Listen well. Do it well. Do it once.
Written by Ellen Naismith, Universal Design & Access Consultant.
Empathy: ‘the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another’ (noun, Merriam -Webster Dictionary). It is to understand the perspective of another person.
Empathy is not a word usually associated with Architecture. However, the design of the new Peninsula University Hospital demonstrates empathy for the patients, visitors and the staff who occupy the building and its surrounds.
How was this achieved? Through a commitment to the principles of Universal Design.
The inclusive design‑thinking approach of universal design seeks to create buildings and spaces usable by the widest range of people – embracing differences in age, gender, ability, and background – without the need for later adaptations.
To achieve this, it is vital to place the people who will use the building at the heart of the design process. This means extensive and structured User Group and Stakeholder Consultation.
The stakeholders for the Peninsula University Hospital included the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, local residents, and users of the building itself – patients, visitors, healthcare professionals, administrative and environmental staff, and those responsible for the maintenance and management of the site.
By embedding universal design into the Project Scope and Delivery Requirements (PDSR) and Functional Brief (Brief), the outcome had to be more than just compliant and beautiful, it had to exceed minimum mandatory requirements in all areas.
The Brief specified that
“all occupied areas, including retail tenancy areas, must be universally accessible in accordance with the requirements set out in the Standards and the Universal Design Guidelines”.
However, whilst this demonstrates noble intentions, without clear and detailed design instructions – true accessibility and inclusion is hard to achieve.
This is where Architecture & Access was able to provide specialist advice and guidance throughout the design and construction process to ensure the often-competing priorities of mandatory disability access requirements, the diverse needs of users, the practical management of a complex building, and the aesthetic goals could all be met.
Architecture & Access developed a comprehensive and detailed Universal Design Reference Guide to assist the project team in all aspects of the building and landscape design. However, our role extended throughout the entire design and construction process. Universal design is not simply a set of checkboxes.
A deep understanding of how to apply additional (non-mandatory) standards and human-movement interpretation of the built environment is needed to be able to respond to design challenges in real-time. Even during construction, Architecture & Access spent many hours on-site, working with builders and contractors to arrive at solutions.
Being available to the design and building teams; providing clear, practicable and timely advice; and understanding the sometimes-conflicting needs of different users, were critical to providing successful universal access advice.
Having a client who demonstrated their commitment to inclusion by mandating a universal design approach was vital to achieving a successful outcome.
The result is a striking building that was shaped by the diverse needs of the people and functions it serves.
Image 1. (feature) Staff Base – showing accessible counter, zoned floor finishes and warm natural colours.
Image 2. Winter Garden – natural light, air, accessible seating, circulation and biophilic design.
Image 3. Northern Entry Forecourt – showing accessible paths of travel, accessible rest points and biophilic design.
Photography Credit: Peter Clarke
