Noarlunga Hospital mental health rehabilitation unit and inpatient expansion

The challenge

Demand for mental health services in southern Adelaide is increasing, placing pressure on existing hospital infrastructure and limiting the ability to support long-term recovery pathways.

As a joint venture, we needed to create a dedicated rehabilitation environment within an active public hospital. This required careful consideration of clinical functionality, safety and privacy while supporting the wellbeing of people receiving care, staff and visitors.

The facility needed to support individuals who could not live independently but did not require acute care. It had to bridge the gap between inpatient treatment and community reintegration, enabling extended stays while maintaining dignity, autonomy and comfort.

There was a requirement to provide shared access to therapy and wellbeing spaces for both internal users and the wider community, without creating safety or operational conflicts.

The project also needed to respond to cultural context and connection to place in a meaningful way, while accommodating a broad range of clinical, behavioural and social needs within a single, adaptable building. 

Our response

Together with Wiltshire Swain Architects, who led early engagement, briefing and concept development, we developed a design shaped by recovery-focused principles and a clear spatial strategy that supports independence and operational clarity.

A graduated planning framework allows residents to move between private, shared and outward-facing spaces at their own pace. This supports different stages of recovery and encourages participation without removing choice.

The team integrated rehabilitation and general medical services within the same development to strengthen continuity of care. Each function retains clarity and separation, supporting both clinical performance and patient experience.

Flexible living pods allow spaces to adapt to different care requirements. Some areas support open living, while others offer a more contained environment when needed. Shared therapy and wellbeing spaces are made accessible beyond discharge through controlled circulation and programming, enabling continued connection to support services. The architecture adopts a domestic scale and character, reinforced by strong connections to the surrounding landscape.

Cultural engagement was led through a highly collaborative process across the joint venture, with lived-experience participants and First Nations representatives shaping spaces that reflect identity and belonging. Informal staff work areas sit within resident zones, supporting more open relationships and reducing traditional hierarchies.

Safety measures are embedded so they remain discreet. The environment feels calm and familiar while supporting clinical needs. The project was delivered through a highly collaborative design process involving clinicians, consumers and government stakeholders.

The impact

The completed facility strengthens how mental health rehabilitation is delivered in southern Adelaide.People receiving care can access longer-term support in an environment that builds independence. They can build life skills at their own pace and maintain connections to services that support their transition back into community life.

The integration of landscape, shared amenities and a residential character contributes to a more positive therapeutic experience. People can choose how they engage with others and with the building, supporting autonomy and dignity. Cultural connections embedded in the design also reinforce a sense of belonging and identity. Through the joint venture delivery, the project brings together complementary design and healthcare planning to strengthen continuity of care and enable a more connected and responsive model of mental health support across the region.