Women's Custodial & Rehabilitation Centre
Izabela Wesolowska
Norwich University of the Arts
This project proposes a rehabilitative Category C women’s prison within St James Mill in Norwich, reimagining the custodial environment as a place of care, growth and social reintegration rather than punishment alone. It responds to the high rates of reoffending among women and the specific pressures they face in the criminal justice system, placing dignity, autonomy and connection at the centre of the design. Set within the historic fabric of St James Mill, the design adapts the existing structure to create a series of interconnected spaces that support rehabilitation through routine, education and meaningful activities. Easily accessible workshops offering skill-building in crafts, textiles and vocational trades form a central element of the design to encourage participation and build confidence. Educational facilities are integrated throughout the scheme, ranging from classrooms and digital learning to informal study spaces, providing calm, flexible environments for education and supporting a range of learning styles. A key feature of the proposal is the inclusion of dedicated mother and baby units which provide a safe, nurturing environment where women can maintain and develop early bonds with their children. Designed with a domestic scale, they offer privacy while remaining connected to the wider community of the prison. Material choices, natural light and spatial sequencing are used throughout to soften the institutional character typically associated with prisons. Overall, the project treats rehabilitation as something shaped by everyday spatial experience as much as by formal programmes, supporting women to develop skills and stability for life beyond the prison.