The Variety Childrens Centre, Flinders Medical Centre (Paediatric Ward)
Adelaide, South Australia
The Flinders Medical Centre Paediatric Ward was redeveloped as the inpatient component of The Variety Childrens Centre at Flinders Medical Centre.
Woodhead architects, interior and graphic designers worked collaboratively to develop an exciting concept for the ward interior - @ the beach - as a complementary interior design to that of the adjacent Paediatric Outpatient Clinics which were developed approximately five years previously with an outback theme.
The ward redevelopment provided:
- Improved infection control via an increased number of single-bed rooms and ensuites, and hands-free clinical handwashing basins
- Improved lighting to the ward, and feature lighting in key areas
- Improved acoustic separation, particularly between ward corridors and patient rooms
- A central circular staff station providing an improved view of patient rooms, with a fun, nautical theme (an aquarium is incorporated in the staff station, visible through a porthole located at toddler level)
- A fresh, neutral interior design incorporating light beach colours and materials which were reviewed, particularly in consideration of infection control principles
- Full height glazed doors to patient rooms with unique underwater photographic graphics, incorporating illustration cut-outs to provide a clear view where vision into the room is most required. Woodhead graphic designers incorporated cut-outs at low level to provide a view of toddlers who might be playing on the floor, and at higher level to allow view of approaching staff, yet still affording a reasonable degree of privacy to older children. The under-sea images (crab, fish, sea horse) were also selected to assist children younger than reading age to recognise their room in the ward - for example a four year old can identify with the blue fish room, rather than room 5. Similar themes were also included on sections of glazing to the Staff Station, Ward Entry Doors and Playroom.
The ward redevelopment was completed in June 2007, and has provided a fresh, new environment for children and adolescents at Flinders Medical Centre.
Woodhead architects, interior and graphic designers worked collaboratively to develop an exciting concept for the ward interior - @ the beach - as a complementary interior design to that of the adjacent Paediatric Outpatient Clinics which were developed approximately five years previously with an outback theme.
The ward redevelopment provided:
- Improved infection control via an increased number of single-bed rooms and ensuites, and hands-free clinical handwashing basins
- Improved lighting to the ward, and feature lighting in key areas
- Improved acoustic separation, particularly between ward corridors and patient rooms
- A central circular staff station providing an improved view of patient rooms, with a fun, nautical theme (an aquarium is incorporated in the staff station, visible through a porthole located at toddler level)
- A fresh, neutral interior design incorporating light beach colours and materials which were reviewed, particularly in consideration of infection control principles
- Full height glazed doors to patient rooms with unique underwater photographic graphics, incorporating illustration cut-outs to provide a clear view where vision into the room is most required. Woodhead graphic designers incorporated cut-outs at low level to provide a view of toddlers who might be playing on the floor, and at higher level to allow view of approaching staff, yet still affording a reasonable degree of privacy to older children. The under-sea images (crab, fish, sea horse) were also selected to assist children younger than reading age to recognise their room in the ward - for example a four year old can identify with the blue fish room, rather than room 5. Similar themes were also included on sections of glazing to the Staff Station, Ward Entry Doors and Playroom.
The ward redevelopment was completed in June 2007, and has provided a fresh, new environment for children and adolescents at Flinders Medical Centre.