Royal Adelaide Hospital
A parkland in a hospital—as part of the largest health and research precinct in the southern hemisphere, the New Royal Adelaide Hospital reframes the care paradigm, putting the patient experience first.
Designed as a journey to health environment, the 800-bed facility has all inpatient beds in single rooms with ensuites and operable windows, to bring patients privacy, fresh air and garden outlooks. Artworks and restorative courtyard garden spaces for patients and staff are also integral.
Technical innovations include clinicians treating patients in their rooms, and a fleet of robots to deliver supplies and food throughout – a first for Australian public hospitals. Environmental innovations will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent.
Innovation underpins everything. The facility caters to more than 80,000 patients a year with 800 beds, 40 operating theatres, healing gardens, and a community retail precinct.
Leading technology
- Tele-health facilities reaching remote rural areas
- Information kiosks for visitor navigation
- Robots delivering food and equipment
- Wireless patient-nurse call system
- Disaster response and quarantine facilities
- Earthquake-proof, with independent water and power supply
We saw the opportunity to design ’a hospital within a park, a park within a hospital’. That idea of bringing nature into the healing spaces reshaped the architecture, and the nature of care, in quite a radical way.
Richard Does
Director
Healing people
- Naturally lit and ventilated indoor environments and winter gardens
- Respite areas for patients and staff
- Retail precinct with child care centre, convenience shops, food court atrium and gymnasium
- Flexible workplace hubs (Blue Space)
- Aboriginal Health Centre
Healing environment
- Orientation optimised to increase natural light and minimise solar thermal load
- Water conservation through rainwater harvesting for non-potable use and more
- Energy efficient fittings, Co-generation system turning waste heat into energy
- Responsible materials: low-VOC paints, flooring and acoustic insulation
- Water and power metering to track and report on consumption
- Integrated art from sculpture gardens to photography of South Australian landscapes
Reflecting international best practice, New Royal Adelaide Hospital is designed and built around the needs of patients.
SA Health
Insight
AIA 2018 South Australian Architecture Awards
Royal Adelaide Hospital received three awards for public, sustainable and interior architecture.
Insight
Creating an Australian landscape at the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
A design that embraces the central Australian terrain to showcase local research and knowledge.
Insight
Biophilia and Place—Director Richard Does
Biophilic design creates architecture and urban spaces that are inspired by or imitate the natural environment.
Insight
Getting to Know Cameron Martin
Cameron Martin heads up the education and health portfolios in the DesignInc Sydney studio. We talked with Cameron about his journey as a designer, his motivations, and life outside architecture.
Insight
Royal Adelaide Hospital featured in Indesign magazine
The article draws on biophilia and technology for the benefit of healthcare and wellbeing.
