Hunt Architects acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we live and conduct our business.

We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We value their continuing culture and contribution to the life of our nation, regions and cities.

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Supporting Health & Recovery Through Design

Royal Perth Hospital Mental Health Ward 2K

The Ward 2K refurbishment at Royal Perth Hospital is centred on the people it supports, creating a safe, recovery-focused and non-clinical therapeutic environment that enhances the wellbeing, dignity and everyday experiences of both patients and staff.

Royal Perth Hospital – Ward 2K project is a refurbishment of a voluntary acute mental health inpatient ward located within the operational Royal Perth Hospital campus. The ward provides specialist mental health care for voluntary consumers aged 18 to 65 who require inpatient treatment, including medication management and individual or group therapeutic programs.

Delivered for the East Metropolitan Health Service, Hunt Architects was awarded the project through a competitive procurement process. The project’s key objective was to enhance Ward 2K and align it with contemporary standards for voluntary mental health care. The refurbishment improves key consumer areas and clinical spaces – creating a safer, recovery-focused and therapeutic setting for both patients and staff.

Therapeutic Design in a Live Hospital Environment
The project centred on targeted upgrades to address clinical, operational and safety requirements identified within the facility. These works were carefully integrated within the existing footprint of the ward. The design intends to provide a therapeutic and home-like environment while maintaining safety and security for patients, staff and visitors. This included:

  • Low stimulus areas
  • Controlled artificial and natural lighting
  • Appropriate wall finishes and furnishings
  • Furniture and fittings selected for both robustness and comfort
  • Acoustic considerations were prioritised across bedrooms, interview rooms, communal lounge and dining spaces.

This significantly improves clinical and patient interactions, supporting confidential discussions and reducing environmental stress.

Safety, Inclusivity, and Contemporary Care

A key objective of the refurbishment was to strengthen the ward’s ability to provide safe, inclusive and responsive care for people experiencing acute mental health challenges, including considerations for sexual safety, separation of vulnerable patients, and improved inclusivity for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Spatial planning and room configuration were carefully reconsidered to better support people receiving care, allowing flexibility to respond to individual needs while protecting dignity, privacy and personal space. The design prioritises environments where people can feel safe without feeling restricted.

Safety-informed principles were thoughtfully integrated throughout the ward, with potential risks addressed through careful detailing of fixtures, joinery and services. Each decision was made to maintain a calm, welcoming and non-institutional atmosphere. Durable materials and fittings were selected to support long-term performance, without compromising warmth or comfort.

Mental Health Basin

Royal Perth Hospital – Ward 2K – Mental Health Basin was designed by Hunt Architects in collaboration with the user group as a purpose-built fixture for use in mental health facilities. Its development was driven by the need for a basin that was anti-ligature, DDA-compliant and hygienic while being aesthetic. The design establishes a new benchmark for mental healthcare environments.

Constructed entirely from Corian – this material was selected for its unparalleled versatility, resilience, and sterile properties – qualities essential to the design intent of the Mental Health Basin. The product’s form is highly organic, incorporating soft, continuous curves to achieve a smooth, tamper-proof finish.

The completed basin has been successfully installed in both the Royal Perth Hospital Ward 2K Mental Health Unit and the Fremantle Hospital 40 Bed Mental Health Project.

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