The Birmingham VA Medical Clinic Respite Garden was designed to create a therapeutic outdoor space that met the needs stated by the Director and the requirements set forth by the VA and LEED Healthcare design manuals. The Respite Garden provides a place for individuals or families looking to separate themselves from the often taxing environment inside the clinic and connect with the natural environment. Views through the windows provide for those in patient rooms as well as in seating areas to have the opportunity to benefit from exposure to the garden.  For employees, a separate space provides an opportunity to relax and relieve stress. The opportunity for staff to relax in the garden increases productivity and reduces medical error. Both benefits are documented in multiple case studies on exposure to nature in the healthcare environment. 

The landscape architect's roles in the project included hardscape design and detailing, landscape and irrigation design, grading coordination and construction oversight. To accomplish the objectives established for the garden, separate rooms were created within the linear space with various seating types and opportunities. Seating and gathering spaces were incorporated that accommodated for both individuals looking for the ability to sit alone and groups looking to gather and sit with one another. Calling on the historical structures that once stood on the site, the design of seat walls throughout the site and building facades fronting the garden incorporated decorative stone blocks harvested during demolition of the old buildings. Each space makes use of differing plants, forms, and textures to create varying instances of exposure to changing sun and shade patterns. These elements together produce ephemeral conditions unique to each visit to the garden.