The Psychiatric Hospital in Salmaniya has been given a new lease of life with the addition of art installations and a sport centre aimed at keeping patients on the path to recovery and ensuring family and friends are fully supported during visiting hours.
Philanthropic Arwa Sayyar, Sana Qamber and Ghada AlSayyed are thrilled to see their dream of improving facilities finally coming to fruition.
The improvements will officially unveiled to the public on November 17 with a ceremony in the presence of donors, medical students, artists and volunteers.
“This was much needed in our opinion,” said Ms Sayyar, a salon owner and director of Sayyar Trading Agencies. “We wanted to offer psychiatric patients a place to relax in a calming environment and enjoy the beautiful scenery, as well as exercise, as we believe all these elements are essential to a recovery and well-being.”
The centre, which cost approximately BD500,000 and was completed in February this year, features a large sports hall that can double as a basketball court and indoor football pitch, a gym, an array of amenities, a majlis alongside a library and a cafe.
The walls are covered in colourful artwork and there is an outdoor area boasting mosaic installations and shaded seating.
Art Reach Bahrain, a non-profit group made up of artists and designers that pretty up public areas of Bahrain with their inspirational installations, was sponsored by the women to beautify the outdoors area, while graffiti artist Mustafa Halwachi painted a mural across the centre.
“Our goal was to create an outdoor space that was tranquil and welcoming for residents, visitors and hospital staff that also complemented Mustafa’s artwork,” said Lena Dajani, Art Reach Bahrain’s programme director. She worked closely with her co-director Bodour Yaqoub and designer Katarina Kovacev on the project.
“The outdoor seating area is a central space in the hospital’s grounds and a focal point when you enter,” she added. “We wanted to separate the seating area from the adjacent parking lot by combining mosaic murals with landscaping.
Design
“Floral mosaics are an obvious design choice for any garden and have an added advantage that they are maintenance-free and colourful in all seasons!”
Old cylindrical planters randomly situated and used as trashcans in the area were grouped and turned into pretty planters placed at the entrance. They were transformed into sculptural features using glass tesserae tiles. For the wall murals, they chose ceramic tiles to match Mustafa’s floral theme.
Twenty volunteers contributed to the artwork from their homes or in Art Reach Bahrain’s studio, which is sponsored by Harbour Gate. Five masons also helped with the installation on site.
“The planters were particularly special because of the many artistic hands and unique styles that joined together so beautifully,” said Ms Dajani. “It’s important to create positive experiences for patients and their families visiting the Psychiatric Hospital.”
Their designs and the centre have already made a positive impression on Year Four Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland – Medical University of Bahrain medical students, Ahmed Dailimi, Mira Alabadla and Mahdi Mahdi.
“It’s such a beautiful place,” said Mr Dailimi, 22, from Saar. “Many patients here were complaining that there wasn’t a proper gym or place where they could exercise. This will be good for them.”
Mr Mahdi added that patients had also appealed for a safe place to walk around, and Ms Alabadla believes the green space will benefit their overall health and well-being.
Further upgrades to the project remain to be completed as part of the ongoing initiative. “We will work on landscaping the whole area, perhaps create a footpath or walking area around the complex and we will be painting the inside of the patient ward in the Al Ghazzali building,” added Ms Sayyar. “This will continue.”
The modernisation concept started in 2017 with the idea of beautifying the garden and grounds of Bahrain’s Psychiatric Hospital, Child & Adolescent Unit with Art Reach Bahrain’s artwork.
“The project is near and dear to my heart as my son, who is now 30, has bipolar disorder, and I wanted to upgrade the complex for others to benefit from and enjoy,” Ms Sayyar said.
“The Health Ministry provided us with a piece of land on the campus grounds to do that and, thanks to a series of fundraising events and generous donations from supporters, we were able to develop spaces for people to appreciate. I believe with our upgrades, it will truly benefit patients.”
mai.alkhatib@gulfweekly.com
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