Psychiatric Hospital

The Hills Clinic, Kellyville, is the first purpose built private psychiatric hospital in NSW. It is set on two acres of land and is adjacent to a further two acres of open public space. Kellyville has traditionally been a semi-rural area with many market gardens, but is now one of Sydney’s largest growth areas.

“In developing the concept for this facility we wanted to retain the connection with the rural heritage of the area and so a large proportion of the land has been landscaped and left as open space”, says architect Patrick Pace. From every room in the building you are connected to the natural surrounds. Its north facing aspect and large areas of glazing also mean that patients and staff enjoy a vast amount of natural light.

In designing the building there has been a great deal of input from clinicians with extensive experience of psychiatric facilities ensuring the inherent needs for staff and patients have been considered. Comfort, privacy and security are key aspects required by patients. It was also important to give the facility a domestic feel and to move away from the traditional institutional feel of many existing facilities.

Being a brand new facility the architects have also had to meet the latest Australasian Health Facility Guidelines, making this a new benchmark for such facilities in Australia. The Hospital will have a staged opening. In May 2011 the entire ground floor, accommodating 32 inpatients was opened. The ground floor also has a group therapy centre, patient and visitors lounge, gymnasium, commercial kitchen and dining room.

The stage one development also includes a new specialist centre for outpatient treatment. Stage two will extend the hospital’s capacity to 60 beds. As patients are likely to stay several weeks in such a facility to experience the full treatment programs available and so, patient comfort is paramount.

The stage one accommodation includes 8 large double share rooms and 16 private rooms. All rooms have individually controlled air conditioning units. All ground floor rooms also have direct access to a private patio and access to the manicured gardens that surround the building.

All rooms also have private ensuites. The Hills Clinic, Kellyville is a facility well over due and is a response to clinicians and patient demand for a higher level of care in mental health. The Hills Clinic is committed to providing excellence in care and this facility is one step towards providing this care. For more information about Twoarchitects please visit www.twoarchitects.com.au