September 2009

‘Healing’ hospital wins design award

The Royal Women’s Hospital has won an international design award for its ‘healing’ environment.

The hospital building was declared the Best International Health Project (over 40,000 square metres) in the 2009 Design and Health International Academy Awards in Singapore. 

The industry award recognises projects that have had a significant influence on the global design and development of humanistic environments supporting health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Judges declared the Women’s Hospital project demonstrated clear leadership in the creation of a ‘healing’ environment and engaged in the design of innovative and flexible spaces, while maintaining sustainability and value for money as balanced design outcomes.

The Woodhead and DesignInc Melbourne design team worked with a consortium of Bilfinger Berger, Baulderstone and Royal Women’s Health Partnership to create a hospital focused on the provision of health services for women.

Judges agreed core values implemented by the team had established a new global benchmark in hospital design, where the functionality of the system and the humanity of the carers were brought together in the design to create a truly healing environment.

The hospital won its category against eight other hospitals and medical centres around the world.