BLP has delivered six new maternity suites as part of St Vincent’s Private Hospital’s major expansion works at their Fitzroy location, honouring a woman’s journey into motherhood by providing a safe, considerate, and supportive environment in which she may recover and flourish.
Designing an environment that closely resembles a ‘home away from home’ and family life is not only important for reducing medical intervention, but also for the transition into motherhood and the physical and mental healing that begins when you become a mother.”
BLP accomplished this by carefully translating the mother’s needs, engaging the user from the start, effectively converting their experience into the built form, and truly understanding the importance of the environment for both mother and newborn.
Designed to deinstitutionalise the usual hospital environment, the maternity suites reflect a boutique hotel aesthetic. The newly renovated suites encourage wellness and recovery by providing a space that is 1.5 times larger than the previous rooms, with a queen bed for mother and partner and a separate eating area.
Intelligent design and materiality were applied, with a layout that can adapt and grow over time, assuring long-term durability and longevity while supporting the new mother, family, and loved ones. Fixtures in the bathroom and bedroom are like those found in a high-end hotel ensuite, with neutral and natural tones throughout and clever joinery specified to hide classic clinical components.
Noise issues that were raised were addressed by increasing the acoustic performance of the walls and ceilings and introducing more soft furnishings, such as upholstered furniture, within the room to help with sound absorption.
The view is the centrepiece of each suite capturing the magical city and cathedral views. The beds and nursing seats are positioned to take advantage of the city views and natural light, evoking feelings of contentment and wellbeing.
All spaces within the room are created to support the intimate bond between mother, baby, and loved ones. These spaces were designed with a true appreciation for the importance of family and friends in the recovery and transitioning process.
Location – 75 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC
Client – St Vincent’s Private Hospital / St Vincent’s Health
Completed – 2022
