Puntukurnu AMS Healthcare Hub wins coveted 2021 Australian Good Design Award for Sustainability and puts wellness at the heart of the community in Western Australia’s remote Pilbara.

Feature by Freya Lombardo

Imagine that you suffer from chronic kidney disease, with a high risk of kidney failure, among other complications. Now imagine that it’s a baking 50 degrees Celsius in the shade, and you’re more than 1200 kilometres from a major city hospital offering the haemodialysis you desperately need. You’re not a fan of flying and it’s a 14 hour trip by road. Even though you’re becoming increasingly unwell, the prospect of leaving home and family is unnerving at best and terrifying at worst.

This scenario would be daunting for most people to contemplate. Until recently, it has been a harsh reality for the seriously ill or injured amongst the Martu desert communities in Western Australia’s inland east Pilbara region for whom leaving Country and community can be deeply traumatic.

Trust is the foundation of healthcare and aboriginal communities have long had a distrust of clinics, hospitals and medical institutions as well as those who typically offer care. It’s hardly surprising that, amongst the Pilbara’s people, presentation rates for clinical care have been stubbornly low while potentially preventable hospitalisations run high. This makes Aboriginal controlled community health services vital for addressing the significant health and social issues that disproportionately affect Aboriginal people.

To remedy the situation, not-for-profit Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) commissioned Sydney-based architecture practice Kaunitz Yeung Architecture to design an innovative Healthcare Hub in Newman, one of Australia’s most remote towns. This would be the first primary healthcare facility of any type to be constructed in the largest inland town of the southern Pilbara, offering general practice, immunisations, chronic disease management, acute care, dental, child / maternal care, rheumatic heart disease management and haemodialysis. Social and emotional wellbeing, sexual health advice and allied health are also available. For the first time, the people of Kunawarritji, Punmu, Parnngurr, Jigalong and Newman have on Country access to a broader range of community-aligned health services. 

A fundamental aspect in improving Indigenous health overall is exploring the relationship between land and wellbeing. Given this project is Kaunitz Yeung Architecture’s third collaboration with PAMS – and the Nyiyaparli, Nibali and Martu communities – meant the team already had a solid footing on which the architecture could challenge standard clinical design and champion sustainability to deliver a state-of-the-art facility for highly culturally appropriate healthcare.

For David Kaunitz Founder and Director of Kaunitz Yeung Architects, humanising the architecture and de-institutionalising the healthcare experience were foremost in conceptualising the design. Sustainable initiatives were embedded from the outset. In-depth community consultation and an iterative co-design process were the cornerstones of Kaunitz Yeung’s approach to the $8million purpose-built facility, which is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health.

“Sustainability is the core value of this project and can be seen through the use of local materials, endemic landscaping, integrated art from country and the photovoltaics that almost solely power the building. These and other elements enable the building to be the physical embodiment of PAMS’ community centred approach to healthcare”, explains Kaunitz. “It is only through thorough and meaningful consultation that the connection to people, culture and Country can manifest in a communal place that puts wellness at the heart of the community”.    

“We spent a lot of time in the community not making assumptions, listening to local people and repeating the process, providing forums and both formal and informal opportunities for every voice to be heard,” said Kaunitz. “This fine tuning resonates with community and enriches the architecture, making it subtly more appropriate to people, place and culture.”

Minimizing the large costs and negative mental health impacts when Martu and Niaboli people leave Country and family for treatment in Perth was a major driver for the project. Conceived with the aim of increasing presentation rates – on Country – the Puntukurnu AMS Healthcare Hub has already become a place where Aboriginal people feel comfortable, connected, and respected.

“Central to this is keeping the community on or close to Country where they can maintain their family and cultural connections and avoid the dislocation that travelling 1200km to Perth can cause. It can not be overstated how important keeping individuals – and particularly elders – on country is to the wellbeing of the community as a whole,” explains Kaunitz.

The result is sustainable architecture so deeply rooted in place and imbued with humanity as to engender community ownership. Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Healthcare Hub Newman succeeds in shifting community perceptions around healthcare from treating sickness to promoting wellbeing. An outcome that has been achieved by involving Aboriginal people and respecting / reflecting their values, culture and Country.

It also opens a powerful and poetic dialogue on wellbeing and equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, setting a new benchmark in reconciliation through the cross-cultural shared exchange of ideas, values and aspirations.

ARCHITECTURE

The building itself is organised around an open, central courtyard that is both welcoming and calming. Butterflied in plan, the two wings extending either side separate the health clinic and administration. Distinctive red, rammed earth clads the exteriors. The material is Country, which naturally signifies belonging for local people.

Artwork by 19 artists representing the five communities is integrated throughout the building, which engenders an intuitive connection for local people. Depicting cultural beliefs and dreaming, their ‘drawings’ are inscribed in art-screens that form window protection on most windows and the entry gates. By day, the screens filter light into the rooms causing changing projections humanise the building and its spaces within.

At night and lit from within, the screens become a beacon of culture into the community. A projection of ancient and complex cultures building a brighter future. With this, the architecture plays an important role in uniting diverse communities around the PAMS Healthcare Hub and creating a relevance for each of them.

SUSTAINABILITY

The materiality and landscaping, including mature trees, are key elements of the sustainable approach to the project. Rammed earth significantly reduces embodied energy and improves building performance. Sourcing all earth from site avoided importation and transportation of materials over long distances.

Sensitive landscaping ecologically repairs the degraded site with endemic species and shades the building.

As one of the driest places in Australia, Newman basks in over 330 days of sunshine a year.  The 150kW rooftop voltaic array provides 100% of the building’s electricity when the sun is shining and more than 85% of all its power needs.

ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC REALM

Landscaping is integral in contextualizing and connecting the building to Country. Over 2000 local endemic plants were used to create low maintenance, robust and relevant landscaping. Most importantly, the new unfenced public park formed in front of the building enables outdoor waiting, which can significantly ease anxiety and is preferred by many Indigenous people.  This is also the first time a public park has been created in Newman under the ownership of an Aboriginal organisation.

REFERENCES

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-01/remote-indigenous-health-centre-opens-in-newman/12499876

https://www.abc.net.au/religion/our-story-is-in-the-land-indigenous-sense-of-belonging/11159992

https://architectureau.com/articles/healthcare-on-country-in-the-remote-pilbara/#

https://archello.com/project/puntukurnu-aboriginal-medical-services-healthcare

https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/hgffv/puntukurnu-ams-healthcare-hub-project-pages.html

Intelligent Personal EV for empowered mobility wins Australian Good Design Award of the Year 2021.

Feature by Freya Lombardo

We all hit stumbling blocks from time to time. For most of us, these are metaphorical challenges for our psyches to surmount. However, for those with mobility issues, navigating daily life and the simplest of tasks presents literal obstacles that can feel like mountains.

When the designers at WHILL heard their wheelchair-bound friend say – “I’ve given up on even going to the grocery store just two blocks away” – they knew it was time to put their combined expertise across transportation and engineering to the test. 

Not only was their friend exhausted by the physical difficulty of traversing from A to B, let alone beyond, they could see the toll that being self-conscious and feeling less than capable was having emotionally. They also knew he was by no means alone.

Currently, there are more than one billion people who live with disabilities[1] in the world and over 75 million people who need a wheelchair on a daily basis[2]. The world’s population is also ageing rapidly. From 900 million in 2017, the number of people over 60 is expected to more than double to 2.1 billion people by 2050. Given we are still a long way from truly inclusive smart cities – and environments that are accessible to all – there is a huge opportunity to tackle the needs of current and future mobility challenged people.

“We wanted to address the negative stigma as well as the antiquated design and function of wheelchairs and scooters with a personal mobility device that could help people overcome the physical, emotional and psychological barriers that limited mobility can impose,” explains WHILL CEO Satoshi Sugie.

The design team at WHILL took an empathetic approach to re-engineering the wheelchair for the 21^st century, fusing innovative design and smart technology. Conventional wheelchairs were designed as ‘medical devices’ for ‘patients’, and are completely outmoded for people wishing to be fully integrated in society. The Model C2 continues WHILL’s quest to empower personal mobility. This model significantly updates the functionality and features of its Model C predecessor at a lower price point.

WHILL’s Model C2 Personal Mobility EV received Australia’s Good Design Award of the Year 2021 and impressed the jury as “an excellent resolution of a product where designers can really make a difference and help to make people’s lives better.”

Both powerful and agile, WHILL’s Model C2 is exhilarating and fun to drive. From socializing with friends and family to exploring the great outdoors, the Model C2 empowers users to enjoy their world freely, indoors and out. Finally, there is a personal mobility EV that boosts users’ confidence, independence and feeling of being in control.

FORM AND FUNCTION

With its clean lines, minimal form and ergonomics, the Model C2 puts users in an active rather than passive posture. This simple shift helps boost user confidence and encourages a can-do lifestyle.

“The intent is to fundamentally change the attitude of the user and perception of surrounding people through an active design language,” says Sugie.

The Model C2 boasts two motors powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that can be removed and charged in a regular household outlet. WHILL’s Model C2 can travel approximately 18kms on a 5-hour charge, giving users ample power to go about their day.

Large patented omni-wheels can traverse diverse, uneven terrain and climb over obstacles up to 5cm in height with ease, all while maintaining a tight turning radius. Rollers on the omni-wheels allow it to glide sideways for increased manoeuvrability. The C2 can accelerate to 8km/h, and its LED screen shows speed and remaining battery power. It can also tackle inclines of up to 10 degrees and will climb steeper terrain with safety warnings for the user. The low-profile joystick gives users excellent control without wrist fatigue. Seat height and back are fully adjustable. Comfort is ensured with premium cushioning and adjustability to guard against pressure sores. With a total weight of 52kg, the Model C2 easily disassembles into three main components for easy transport in a car boot.

SMART TECHNOLOGY

Added control comes in the form of an integrated app and security features. Users can summon their chair from their smartphone and remotely control it. The C2 can be locked and unlocked using the smartphone app to prevent theft or misuse. Technical support and troubleshooting are also available through the app.   

SAFETY

The Model C2 is able to drive straight on tilted paths, preventing it from skidding and drifting. Rear wheel suspension absorbs the impact when driving over bumpy roads or obstacles. There is also a small speaker, from which emanates a voice advising the user if they exceed any of the chairs limits. The tail light is clearly visible even with a bag hung over the back support, keeping the user safe at night and in low light. Its waterproof performance is IPX4 for practice daily use.

JURY COMMENTS (ENGINEERING DESIGN AND PRODUCT DESIGN): WHILL MODEL C2

“A very attractive and cleverly designed product that addresses a clear need. It elegantly reinvents the current clunky, medical-look of most personal mobility vehicles we see in Australia today. It is a great looking device, with a clean, minimalist, aesthetic. The fact the electric motors are hidden out of sight in the wheel and chassis contributes to the clean look.

The use of large omni-wheels to aid in navigating obstacles, tightening the turning circle and enabling sideways movement is clever. The more active seating position will no doubt be greatly appreciated by users as it puts them on a more equal level with able bodied people, such as when seated at a table. Also has a great looking app that not only will bring a chair to the person, but also hints at autonomous ability.

The market for such a product is already huge but set to grow significantly, so it addresses a clear need and has obvious commercial potential, provided it is priced well. This entry is an excellent resolution of a product where designers can really make a difference and help to make people’s lives better. A superb rethink and reinvention of the wheelchair.

The design addresses many of the challenges of conventional wheelchairs. The lightweight styling is very appealing, while the ability to easily stow in a car and to readily navigate difficult terrain are major successes. The simple fact of ageing populations makes the WHILL a high value-proposition design because it gives people with constrained mobility more independence and higher quality of life (through enhanced mobility, reduced stigma and more independence).”

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[1] According to the World Health Organization (WHO) a disabled person is anyone who has “a problem in body function or structure, an activity limitation, has a difficulty in executing a task or action; with a participation restriction”.

[2] Source: https://www.inclusivecitymaker.com/disabled-people-in-the-world-in-2021-facts-and-figures/