Architects for Health
Chair of Architects for Health Jaime Bishop recaps the winners at the European Healthcare Design Awards this summer
Each year, SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange holds the European Healthcare Design Congress and Exhibition in London, bringing together leaders and innovators in healthcare design. Running alongside the conference, in collaboration with Architects for Health (AfH), is the European Healthcare Design Awards, which I was proud to host and judge this year as Chair of the AfH. There were 11 categories spanning the breadth of healthcare design, from design research to mental health.
The winners all achieved the primary goal for any healthcare project: improving care through their designs. All demonstrated a thoughtful response, both practical and emotional, to their briefs and, where relevant, a clear understanding of the clinical activity the building would be used for. Sunand Prasad, design champion and awards judge, said: “The EHD awards are increasingly pointing the way to how human experience, clinical functionality, super sustainability and, not least, sophisticated architectural composition can be integrated to produce sublime healthcare design. As so often, the client’s imagination in setting innovative briefs and commitment to design quality produces the best in architects and design teams.”
Healthcare Design (Under 25,000 sqm)
This category honoured exceptional healthcare projects in community or primary care settings. The winner, Yutjuwala Djiwarr – Nhulunbuy Flexible Aged Care, designed by Kaunitz Yeung Architecture, was celebrated for its transformative impact on care quality for aboriginal elders in remote Australia. View here. [ https://kaunitzyeung.com/project/yutjuwala-djiwarr-aged-care/]
“The EHD Awards stand apart from the others as the jury is made up of people with global expertise in healthcare design, implementation and operation. That makes the accolade received for Yutjuwala Djiwarr – Nhulunbuy Flexible Aged Care Facility of huge value to our practice. Most importantly, these awards recognise the importance of deeply engaging with local people to enable them to determine a brighter future for themselves.” – David Kaunitz, Director of Kaunitz Yeung Architecture.
Healthcare Design (Over 25,000 sqm)
The Louisa Martindale Building at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust in Brighton, designed by BDP, earned top honours in this category for its excellence in large-scale healthcare design. View here. [https://www.bdp.com/en/latest/news/2023/the-louisa-martindale-building-in-brighton-welcomes-patients/]
“It was a privilege and an inspiration to be part of a discourse about what good health and wellness looks like among a particularly diverse range of entries. The open and rigorous judging process allowed a real dialogue between the judges and entrants, and – a rarity – the opportunity for each shortlisted entrant to see others present.” – Ruairi Reeves, Director of Medical Architecture and awards judge.
Mental Health Design
The winner, Stella’s Place Young Adult Mental Health in Toronto, designed by Stantec Architecture and Stantec Consulting, was recognised for its innovative and patient-centred approach to mental health care for young adults. View here. [https://www.stantec.com/en/projects/canada-projects/s/stellas-place-mental-health-for-young-adults]
“In judging these entries from different countries, we were delighted with the quality of thought demonstrated through the designs. It was not easy to make the final decision as scale, local culture and geography and costs all varied; however, we felt this winner’s positive impact on users, families and local people was clear.” – Beatrice Fraenkel, Chair of Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust and awards judge.
Susan Francis Design Champion Award
John Cooper, a pioneering figure in healthcare design whose career has had a profound impact on the field, took the Design Champion prize. His influence extends back to his early work at Avanti Architects and his role at Anshen & Allen (now part of Stantec). Now leading John Cooper Architecture, his designs continue to blend clinical requirements with humanistic values.
“John has been the driving force behind some of the UK’s most groundbreaking healthcare projects, including Velindre Cancer Centre, the greenest new hospital in the UK, and Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury in Kent, England’s first-ever purpose-built hospital with 100% single-bed rooms. These projects showcase his commitment to sustainability, patient care and forward-thinking design. Working alongside him at AfH when he was Chair, I’ve found John to be not just an industry leader but also a generous mentor and sounding board.” – Jaime Bishop.
Winners in other categories
Click to view each project.
Design Research Project
‘Blueprint for Mitigating Nurse Burnout: A Social Listening Perspective’, by Dr Deborah Wingler at HKS and team. [https://www.hksinc.com/our-news/articles/to-understand-nurse-burnout-listen-to-the-nurses/]
Design for Sustainable Development
Jean Bishop Integrated Care Centre in Hull, designed by Medical Architecture. [https://medicalarchitecture.com/project/the-jean-bishop-integrated-care-centre/]
Future Healthcare Design
The Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital, designed by BDP. [ https://www.bdp.com/en/projects/f-l/great-ormond-street-hospital/]
Design for Adaptation and Transformation
Doctor Muñoz Cariñanos Hospital in Spain, designed by Planho Consultores. [ https://planho.com/mies_portfolio/doctor-munoz-carinanos/?lang=en]
Interior Design and Arts
The Louisa Martindale Building at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, designed by BDP with art curation by Willis Newson. [ http://www.willisnewson.co.uk/brighton-3ts.html]
Design for Health and Wellness
The Helmsley Cancer Center in Israel, designed by Farrow Partners and Rubinstein Ofer Architects. [https://farrowpartners.ca/our-projects/szmc-helmsley-cancer-center/]
Health and Life Sciences
The BCIT Health Sciences Centre in Canada, designed by Stantec. [ https://www.stantec.com/en/projects/canada-projects/b/bcit-health-sciences-centre]
Click here [www.europeanhealthcaredesign.eu] to learn more about next year’s congress.
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This article was taken from the November 2024 edition of FORTIS magazine.
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