Maggie’s centre |oldham, UK|2017 - current

Maggie’s Centres Oldham by architects dRMM was opened in June 2017. The garden sits four meters below the building and offers an element of surprise; as you enter the centre, you find yourself floating amongst trees. Maggie’s Centres offer care and support for people living with cancer.

In conversation with Monty, gardener at Maggie’s Oldham

Spring at maggie’s 2020. A garden evolving

Gardens are always evolving; once we’ve finished a project, we like to stay involved to guide its development. For example, we completed the garden for Maggie's Centre Oldham in 2017, but continue to communicate regularly with Monty, the Centre's gardener, via WhatsApp and video calls.

The greenhouse has been a particular success. Monty has used it to grow scented sweet-peas which have been brought into the centre, contributing to the personal, non-clinical feel the charity is renowned for. Monty has also packed the greenhouse with seedlings, including squash, tomatoes, peppers, basil and runner beans, with the eventual aim of creating dishes that can be served up in the kitchen. Perhaps most importantly, though, the greenhouse has encouraged men living with cancer to come to the centre. It provides a space for them to come and sit or tend to the plants, without having to sit down and ‘talk’ in a formal way.

About maggie’s centre, oldham

PlACE

Maggie’s Oldham is situated at The Royal Oldham Hospital, in the North of England. The garden site is steeply sloping over a drop of 4 meters. The striking ridge of the Pennine mountains, also known as the spin of England can be seen from the centre.

BRIEF

Maggie’s is the antithesis of a hospital environment. Beautifully detailed and crafted buildings and gardens create a healing atmosphere for those living with cancer. A place to meet, talk and regain strength. A place of serenity, a sanctuary in a storm.

DESIGN

The trees have been carefully placed to surround the timber building, but also rise up through its structure. The curving light-well is filled with a mature tree symbolising life. They form a ‘wood’ which provides privacy and also creates a strong connection to the seasons.

The challenge was to respond to the wooded landscape and ‘treehouse’ concept; defining the composition and materials of the garden. Painting the garden setting with colour, texture and all scales of planting inspirited by the nearby Pennine Mountains. The garden translates panorama to miniature. A Pennine landscape of river washed rocks, thin top soil, bogs and groups of windswept trees.

As the building ‘floats’ above the garden it acts to frame the garden views, the scene of planted nature becomes a pictorial composition. Less contrived and more gestural planting capturing that wild quality of the Pennine Mountains and the inward breath you take when looking out over an enormous view.