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Charlton Hospital and Ambulance Service

Charlton Hospital and Ambulance Service

The reconstruction of the Charlton Hospital is an important initiative following the devastating 2011 floods. Baade Harbour Geelong (now BC) was commissioned by the Victorian Department of Health to design the new Charlton Hospital for the East Wimmera Health Service (EWHS).

The design included 15 beds (13 aged care and 2 acute beds), a medical clinic, primary care services, support services, a helipad, and a new ambulance station. The project involved significant site works to build above the 2011 flood levels. The modern facility was designed to reflect the region’s character and to create an inclusive environment for the community.

Client
East Wimmera Health Service
Location
Charlton Victoria
Photography
Baade Harbour Geelong
Traditional Country
Dja Dja Wurrung
A holistic design approach was adopted to balance the needs of patients, staff, and the community in a flexible building that brings together the landscape, natural light, and the latest technologies, recognising the significant historical architecture within Charlton, whilst still delivering a clean and contemporary building.
The traditional architectural forms have been reinterpreted and a balance between new and old has been made. Flush paneling is proposed to be introduced into wall elements together with traditional brickwork seeking to hold this balance.

The main approach to the facility provides a clear and welcoming entrance to the hospital, with an undercover drop-off and pick-up area and open, transparent public spaces that evoke warmth and comfort. Communal areas connect to outdoor spaces designed to facilitate family time and quiet respite. There is also a focus on designing patient areas to create calming, healing, and healthy environments through natural light, views, and materials. The design also has a strong focus on sustainability, with energy- and water-efficient systems, building orientation, and sustainable materials.

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We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where our studios are located, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung people of Yálla-birr-ang, Collingwood and the Wadawurrung people of Djiling, Geelong.

We pay our respects to Elders, past and present, across all regions of Victoria and beyond. We honour the design ingenuity of First Peoples over millennia, their unique contribution to our understanding of place, and their care for the Country on which we create.