Hospitals are not usually people’s favourite places. This is, for the most part, due to the activities that take place there, however their design is often a contributing factor.

Hospitals should be designed to be welcoming, easy to navigate and to set minds at ease. Colour is a key factor in each of these areas, however hospitals are characteristically white. The benefit of white spaces is that they feel light & sterile. On the flip side, they can create an environment that is isolating, confusing and lifeless.

Although hospitals will always hold negative connotations for people, a well-designed space should counteract this, making people feel completely welcome.

Hospital for Specialist Surgery, Castle Hill

NBRSARCHITECTURE are currently working on the Hospital for Specialist Surgery in Castle Hill. When completed, the hospital will provide first class orthopaedic, cosmetic, ophthalmologic and endoscopic services for private patients.

As the hospital is being converted from an existing office building, the team at NBRSARCHITECTURE  has taken up the challenges of an existing building while meeting the stringent requirements of the NSW Health Department.

The overall design philosophy focuses on a ‘’hospitality’’ feel – providing welcoming interiors for patients, visitors and staff alike.

The NBRSARCHITECTURE  Interior Team, lead by Hung-Ying Gill, has developed way-finding strategies to help visitors and patients in navigating along hospital corridors on the ward floors by designing room signage on 4 different colour panels for the 4 main orientations.

The facility includes:

• State of the art café
• Conference & seminar rooms
• 8 Specialist consultant suites
• Rehabilitation ward & general ward providing 79 beds
• 10 operating theatres
• Hydrothermal pool

The hospital is due to commence construction in April 2013