In Melbourne's culturally diverse west, on the land of Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people of the Greater Kulin Nation, Cox Architecture and Billard Leece Partnership together with landscape architects Tract, have completed the design for the new Footscray Hospital. Affectionately known as "the people's hospital," the campus is composed of interconnected buildings organised around a landscaped heart that operates as both orientation device and gathering space fit with public amenities.
"The project’s vision is clear: to redefine the conventional hospital experience by making it a more human-centered and community-integrated facility. It is a new type of hospital, in and of its place."
— Cox Architecture
Campus model
The ambition, the architects explain, was to create a hospital that could become part of everyday life, "a place people might visit for connection, respite or community activity, not solely when seeking medical care." Rather than design a single, monolithic structure, the hospital is arranged as a walkable campus with five interconnected buildings surrounding a central village green. The buildings are scaled to suit the campus-sized precinct, and massed to allow for optimal sunlighting indoors and wind protection for the outdoor area.
Context and location
The central green is designed as an anchor for the site, creating a clear point of orientation and a space for gathering. Framed by retail stores, cafes and restaurants, and connected to the surrounding neighbourhood and public transport by pedestrian walkways and cycling routes, it is intended for use by both those visiting the hospital and those who live in the neighbourhood.
This central garden forms part of roughly 20,000 square metres of terraces, courtyards, winter gardens and green roofs designed to provide opportunities for patients, staff and visitors to connect with landscape. Landscaped by Tract, these green spaces have been completed with over 59,000 plants—the majority of which are native to Australia and local to the area.
Wellness and healthcare
Designed to be a space of wellness rather than simply a place of healthcare, the inclusive environment was shaped by extensive consultation with residents of Footscray alongside Western Health staff and community representatives. The architects recognise that health outcomes are shaped by the environment, and so the buildings are designed accordingly: public waiting areas are located within a generous internal street that is oriented towards the central green. The hospital also includes a dedicated multi-faith space and a First Nations courtyard, developed in collaboration with the Wurundjeri Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Elders.
Human-centred design
Inside, the design is human-centred. Rounded building forms create intuitive wayfinding and improve accessibility, while the tiered facade transitions help identify public, clinical and private zones. Natural materials bring warmth and tactility to the interiors, and glazing optimised for daylighting and views helps bring natural light and the green beyond deep into the building. To sustain this feeling of calm, art and greenery decorate treatment rooms, wards and common areas for patients, staff and visitors.
Artworks
"The project also incorporates significant cultural works, including the tapestry Welcome to Country now you see me: seeing the invisible by First Nations artists Maree Clarke and Mitch Mahoney, woven by the Australian Tapestry Workshop," explain the architects. This monumental 42-square-metre tapestry, which was handwoven over 14 months and more than 10,000 hours, has been installed at the entrance to the hospital.
Sustainability
The hospital has achieved a 5 Star Green Star – Design as Built rating, reflecting its environmental performance across a range of sustainability criteria. Operational strategies prioritise reduced energy use, improved indoor environmental quality and future adaptability. A 840kW solar array, consisting of 1500 PV panels across over 60% of the hospital's roof, provides renewable energy to the campus, reducing its reliance on the grid and lowering associated greenhouse gas emissions. Water conservation is another significant aspect of the design. The hospital incorporates a rainwater harvesting system designed to capture, treat and reuse 90% of the rainfall for non-potable applications—bathrooms, irrigation and the hospital's cooling systems. In an Australian first, the hospital is also pursuing WELL Gold certification.
