all new artwork to enrich staff and patient areas

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When staff, visitors and patients enter the Prince of Wales Hospital Acute Services Building for the first time via Botany Street, a beautiful artwork will greet them just to the right of the main entrance foyer.

As people move their way up and down the new building, more large-scale artworks that celebrate the environment and stories of the local area can be found in every department and inpatient unit.

One of the key themes for the Randwick Campus Redevelopment Arts and Culture Strategy is biophilic design – the concept of bringing the outside environment in. To reflect the local region’s culture, magnificent coastline and native flora, four leading Australian artists have been commissioned to produce unique artworks for the hospital’s internal spaces.

Clinicians from Prince of Wales Hospital have undergone consultation with the project’s arts team to ensure that the artists have the patients’ wellbeing front of mind when creating their works.

Advice like using calming imagery and avoiding certain colours was provided, along with specific information about characteristics of the patients in a particular ward and their average length of stay.

“As cited in the NSW Health and The Arts Framework, exposure to the arts has a profoundly beneficial impact, improving patient health and wellbeing. The artworks selected for the hospital have been co-designed with clinicians to create a more friendly environment, to relate to the models of care and high quality service they offer in key areas of the ward,” said Health Infrastructure Arts Program Director, Brigette Uren.

The artworks will be situated in key spaces throughout the hospital including reception areas, staff stations, public lift lobbies, corridors and patient lounges, and will be in the form of full wall vinyl graphics, known as ‘envirographics’.

The artists are now busy producing their final designs, which will be installed in time for the hospital opening in early 2023.

Visit the project page to learn more about the Acute Services Building.