GSP Group provided land use planning (Zoning By-law Amendment) and landscape architecture services for the new Hospice Waterloo Region facility. The design philosophy for the Hospice landscape embraces the outdoors as a place of meditation, ceremony and memorial. The team chose plant species that would add elements of textures, colours, aromas, and patterns to create outdoor interactive spaces centered around healing.
A contemplative courtyard comprises reflecting water and garden with varying textures of green and perennials blooming in sequence. The selected species are native to Ontario with a Hearts of Gold Redbud located at the garden’s focal point. This tree blooms in early May before the heart-shaped leaves emerge. New leaves unfold yellow and eventually change to green. Fall colour is golden yellow with interesting branch architecture through the winter.
The design of the outdoor spaces around the hospice building are reflective of a safe, healing environment that is available to friends and family of hospice residents. Creating these meaningful, easily accessible spaces can help bring the healing attributes of nature to those that need it most.