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Facilitated by the Randwick Health and Innovation Precinct (RHIP) Creative Placemaking program, a valuable collaboration has been delivered between UNSW Arts, Design & Architecture and Prince of Wales Hospital (PoWH).

Almost 100 second-year Interior Architecture students and staff from UNSW recently participated in a special Code Lavender protocol simulation hosted by PoWH staff, helping to shape development of design proposals for a dedicated staff wellness space in the hospital.

The ‘Lavender Room’ project was part of an undergraduate studio course devised and coordinated by Dr Cathy Smith from UNSW’s School of Built Environment, in consultation with RHIP’s Sophie Forbat and PoWH Code Lavender team members.

With minimal built examples or research on Code Lavender initiatives or purpose-designed staff respite rooms, the innovative 10-week course saw students draw from existing research, the simulation activity and consultation with hospital staff to produce design-led ideas. These ideas can now be used to foster future conversations among RHIP stakeholders about suitable spaces, project briefs and potentially the development and construction of a prototype Lavender Room.

Student proposals ranged from bespoke designs for Code Lavender ‘pods’ and spaces for laughing workshops, through to interiors integrating art therapies and spatial connections to outdoor native gardens.

As well as providing an invaluable learning opportunity through a real design project based on engagement with users, the Code Lavender simulation also introduced the UNSW students and staff to techniques that promote wellbeing, which they can now incorporate into future work, study and personal situations.

Below: A selection of ‘Lavender Room’ hospital staff respite space design concepts produced by the participating students.


Published November 2024