Spaces that enable healing - gallery

Maggie's create places that support people with cancer. Each one is distinctive and aims to be a place where people feel valued, safe and able to take their time as they deal with cancer diagnosis. Maggie’s Swansea, opened in 2011, was designed by Kisho Kurokawa. He described the spiralling arms of the centre as acting as devices to "welcome the visitor and lead [them] to the other side, which embraces nature, the trees, rocks and water". A glass roof at the centre of the building further enhances the sense of connection by providing unimpeded views of the sky. Photograph: PR

The kitchen at Maggie’s Dundee. The centre opened in 2003 and was designed by Frank Gehry. The kitchen table sits at the heart of every Maggie’s centre and aims to create a space where users can connect with others going through a similar experience. Photograph: PR

Inside Maggie’s Gartnavel. The centre opened in 2011 and was designed by Rem Koolhaas. Home-like spaces provide a place to absorb the information that people are inevitably bombarded with and help to relieve some of the distress of having cancer. Photograph: PR

Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital, designed by Bates Smart & Billard Leece Partnership, is set within Royal Park, is a state-of-the-art facility designed around a family-centred care model, promoting a restorative and healing environment for children and their families. Photograph: John Gollings/PR

Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne: breakout area with parkland views. The natural textures, forms and colours of the surrounding parkland inform the design. Photograph: Shannon McGrath/PR

The therapeutic benefits of nature in the healing process underpin the overall design approach of the Royal Children’s Hospital. The design story is derived from the forms and colours of the natural world to form an enriching and restorative environment. Photograph: Shannon McGrath/PR

A patient room at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital. The interior design approach was born from the basic premise that nature and art can assist children to heal quicker, as well as providing a better environment for staff and visitors. Photograph: Shannon McGrath/PR

Engineered by Arup and opened in April 2012, the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre redefines the way patients are treated. Spread over six floors, including a state-of-the-art surgery, imaging and diagnostic facilities, the building has been designed around the needs of patients with more focus on well-being, rehabilitation, and cancer survival. As well as a therapeutic environment for patients and their families, the clinic also provides staff with a welcoming, engaging place to work. Photograph: John Gollings/PR

The new cancer treatment centre at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital, engineered by Arup, in London uses innovative ventilation and temperature control to create the most comfortable environment for patients, particularly those experiencing chemotherapy, where the body’s temperature can vary considerably. Photograph: PR