Description:

With so much research into the environmental impacts on healing, why would we create another sterile and dehumanised medical interior?

The brief for the Anglesea Hospital patient suite and theatre upgrade was to move away from the typical sterility of medical facilities, towards a healing retreat designed to lift spirits and promote overall guest wellbeing, in turn enhancing treatment efficacy and positive patient outcomes. The hospital now feels relaxed and familiar as well as reassuring of the facility’s high quality of care.

Drawing inspiration more from wellness spaces rather than traditional hospital settings, the design for Anglesea Hospital includes the creature comforts of home and the luxuries of a hotel stay. The hospital also features curved forms and radiused corners to soften the environment, putting patients at ease and improving circulation around the premises.

The material palette is unexpected in a healthcare setting, utilising colour psychology and biophilic considerations to create a wellness-oriented space. Calming pinks and rejuvenating greens envelop the patient lounge and adjacent nurses’ station while timber furniture, softened shapes and air-purifying indoor plants increase parasympathetic activity, calming the nerves of patients, visitors and staff.

The new patient suites feature bespoke oak furniture and wall linings which create warmth and calm, while natural toned art and fabric finishes promote relaxation, trust and cleanliness. Hygienic antimicrobial fabric is used for the patient lounge seating as well as the bedroom bench seat which doubles as a bed for a patient’s support person to stay. The suite bathrooms were designed for accessibility and are extensively tiled with both mosaic and anti-slip tiles, merging safety with a high-end feel. Solid acrylic surfaces are used throughout the facility to aid cleaning.

Anglesea Hospital’s design aims to improve patient recovery by keeping guests and their visitors calm and relaxed throughout their stay. Achieving a therapeutic, and homely feel while meeting the medical standards can be a challenging task but we've been encouraged to help promote a shift in the way patient areas are considered.