How can we ensure that architectural agency in the healthcare sector is progressive and responsive, rather than reactive? This edition of the Health Care / Health Design forum explores the influence architecture can have on the quality, efficiency and community impact of our healthcare systems. Leading practitioners, researchers and professionals from Australia and abroad discuss the issues, share their experiences and interrogate architecture’s relationship with the health challenges the world faces today.
Header Image
The Alder Centre by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. Photography by Rob Parrish.
Program.
The Psychology of Care: Designing for Mental Health While poorly designed environments exacerbate patient anxiety and stress, well-conceived architecture can lead to improved health outcomes. In this session, we explore how designers can incorporate empathy into the design of mental health facilities. Speakers at the forefront of research and practice in this sector will discuss architectural interventions and processes to consider when designing spaces that service mental health.
11.55 am
Log in to the Design Speaks Virtual Portal
12.00 pm
Presentation 1 Susan Le Good, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (London, UK)
12.40 pm
Presentation 3 Rhonda Johnson, Jacobs (Auckland, New Zealand)
1.00 pm
Dissection An hour-long panel discussion with Susan Le Good, Rhonda Johnson and Lada Bodnaruk.
Moderator: Leigh-Anne Hepburn, University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning (Sydney, NSW)
2.00 pm
SESSION 2 CONCLUDES Return to the Design Speaks home page to see the full program.
Susan was made director of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris in 2021 and now takes the lead in having a practice-wide view of project resources and recruitment requirements, while having formal responsibility for coordinating the workload of the practice’s model-making workshop. She has played a key role in many of the practice’s award-winning projects, including the Stirling Prize shortlisted Kentish Town Health Centre, Westminster Academy and the RIBA 2015 Stirling Prize winning Burntwood Academy.
Lada is an architect at Architectus Conrad Gargett with over 20 years’ experience working on a diverse range of projects across health, aged care, education and defence sectors. Her strengths lie in communication and the resolution of project issues with user and stakeholder groups.
Lada understands the critical importance of communication, decision making and progress as a key factor in the successful delivery of any project. She has worked on projects for both commercial and institutional clients across design development, documentation and contract administration.
Rhonda is a senior clinical leader with over 20 years of experience working as a registered nurse and 6 years as a clinical health planner. Rhonda offers experience from rural- and tertiary-level facilities that contributes to the development of health planning solutions that cross the traditional boundaries of primary, secondary and tertiary care.
Rhonda recognizes how the built environment influences user experience, physical wellbeing, workflow efficiencies and staff retention, and is committed to influencing improved experiences for patients and families. She prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of patients, families and staff in the development of effective models of care and efficient facility design.
Dr Leigh-Anne Hepburn is head of design at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning. She is a design researcher with a focus on design-enabled collaboration to inform and influence meaningful change. Her research explores participatory and socially-driven health and well-being innovation at the intersections of industry, academia and community.
Most recently, Leigh-Anne’s project with the Brain and Mind Centre at The University of Sydney combined the disciplines of design, architecture, and urbanism to explore how best to design meaningful spaces for mental health service delivery and research.
