Transforming birthing experiences at the Royal Women’s Hospital with Gray Puksand

In a recent project at the Royal Women’s Hospital, a collaborative effort between Gray Puksand and The Women’s team sought to redefine the birthing environment through an approach centred on emotional wellbeing, clinical excellence, and flexibility. 

We sit down with Tracey Lawson, PPP Contract Manager, and Bridget Boehm, Acting Nurse Unit Manager of the Birth Centre at The Women’s, alongside Quentin Seik from Gray Puksand, to uncover how this transformative project was brought to life.

Architecture & Design: What was the core design philosophy or vision behind the Women’s Birthing Suites, and how did it shape the outcome?

Gray Puksand: Prior to commencing design on the RWH Birthing Suites, the team conducted research into birthing environments and how design can create positive birthing experiences. 

Through this research, we developed the concept of ‘Women Curated Journeys’, where the emotional wellbeing, safety and advocacy of the birthing parent was at the forefront of the design. This core design philosophy was explored using warm and calming tones in the finishes, organic form, prioritising access to natural light, as well as planning the space to be as flexible as possible.

Royal Women’s Hospital: During the pandemic, we experienced a higher demand for negative-pressure isolation spaces for birthing mothers.   The initial objective of the project was to fit additional negative pressure isolation. This then caused us to address the displacement of the assessment space, anaesthetic offices and biomedical workshops.

How did you approach balancing clinical functionality with creating a calming, supportive environment for birthing mothers and their families?

GP: With many healthcare projects, balancing the functional needs of the clinical staff with those of the patient is always a challenge, but we knew we had an amazing opportunity with this project to positively impact not only the birthing experience of mothers and their families but also the clinical staff at the hospital. 

We worked closely and collaboratively with the clinical team to understand their needs and methodologies and were able to find thoughtful solutions to concerns such as visibility and accessibility of equipment to perform emergency care without making the space feel overtly clinical or stressful.

Everyone involved in the project came to the table with the desire to create change, and that mutual synergy really aided the collaborative effort.
RWH: While it's important to provide top-quality medical care, we designed the space to hide clinical equipment in built-in cupboards so it feels less like a hospital – without compromising on the tools needed for high level intervention where required.

Were there any unique challenges you faced working within the existing hospital infrastructure, and how did you overcome them?

GP: One of the primary hurdles we had to overcome was the staging and construction of the project within a working and highly active part of the hospital. 

With the assistance of a great team of consultants and builders, we were able to navigate the logistics with collaborative planning and coordination that allowed the ward to be operational and not disrupt patient care during the build.

RWH: The delivery of the project was challenging and involved several phases including:
-    Construction and relocation of our biomedical workshops.
-    Construction and relocation of the anaesthetic offices.
-    Construction of the assessment centre. 
-    Implementation of the new negative pressure rooms and birth pool room within the birth suite. 
All of this delivered around a working birth centre. 

Our clinical staff within the birth centre were crucial in the delivery of the project. Without their patience and understanding, the delivery of this project would not have been possible. 

Their ongoing willingness to work in consultation with the builders and project managers to ensure every element was managed to minimise impact on staff and patients wherever possible is what made this project a great success. In addition, our builders were fantastic in accommodating every request made of them during the delivery of the construction.

Can you speak to how user feedback—especially from patients, midwives, and obstetricians—influenced the design process?

GP: The design process was highly collaborative, conducted through multiple rounds of workshops and reviews with a dedicated user group of clinical staff who would be working within the new spaces. 

Their feedback at each workshop helped the design team gain a greater understanding of the delivery of care and staff workflows, which would help iterate and improve the design.  

RWH: There was significant consultation undertaken between our clinical staff and the architects during the design phase to ensure we captured as much detail as possible to drive the design to ensure the highest level of clinical care delivery within the spaces.

What sustainability or wellness-focused elements were incorporated into the suites, particularly regarding lighting, acoustics, or materials?

GP: The wellness of the mother was a key driving factor behind our design choices so incorporating biophilic design elements, such as timber-looking surfaces and prioritising access to natural light/connection to the outside, was an easy decision to make. 

Materials used in hospitals have to withstand a lot of wear and tear and harsh chemicals when cleaned, so we prioritised using materials with long-life spaces and Low VOCs to help meet sustainability goals.

RWH: We also used LED lighting options and low odour / chemical materials to align with our sustainability goals. 

How did the layout and spatial planning contribute to both patient comfort and staff efficiency?

GP: The layout and spatial planning of the space was carefully designed to support both patient comfort and clinical needs. Flexibility was a key focus for the patient spaces, especially for the birthing suite, which can adapt to the varying needs of the mother while labouring. 

Further, during our research, access to natural light and connection to outdoors was considered important to minimising stress and aiding recovery so we prioritised the patient spaces closet to windows.  

For staff, efficient circulation and having clear sightlines were critical. The layout allows for the clinical staff to observe patients passively without disrupting the patient’s privacy and react efficiently to emergency situations. 

We also wanted to create integrated storage solutions for services and equipment that still allowed staff quick and easy access but allowed the spaces to remain uncluttered and less intimidating for the patients.

RWH: The layout and spatial planning were critical factors in ensuring both patient comfort and staff efficiency – key components of exceptional maternity care. 

Thoughtful features like LED lighting options, baths and discreet medical equipment contribute to maintaining a calm and supportive birthing environment for women and their families. Equally the spatial planning allowed for smooth workflows, quick access to essential equipment and ensures staff can care for patients safely.

Were there any inspirations—cultural, aesthetic, or environmental—that guided the choice of colour palettes and materials?

GP: The Royal Women’s Hospital has a strong visual identity and we were intentional about working within that existing colour palette to maintain continuity for the hospital. We explored tonal variations that allowed us to not only provide consistency of materials for future maintenance purposes but also bring a warmth and calmness to the birthing environment. 

The form of the space was guided by nature, drawing inspiration from undulating lines and rhythmic patterns, elements that resonate with the physical and emotional journey of birth.

RWH: The colour palette utilised is the Women’s brand colour palette that features throughout much of the building. For these rooms, we lightened the colour palette to a more pastel and neutral toning to provide a calming environment while still maintain some of the bold Women’s brand colours that feature in our logo and on building signage.

How do the new birthing suites support different models of care, including midwife-led or culturally sensitive birthing practices?

GP: We prioritised creating a flexible and adaptable space, with the aim for the space to respond to varying ranges of birthing needs and preferences and clinical interventions.

RWH: The new birthing suites support all models of care. The new birth pool room allows greater access to women wanting water immersion in labour whilst still having their support people be present in the room. 

By prioritising midwifery-led care and cultural sensitivity, these modern birthing suites foster an environment that is both highly personalised and supportive.

What innovations or technologies were integrated into the design that might set this project apart from other hospital environments?

GP: One of the key innovations in project was the integration of an adjustable-height birthing bath to help support a range of birthing positions as well as assisting those with mobility issues with an easy entry and exit. 

This also reduces strain on both the patient and care team when transitioning from one labouring space to another. We also incorporated adjustable mood lighting across the key areas of the plan so mothers could personalise their environment. 

This allows for the reduction of stress and anxiety by creating a calming atmosphere that can change through the different stages and needs of labour and supports our goal of creating a mother-lead birthing experience.

RWH: The pastel colour palette, adjustable lighting, and discreetly integrated medical equipment distinguish this project from typical clinical spaces. The state-of-art birthing pool offers enhanced comfort and provides a supportive environment for labour and birth. 

Furthermore, the addition of two negative pressure rooms allows us to safely care for patients requiring isolation, while also prioritising the safety staff and other patients.

Looking back, is there anything you would have approached differently or any lessons learned that are influencing your current work?

GP: One of the key lessons from this project was the importance of maintaining design intent through the construction phase. While we had a strong vision from the outset, we found that clear, ongoing communication with the construction team was critical to preserving the integrity of that vision as the project progressed. 

This experienced has helped shaped the way we work with our construction teams on current projects, where we emphasise building strong, collaborative relationships as we know this helps deliver the best outcomes. 

RWH: Looking back, one key takeaway is the importance of balancing the needs of both patients and staff from the outset. While designing the birth suites, we focused on creating a comforting, supportive environment for patients, but we’ve learned that meeting the needs of staff is just as crucial for the overall success of the space. 

Ensuring that staff have easy access to equipment, a functional workflow, and a space that supports their wellbeing directly impacts the quality of care they can provide.

Photography by James Thomas