ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Restoring dignity to the healing journey
Stephen Watson, Principal, Architecture, at Hassell, discusses the thinking and feedback that informed the design of the 64-bedded Acute Mental Health Unit in Ipswich, Queensland, in Australia, which was Highly Commended in the Project of the Year – New Build International category at the 2024 Design in Mental Health Awards in June. The project delivers the first stage of an ambitious 15-year masterplan to redevelop and expand the Ipswich Hospital campus.
The new Acute Mental Health Unit in Ipswich, Queensland, in Australia, designed by Hassell, builds on a foundation of healing to create an environment that nurtures wellbeing and mindfulness. The architecture, interior design, and landscape work together to establish a holistic setting of calm to restore dignity to the healing journey, normalise mental healthcare in the community, and deliver a new benchmark for recovery-orientated care in Australia. An overarching philosophy around
‘designing for people’ has shaped both the process and the outcomes of this project. The design focus has been on caring for people, service-users, their loved ones, and those people providing the care, to create an environment that supports the network around each person, and enables care for the ‘whole person’. The architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design, contribute to positive health outcomes by creating an environment for healing, improving health outcomes, supporting a workforce of carers, and inviting families to partake in the recovery process. Inside the new 64-bedded multi-
storey facility, bedrooms, therapy spaces,
social areas, and gardens combine in a way reminiscent of a residential setting to assist in normalising and integrating mental healthcare in the community, while establishing a direct link to Ipswich Hospital’s clinical campus.
Outdoor space and light and connectivity The building is legibly organised, with volumes of space and light, outdoor connectivity, and high-quality materials. Sunlit rooms and corridors, and accessible verdant courtyard gardens, improve wellbeing, and support healing through visual and physical connections to nature. Openness and transparency, enabled by a glazed perimeter and lightwells, ensure passive observation across floors and maximise safety for all. The quality of the environment has
a range of benefits, including reduced agitation and improved recovery rates for patients. Dedicated staff areas promote attraction, satisfaction, and retention rates. The design extends a warm welcome for family and loved ones, and integrates spaces that support their participation in the healing process.
Project overview l 8,500 m2
GFA.
l Four levels. l 64 acute inpatient beds. l 42 Adult Acute beds (3 pods of 14 beds, including 1 pod providing for future growth).
l 14 Older Persons Acute beds. l 8 HDU beds.
According to the Australian Bureau
of Statistics, 42.9% of Australians aged between 16-85 have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life. There is a growing realisation that mental illness isn’t something that only ever happens to other people; rather, all of us will be impacted, either directly, or through a loved one. Coupled with a rising demand for care, there is also recognition across Australia that many existing mental health facilities are no longer fit for purpose. Like many others, the old Mental Health
Unit at Ipswich Unit felt institutional, depressing, confusing, and unsettling. It was an unwelcoming environment that wasn’t conducive to healing. Having heard stories from distressed families about having to walk out and leave their loved ones behind in these types of places, we were driven to create better experiences and outcomes for patients, carers, and families.
The building is ‘legibly organised’, with volumes of space and light, outdoor connectivity, and high-quality materials.
THE NETWORK | NOVEMBER 2024
A strategic vision for Ipswich Ipswich and the West Moreton region sit immediately to the west of Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane. The region is experiencing rapid population growth, at more than double the state’s average. Compared with the Queensland average, there are higher rates of social disadvantage, potentially contributing to increased physical and mental health issues. Ipswich Hospital is an ageing asset, servicing the rapidly growing community. This project delivers the first stage of an ambitious 15-year masterplan to redevelop
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All photos used courtesy of Hassell
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