Presenting Sense Sensitive Design in Australia

30 September 2009

Nightingale Associates’ founder, Mike Nightingale, gave a presentation on the practice’s innovative research into sensory design to new audiences in Australia last week.

Mike’s presentation, ‘A global perspective on evolving healthcare design: Lessons learnt from designing for developing economies’, also looked at designing healthcare buildings in various environments across the globe and the importance of ensuring the right solutions for different economies, enforcing Nightingale Associates' international reputation as experts in the field of healthcare design.

Using a series of case studies from a diverse range of countries, including India, Ghana and the USA, Mike then illustrated four key ‘Design Truths’:

The importance of the relationship of clients and architects in designing healthcare buildings
Future flexibility: Long Life, Loose Fit
Making sure the design of health buildings fits closely into their local environment
The necessity of designing fully sustainable hospitals

Mike’s presentation then went on to advocate the merits of Sense Sensitive Design, focusing on several key aspects of the concept – including the effects and influences of various colours on healthcare settings – and the ongoing development of the hPODs, which allow the creation of individually-prescribed healing environments. He also spoke about developing special healing environments from 'cradle to grave’, featuring settings for neonatal care through to people suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

“The presentation was a great success and went down very well with people here in Australia.

“People were really interested to hear about Sense Sensitive Design, which was encouraging in light of our intention to raise our profile in Oceania and the Far East.”

Mike Nightingale, Founder, Nightingale Associates

Delegates included many high-profile health industry professionals and potential clients, from institutions such as Australia’s Department of Human Services, the University of Technology in Sydney, and various architects and contractors from across the country.

Barn Theatre at Broadgreen Hospital

“They particularly liked our Broadgreen operating theatre, and the presentation fired up some lively debate on the relative merits of designing narrow-plan, predominantly naturally-lit and ventilated hospitals, as opposed to the deep-plan models that are still prevalent in Australia.”

Mike Nightingale, Founder, Nightingale Associates

Nightingale Associates is concentrating on developing its reputation in the country, which is promising a wealth of opportunity in healthcare:

“There is a boom in Australia. Money has been flowing into the regeneration of healthcare facilities throughout the country.”

Kathleen Armstrong, World Health Design

And this certainly looks to be the case, as Nightingale Associates is currently waiting to hear if it has been shortlisted to work on the $1.7bn Royal Adelaide Hospital PPP.