The South Australian Government has unveiled the design for the new $320-million Mount Barker Hospital, which will serve communities in the rapidly growing Mount Barker and Adelaide Hills region.

Designed by Swanbury Penglase and Hassell, the new hospital will be located on the existing Mount Barker District Soldier’s Memorial Hospital site, and will triple inpatient capacity from 34 to 102 beds, expanding specialist maternity, paediatrics, rehabilitation, medical, surgical, and palliative care services. The facility will also include 35 consult rooms to support community and allied health, Aboriginal health, medical outpatient services, and a new 12-bed mental health unit.

Swanbury Penglase and Hassell are providing architecture, interior design and landscape architecture services for the project.

Swanbury Penglase director Elizabeth Swanbury says the project will deliver expanded capability to provide people in the region with access to an increased range of healthcare services closer to home.

“The new Mount Barker Hospital is a vital project for the community, providing additional choice of high-quality healthcare services such as maternity, paediatric, rehabilitation, and palliative care without having to travel to Adelaide,” says Swanbury.

The hospital will feature a new clinical services building wrapped around a central courtyard, offering an integrated architectural, interior, and landscape response that celebrates the natural environment. The clinical building will also seamlessly integrate with existing buildings, including the Imaging and Emergency Departments.

The design approach is grounded in community, culture and connection to the local landscape to create a healthcare facility that will be culturally sensitive and a contemporary place of healing and respite, says Hassell’s health sector leader and principal, Leanne Guy.

“Listening to and building upon community feedback has allowed us to create a hospital design that truly meets the community’s needs and connection to Country,” she explains.

“We’ve provided generous views of the landscape and access to the Duck Flat community garden and emphasised the importance of integrating nature as part of the design to positively influence healing, restoration and human connection, while supporting biodiversity.”

Branko Miletic

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