Curved lines, cosy vibes

Grovve and the revamped Chat are among the venues whose designs aim to better support young people in a range of often-invisible needs

- Venessa Lee Senior Correspondent

Designing spaces for youth mental health or special needs is taking off in Singapore.

In the last two years, several such venues have been built or renovated.

Choosing designs with curved lines, decompression areas and soft furnishings is intended to better support a range of often-invisible needs, in part by reducing sensory overload. Emphasis is placed on reducing stigma and encouraging help-seeking when it comes to mental health. Experts add that embracing inclusivity is also a priority.

On the fourth floor of the *Scape building in Orchard Road, grovve, a wellness space for young people, will officially open on Nov 1, catering to those aged 13 to 25, as well as their caregivers. An initiative of the National Council of Social Service, grovve is open to the public.

Next to grovve and linked by a connecting door is Chat - Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health, which caters to people aged 16 to 30.

It was established by the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) in 2009. Chat, formerly located on the fifth storey of *Scape, relocated to the fourth level in October 2023, unveiling a new look based on user feedback.

*Scape will be relaunched in November with more dedicated spaces for young people, including dance spaces and cafes. Set up in 2007, the youth-centric hub in Orchard Link has been revamped in recent years as part of the rejuvenation of the Somerset Belt.

Occupying 720 sq m, grovve is designed with a “no wrong door” concept to make it “welcoming and non-stigmatising”, says Mr Lee Seng Meng, 45, executive director at Shine Children & Youth Services, a leading social service agency at grovve.