Comfortable environment for family centred care
Medical services for critically ill children are greatly improved with the development of a dedicated pediatric intensive care unit at the John Hunter Children’s Hospital; a tertiary referral pediatric hospital which provides complex medical, surgical, major trauma and neonatal care services.
Design can’t cure critically-ill children, but it can boost the patients wellbeing, accelerate recovery times and ease stressful situations for parents and families. dwp’s sympathetic design balances critical care needs with a calm and supportive environment.
This project initially provides for eight specialist pediatric care beds with support services in a dedicated extension to the existing John Hunter Hospital intensive care unit. Connection to the existing intensive care unit is via bridge links across a light court which maintains natural light to existing rooms. Designed as a staged development the building has been planned for the expansion of the service to twelve beds with the relocation of a number of the stage one support services to the level above. The ground level will provide for a twelve bed critical care centre linked to John Hunter Hospital’s emergency and imaging departments.
Curved forms run throughout the eight-bed unit, which also features a parents’ lounge, playroom and overnight rooms. Patients and their carers can enjoy time in the sunshine and fresh air due to clever consideration of medical services, which are built into the façade of the external balcony. Drawing inspiration from a kaleidoscope, playful space including pop-out windows and use of colours throughout the interior and exterior of the building create a sense of diversion and discovery, whilst providing clear wayfinding cues.
Material Used :
External Finishes
1. Vitra Group - General Cladding - Vitrabond
2. Vitra Group - Cladding to Box Window - Vitrabond
3. Vitra Group - Cladding to Links - Vitrabond
4. Vitra Group - Box Window Reveals & Metal Fins to External Window - Vitrabond
5. Lysaght - Cladding to Plant Room - Spandek
6. Lysaght - Roofing - Klip-Lok 406
7. Dulux - External Paint to Plywood Hoarding - Weathershield Acryclic
8. Dulux - External Paint to Rendered Fire Stair Walls - Weathershield Acryclic
9. Dulux - Ceilings & Soffit Linings - Wash & Wear
10. Colourbond - External Window Frames, PMS & FMT - Monument
11. Colourbond - Pan Flashing to External Windows - Basalt
12. Colourbond - Cladding, Roofing & Capping - Surfmist
13. Locker Group - Perforated Metal Screens to Fire Stairs - Perforated Screens
14. Chain Wire Mesh Fence - Chain Link Mesh Fence
15. Balustrade to Balcony - Fixed Glass Panels
16. Columns, Exposed Concrete, General Concrete - Off Form Concrete
17. Concrete Path & Path Feature - In-Situ Concrete
18. Landscaping - Landscaping Pavement
19. Glennon - Balcony & Stairs Landing - Porcelain Floor Tiles Stonetech Series
Internal Finishes
1. Dulux - General Paint, Staff Station, Feature Paint in Parent Areas & Interview Rooms, Ceilings & Soffit Linings - Wash & Wear
2. Dulux - Doors Leaf, Frames & Trims - Wash & Wear
3. Armstrong - General Floor, Intensive Care Areas - Homogenous Compact Sheet Vinyl
4. Armstrong - Wet Area Vinyl - Homogenous Sheet Vinyl
5. Tarkett - Feature Vinyl 0 Homogenous Compact Vinyl Sheet
6. Tarkett - Comms & EDB Vinyl - Permanently Static Dissipative Pressed Homogenous Vinyl Flooring
7. Armstrong - Wall Vinyl throughout - Wall Flex
8. Tarkett - Feature Wall Vinyl to ensuites - ProtectWall
9. Interface - Carpet for Offices, Interview rooms, Parent Areas - Carpet Tile “Urban Retreat One”
10. Armstrong - Skirting to areas with FCP01 - Feather Standard Skirting
11. Gerflor - Door Frame, Door Leaf Protection - Decochoc
12. Gerflor - Corner Guards - Profila 50
13. Gerflor - Custom Protection Panel - Decoprint
14. Gerflor - Protection Rail - Linea’Punch
15. Du’Pont - Window Seat Trim - Corian
16. Materialised - Window Seat Upholstery - Vevell with Resilience SR Protection
17. Clark Rubber - Foam Mattress Window Seat - Comfort Premium Mattress
18. Forbo - Furniture Linoleum Wrap - Desktop
19. Laminex - Joinery Kicks - Natural Finish
20. Laminex - Joinery Panels - Natural Finish
21. Formica - Joinery Panels - Velour Finish
22. Wilsonart - Joinery Panels - Matt Finish
23. Laminex - General Laminate, Bench Tops, Bed Protection & Kitchen Joinery Doors - Natural Finish
24. Laminex - Toilet Partitions - Skirt Mounted Freestanding
25. Surteco - Laminate Edging - Multiplex
26. Maharam - Chair & Operable Wall Upholstery - Pitch
27. Maharam - Chair Upholstery - Sudden
28. Instyle - Staff Station & Office Clinical Handover - Ecoustic Felt
29. Enorlogic 35 - Glazing Film - Solar Series
30. Hafele - Furniture Handle Finger Pull - Urban
31. Hafele - Furniture Handle Finger Pull - Studio
32. Sonifex - Staff Station & Desks - Cable Access Cap
33. Cam Lock - Joinery Cupboards throughout
