The Madejski Garden/Courtyard of the Victoria and Albert museum is a revitalizing refuge in the middle of London, a haven where both Londoners and visitors can restock their mental energy after focusing on some cognitive task—whether that’s figuring out what the next ad slogan should be for a toothpaste or determining how to get their two year old to eat vegetables, any vegetables. Being located in the middle of a museum is a real boon; research has shown that visiting a museum is itself a restorative experience. The courtyard is outdoors (visitors get to experience as much sunlight as London can possibly provide) and sheltered on all sides from challenging winds. The surrounding structures also help keep some of the visual and audio unpleasantness of London at bay. The vegetation, especially the large green leafy plants in pots, and the curving, gently flowing water feature make the space particularly refreshing and curious visitors have an opportunity to explore the “pond” in the middle of the space by venturing into it on stepping stones. The pond structure creates the sort of prospect and refuge experience that humans particularly prize and find comfortable—when there’s prospect and refuge we feel safe (for example, because we’re beside a protective vertical panel or under a roof), but have a view out over the nearby world. People can choose to customize their experience by not only traveling “onto” the water or not, but also by moving furniture, ordering favorite foods from the concession stand, reading or not as they sit, and otherwise running their own lives. Research tells us over and over again that having a comfortable level of control makes us feel tremendously comfortable and relaxed. Next time you’re in London, visit the Madejski Garden/Courtyard—no matter how mentally and physically stressed you feel when you enter, you’ll feel better when you leave.
Madejski Garden/Courtyard
VAndACourtyard
Image Credit
Sally Augustin
Expecting the Full Story?
Log in or check you subscription status.