Hillmorton Hospital Specialist Mental Health Services

Providing the protection needed for recovery

Designed to support healing and recovery, these two purpose-built facilities meet both the physical and psychological needs of users and provide a safe and positive environment for staff. Helping to protect the interiors are entry matting systems from Advance Flooring.

The larger building provides inpatient and specialist outpatient services for mothers and babies, children and adolescents, and those with eating disorders. A separate 16-bed inpatient building accommodates adults with high and complex needs.

A safe, secure but home-like environment

‘The buildings needed to meet hospital-level durability and provide a high level of safety,’ says Neesha Morar from designers Klein Architects. ‘At the same time, they needed to offer a beautiful, domestic and flexible environment for all the occupants.

‘The design language, colours and finishes were inspired by the natural environment, as well as the cultural narrative. The soft curves and arches seen in the design of the joinery, flooring and furniture give a feeling of being cocooned and protected − this is particularly important, given patients often feel vulnerable and distressed.’

That theme of protection continued in the designers specifying CoralTread and Symphony2 Entry Matting to provide optimum dirt and moisture removal, keeping the interiors clean and safe for all users.

Dirt removal for long-term protection

Both CoralTread and Symphony2 are highly slip-resistant, to mitigate slips, falls and injury. Both ranges are designed for heavy-duty performance – Symphony2 can stop up to 90% of dirt and moisture within 6 metres of entry.

The result is an entry system that helps prolong the life of the buildings, something highly important to the architects and property managers. ‘This project required a careful balance between cost, and the social and aesthetic benefits of the chosen design,’ says Neesha.

‘The whole facility was designed to a higher than usual standard of durability, to reduce deliberate and accidental damage. This will prolong the time the building can be used before it needs to be upgraded, reducing future carbon emissions.’

Global GreenTag certified, CoralTread also contributed to the facility achieving a 4 Green Star certification, the first mental health infrastructure project in New Zealand to do so.