The new Bendigo Hospital is the largest regional hospital development in Victoria. The $AUD 630 million Victorian Government project delivers world-class healthcare facilities and aims to provide a welcoming, holistic and positive environment that promotes wellbeing.

The concrete façade of the IPU building is broken up into a pattern of large scale brick bonds which allows for the introduction of a highly-crafted pattern of window panels. These windows glisten, mirroring the surrounding landscape and making the building a more inviting facility. Importantly, the window strategy disguises the uniform pattern of individually stacked hospital rooms and creates a more interesting and playful composition.

The hospital is a significant civic building that integrates a holistic framework considering the needs of patients, staff and the community and offering a tranquil and caring environment through the integration of architecture, landscaping, health planning and evidence-based design.

The power of nature in a healing environment has been well studied and is an integral part of the design approach. Landscaped courtyards, green roofs, indigenous gardens, and views towards the landscape characterise the design.

Taking inspiration from the scale and proportion of Bendigo’s heritage buildings, the design introduces a street-scale rhythm of vertical framing elements to the podium. This establishes a more friendly and human scale to the hospital.