Hillmorton Specialist Mental Health Services, Christchurch, New Zealand – Klein Architects on behalf of Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury

Nominee Information

The project’s vision was to create a care environment which enables tangata whaiora (Te Reo Maori for consumers) to take a proactive role in improving their health and rehabilitation with their whanau (family).

To achieve this, the design process incorporated an extensive user engagement process from Business Case development through to completion. At the outset, people shared their recorded personal stories and lived experience which led to the development of design principles in plain language. These principles were used for validation throughout the design phases. Each phase of the project had a minimum of six formal meetings and numerous other “homework” and mini focus groups as required.

The user groups had diverse representation including clinical and non-clinical staff, Allied Health, consumer advisor representatives – including youth consumer advisors, Pukenga Atawhai (Māori Mental Health workers) and whanau advisors. Interactive, in-person workshops were held after which comments and feedback were incorporated into the design then presented back to the appropriate group for discussion and approval.

The co-design process also included several consumer engagement questionnaires to gather specific feedback from previous and current consumers about design aspects.

Stakeholder engagement was supported by consumer advice groups who facilitated small group discussions with users/consumers, with some individuals completing surveys. The combination of this facilitated approach and story gathering provided a richness to our briefing material.

The collaboration produced feedback such as:

“I would like to touch and smell the grass.”

“I do not want to feel like I am in prison.”

“I want to be able to make a cup of tea for myself.”

These requests may be ones the users of any building could expect, but sadly this has not been the case for most mental health care facilities in New Zealand.

Comments like these inspired the design of the units, where a spectrum of therapeutic spaces give service user and whanau freedom of choice in their recovery journey. Beautiful interiors together with abundant natural light and green connection provides a welcoming and domestic environment, creating a sense of place and inspiration to support hauora (wellbeing) for everyone interacting with these spaces.

The lived experience feedback and design principles also challenged the clinical and design teams to respond flexibly and think creatively to meet competing demands. An example is the approach around interstitial blinds versus curtains. The teams worked hard to investigate and trial a safe curtain track design (new to New Zealand), which make bedrooms feel like home.

Another example is where bedrooms are placed on single loaded corridors fully glazed to the internal courtyards, with careful placement of doors and small lounges to allow flexible co-horting and direct access to the outdoors. Consumers can lie on beanbags watching the stars at night, have fun on the trampolines and have quality time with whanau.

The project has set a new standard for mental health care facilities around the country, and provides a legacy for generations to come.