Upholding a new model of mental health care

The Ipswich Hospital Mental Health Acute Inpatient Service, designed by multidisciplinary architecture, design and urban planning practice Hassell, was recently recognised at the Queensland State Architecture Awards.

The project — part of Ipswich Hospital, a major acute teaching hospital located 40 kilometres west of Brisbane in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia — received the William Hodgen Building of the Year for the Darling Downs and West Moreton region, The GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture and the State Award for Public Architecture.

Built by BESIX Watpac, the 50-bed multi-storey facility was praised by the jury for “upholding a new model of mental health care”. The holistic design earned The GHM Addison Award for Interior Architecture and the State Award for Public Architecture from the jury for “providing comfort in a calm setting, promoting recovery and normalising mental health care”.

“The architecture, interior design and landscape architecture work together to enhance a feeling of calmness, familiarity and comfort, creating an environment that positively supports a progressive mental health model of care,” said Stephen Watson, Principal, Hassell.

“The benefits from the investment in this exceptional design will translate to improved recovery rates for patients, but also improved conditions for staff and therefore better attraction, satisfaction and retention rates,” Watson said.

“For visitors — family and loved ones — the design extends a warm welcome and supports their participation in the healing process.”

The facility features sunlit rooms and corridors, and verdant courtyard gardens with an aim to create a connection to nature, helping to improve wellbeing and support the healing process. Openness and transparency, enabled by a glazed perimeter and lightwells, ensure passive observation across floors and maximise safety for all.

Through the co-design process, Hassell collaborated with consumers, carers, clinicians, allied health professionals, operations staff and community groups to shape the healing environment, said the company in a statement. “Meaningful engagement with First Nations representatives led to delivery of a culturally safe environment with integrated landscapes, bush medicine, sunlit interiors, colours that reflect Country and artworks by local artists.”

Hassell Health Sector Leader Leanne Guy said the facility supports a nationwide commitment to improve mental health care and sets a new benchmark for person-centred and recovery-orientated care in Australia. According to the Bureau of Statistics, 42.9% of Australians aged between 16 and 85 years have experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life.

“Our duty as designers is to normalise care and improve the recovery process through high-quality design outcomes,” Guy said.

Images courtesy of Hassell.