike, volunteers invariably show up to clear the rubble — and tolokas are also organised to rebuild buildings and for tactical urbanism projects.
We appealed for volunteers through Instagram to come and help us clear the terrain of dead wood and garbage. I was hoping for 50 people each day on that first toloka weekend. I was astounded when 500 people answered the call — 300 on the Saturday and 200 on the Sunday. Cleaning up after a missile strike is one thing but I soon realised how intuitive building a trauma informed therapy garden was among regular citizens. Ukrainians are well aware of the serious issue of mental trauma and PTSD.
Every weekend for the following eleven weeks, volunteers continued to show up to help. Around 1000 of them had a hand in building our healing garden. Working with them all has been one of the most inspiring experiences in my professional life. Fight like Ukrainians, yes. But we can all learn to volunteer like them, as well. They work so incredibly hard.
The healing properties of gardens have been documented for two thousand years. The Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius wrote about the therapeutic benefits of gardens in his legendary work from the 1st century CE — De architectura.
Now, our scientific understanding of the mental health benefits derived from green spaces has been advancing significantly over the past few decades. Therapy — or sensory — gardens are now widely accepted as a form of medicine, proven to reduce stress levels in users and many are in place around the world, usually in close proximity to hospitals.
The research and pilot projects in Denmark and Sweden took our understanding of the healing benefits of nature to the next level. Let me be clear: I stand on the strong shoulders of all the researchers who did the hard, visionary work in establishing the science of these trauma informed gardens and of Evidence-based health design in landscape architecture (EBHDL). Thanks to them we now know that nature — with the right design interventions — can actually heal mental trauma and PTSD — and not just reduce stress.
Therapy gardens are not a singular solution but they are a massive step in the right direction. Not least because like in many cultures, talking about mental health is still a taboo. Legitimising the conversation by designing and building therapy gardens in Ukraine is also a positive aspect to the projects because it will create important dialogue as well as providing concrete, nature-based healing.
In addition, it was incredibly important to me to adhere to strict guidelines for general Scandinavian sustainable design. All the human garbage that we collected was removed — including 260 tons from a decades-old garbage dump that we discovered on the hillside. All the natural elements — basically every stick of wood — remained on the site and much of it was repurposed in building the design elements, especially the natural fence on the perimeter.
The garden emphasises simplicity, functionality, and a deep connection with nature. My goal is to create a space that feels safe and welcoming, offering a respite from the daily stresses and the horrors of war and hopefully doing what it is designed for: healing.
A Collaborative Effort
The success of the Nordic Therapy Garden relied on a collaboration with various stakeholders, including local governments, healthcare providers, companies and cultural organisations. It was made possible by the generous financial support of The Danish Cultural Institute, House of Europe (EU programme), JYSK Ukraine, Rotary Club Kyiv Sophia and Bratislava, the German/Swiss human rights organisation Libereco.org, as well as crowdfunding in Ukraine and internationally.
Companies like Husqvarna Ukraine and Dnipro M provided sponsored tools. The Danish Embassy in Kyiv, the Director of Pavlova Hospital and the Member of Parliament for the Podilsky District Anna Bondar were invaluable with their undying support for the project.
But it was the constant and impressive volunteer army who showed up to help build the garden that made this project possible in only eleven weeks.
Evidence-based health design in landscape architecture
Evidence-based health design in landscape architecture (EBHDL) integrates scientific research and empirical evidence into the creation of outdoor spaces that promote health and well-being. This approach involves studying how specific landscape features, such as plant species, water elements, and spatial layouts, impact physical, mental, and emotional health. By utilising data from clinical studies, psychological research, and environmental science, landscape architects in Denmark and Sweden have designed environments that reduce stress, improve mood, enhance physical activity, and foster social interaction. As well as going to the next level: actually healing mental trauma and PTSD.
Central to evidence-based health design is the understanding that natural environments have measurable health benefits. For instance, exposure to green spaces has been shown to lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost immune function. Therapeutic landscapes, such as healing gardens in hospitals or urban parks designed for mental respite, are created with these principles in mind. This design methodology ensures that every element within a landscape contributes to the overall health of its users, making spaces not only aesthetically pleasing but also functionally beneficial to human health.
The established science from Denmark and Sweden focused on stress but also involved focusing on veterans with PTSD. In our research for this project we interviewed many veterans about their needs and experiences in war and it was clear that the type of war being fought in Ukraine added various aspects to the design. The proliferation of drone warfare, for example, created the need for some design considerations. Patients severely affected by PTSD and who might experience paranoia might want either open skies above them — or a closed roof — depending on their personal state.
Expanding the Initiative
Now that this pilot project/showcase in Kyiv is completed, it is my hope that mental health professionals and landscape architects from other Ukrainian cities will come and learn about how the gardens work, why they are important and how to design and build them. Each garden will be tailored to the specific needs and conditions of its location, ensuring that it provides the maximum benefit to its users.
The expansion of this initiative is about more than just creating green spaces; it is about fostering a culture of healing and resilience. By involving local communities in the creation and maintenance of these gardens, I hope that individuals are empowered and they possess a sense of ownership and pride in their surroundings.
Looking Ahead
The Nordic Therapy Gardens project represents a powerful example of how innovative thinking and a commitment to holistic well-being can make a difference in times of crisis. By transforming green spaces into havens of tranquillity and healing, this initiative offers a beacon of hope for those affected by the war in Ukraine.
As the project progresses, we will undoubtedly face challenges, from securing funding to navigating bureaucratic hurdles. However, the dedication and passion of those involved, coupled with the proven benefits of nature-based therapy, will provide a strong foundation for success.
In a world where the scars of war run deep, initiatives like the Nordic Therapy Gardens remind us of the resilience of the human spirit and the healing power of nature. By creating spaces where individuals can reconnect with themselves and the world around them, this project offers a pathway to recovery and a brighter future for Ukraine.
The fight for freedom continues, as it must. But I think it’s okay to start the healing.
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*it is common practice in Ukraine to avoid capital letters when writing the name of the invading nation
