References

Royal Hobart Hospital

Completed in 2020, the Royal Hobart Hospital in Tasmania’s capital city Hobart is part of a new generation of hospital projects in Australia. The concept by Melbourne-based architectural firm Lyons Architecture follows the principles of salutogenesis. The facade of the state-of-the-art urban community hospital is closely interwoven with its surroundings. The design is characterised by soothing surfaces, colours, artwork and views – everything to ensure the well-being of everyone involved, including patients, their families and staff.

Environment influences health

How does health develop? How can health be promoted in practice? This is the subject of salutogenesis. It serves to provide people with the necessary resources and opportunities to orientate themselves towards health and not illness.
Alan Dilani, physician, architect and founder of the International Academy for Design and Health, explains in a 2021 interview for the Swiss online portal Ticino Scienza: “Salutogenesis is a philosophy that can be applied to different areas – from urban architecture to the buildings in which we work and live – in order to introduce feel-good factors to strengthen health and reduce stress.” Dilani goes on to explain that it is therefore necessary to ensure that the design of spaces – from care facilities to schools and public spaces – is regenerative, cosy and restorative and stimulates the brain to cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life.
Dilani developed the theory of the salutogenic design approach, which can be applied worldwide in the design of health projects with positive effects on human health and well-being.

From the patient's perspective

Corbett Lyon, director and co-founder of Australian architecture firm Lyons and visiting professor of design and professor at the University of Melbourne, is known for his commitment to salutogenic principles and improving Australia’s medical facilities and their interiors to support human health and wellbeing through design.

Lyon is currently part of a research team investigating the impact of paediatric hospital design on the experience of patients, parents and staff. The designs of the Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the Royal Hobart Hospital also aim to help reduce patient stress and anxiety, creating a comfortable and supportive environment for both patients and healthcare staff.

Unity with the environment

The façade of the state-of-the-art community hospital Royal Hobart Hospital in Tasmania is interwoven with its surroundings. Lyon explains: “Not only do the colours make reference to the surrounding landscape, but the materials used – granite, sandstone, blackwood and Tasmanian oak – also come from the local area. The square and H-shaped windows and the façade are inspired by the Rajah Quilt, a decorative embroidered textile made in 1841 by female convicts during their passage from Britain to Tasmania on the convict ship Rajah Great Britain.” The installers painted 3,000 square metres of wall surface with Concretal glaze from KEIM. “Here, however, in just one colour, an extremely deep black. The reason for choosing this mineral glaze, as with all KEIM products, was its special UV stability and lightfastness,” explains Ralf Eckl, Export Sales Manager at KEIM.

Privacy for young people too

At the Royal Hobart Hospital, the architects placed a special focus on the women’s and children’s wards. “We designed the delivery rooms to be less reminiscent of typical hospitals in order to offer patients a relaxed and private atmosphere,” explains Corbett Lyon. Adolescents are also accommodated on a separate ward, which emphasises the patient-oriented approach. In general, this age group is often neglected: they are either treated on the paediatric ward or transferred to the adult ward. At the Royal Hobart Hospital, an inpatient school, a recreation room, two protected rooms in which the adolescents receive individualised care and their own access to the outdoor area help to promote the healing process.

Sophisticated design down to the last detail

Other details at the Royal Hobart Hospital that improve the wellbeing of healthcare staff, patients and visitors alike include uplifting colours, more natural light and views of Hobart’s beautiful landscape. Selected artwork, access to the roof garden and interactive technologies also create positive distractions to reduce patient anxiety. Thoughtful design is also found in the details, such as the multi-coloured ceiling lights in the lobby of the children’s ward, which mimic the Aurora Australis, the southern lights, and already hint at the theme of the children’s ward “Journey to Antarctica”.

The entire design is characterised by calming surfaces, colours, works of art and views – everything to do justice to everyone involved, the patients and their relatives as well as the staff and, above all, to support the patients’ recovery in the best possible way in the spirit of salutogenesis.